DesignCreate a Field Data Catalog

You can use field data catalogs to present a predefined set of field names with associated parameters to label designers. You can also configure a field data catalog to include a field and data validation process. After you create, save, and publish a field data catalog, it can be displayed in Label Design Label Design so that it is available for use in label templates, layer objects, and reusable objects. For more information, see Using Field Data Catalogs.

Note: Changes made to a field data catalog are not reflected in versions already incorporated into label templates, layer objects, or reusable objects.

To create a new field data catalog, use this procedure.

  1. In Label Design Label Design, click > Field Data Catalog.
  2. In the design panel, click Add.
  3. In the Add box, select Field Group.
  4. Enter a Name for the field group and click OK.
  5. With your new field group selected in the design panel, click Add.
  6. In the Add box, select Field.
  7. Enter a Name and Data Ref for the field.
  8. For the Max Length field, specify the number of characters that the field should allow.
  9. Optionally, add a Description for the field.
  10. Click OK.
  11. Add additional Field Groups and Fields as needed.
  12. To validate whether the fields on a label template, layer object, or reusable object are compliant with the field data catalog, select one of the following from the Field Validation drop-down in the Home tab.
    • Catalog Exclusive Fields: The label template or other object must only include fields defined in the field data catalog. Validation fails if fields exist on the label template or other object that are not defined in the field data catalog.
    • Catalog Required Fields: The label template or other object must contain at least one of each field defined in the field data catalog. Validation fails if there are fields defined in the field data catalog that do not exist on the label template or other object.
    • Both: The label template or other object must only include fields defined in the field data catalog, and it must contain at least one of each field defined in the field data catalog. Validation fails if fields exist on the label template or other object that are not defined in the field data catalog, or if there are fields defined in the field data catalog that do not exist on the label template or other object.
  13. Select the Data Validation check box to validate that the fields on the label template or other object do not exceed the Max Length value.

Save the Field Data Catalog

To save the field data catalog, use this procedure. Field data catalogs can only be saved in folders for which version control is turned on.

  1. Click File > Save As .
  2. In the Save dialog box, click a folder (that has version control turned on) in the left column and enter a Display Name.

    Tip: You can add a new folder within the folder selected in the left pane by clicking the Add Folder button.

    ClosedCharacters permitted in names

    The following characters are permitted in the name: letters, numbers, parentheses, square brackets, ampersands, plus signs, equal signs, commas, semi-colons, and tildes. Additionally, the following characters are permitted but cannot begin or end the name: spaces, double quotation marks, single quotation marks, hyphens, underscores, periods, and grave accents. For letters, the case that you specify is displayed, but case is ignored when Loftware Enterprise SP interprets a name. If you will be installing the Loftware Enterprise SP application on a computer running Windows Server, and transferring data between Loftware Enterprise SP instances, see the "Transferring Data in a Compressed File" section of the Loftware Enterprise SP Data Transfer Guide.

  3. Click OK.
  4. When you are finished editing the field data catalog, click File > Version Control > Check In to save and check in your version and make it available for others to check out.
  5. When you are ready for the field data catalog to be available for use from the View tab in Label Design Label Design, click File > Version Control > Publish.

    Note: You must publish a field data catalog before it can be attached to a label template.