Text Properties

Properties

Property	Description	Fields Where Available
Name	The identifier of the text in the label template, form, or reusable object. A field name is the link between a label and data entry.	All Fields
Data Ref	Data reference. The data source used to populate the field with a value. Tip: By default, Data Ref fields are case sensitive. If the label template is intended for use with an SAP BC-XOM integration or an SAP RFC integration, use only uppercase text in the Data Ref field. When configuring a Text Box field, the following is the behavior when data exceeds the length of a line or the size of the Text Box and you are not using linked text boxes. For information on linked text boxes, see Link Text Boxes. Line wrapping in a Text Box Data in a Text Box field automatically wraps at the end of each line if the text would otherwise extend beyond the envelope of the field. When line wrapping occurs, the line break is either at the end of a word or after a hyphen, en-dash, or em-dash. If a word is too wide to fit in the field, a line break occurs within the word at the edge of the envelope. When data exceeds the size of a Text Box If the amount of data received for a Text Box field is more than fits, the Text Box Overrun Mode property controls how Loftware Enterprise SP responds. Text may overrun the Text Box and continue until reaching the edge of the label, text may be truncated at the end of a word or paragraph, or the print job may be failed. An administrator may configure this property system-wide for Loftware Enterprise SP or for a specific device. You can override the system-wide and device options by using Label Specific Options (LSOs). For more information, see Override Device Options with Label Specific Options.	Variable Text Prompt Text Box Text Box Prompt
Input Data Ref	The data reference for a data source, such as a Database data source, from which a Prompt field obtains data.	Prompt Text Box Prompt
Default Value	Default content for the field. If the field is populated by a Data Ref that returns a null value or has not yet received data, this value is used. Note: The text box for the property is read-only, but you can click the button for the property to open a dialog box that allows you to edit the value.	Variable Text Prompt Text Box Text Box Prompt
Value	Content for the field. The text box for the property is read-only, but you can click the button for the property to open a dialog box that allows you to edit the value.	Fixed Text
Prompt	Text displayed next to or in a prompt in a Form.	Prompt Form Prompt Text Box Prompt
Entry Type	Whether a Data Provider Person or process that enters data into a form or other data entry view for a label that was configured by a Designer. A user acting as a Data Provider requires the DOCUMENT_PRINTER role or equivalent permissions. is required to provide data for this field. Optional: The field may be left empty. Mandatory: The field must have content. Must Fill: The maximum number of characters (Max Chars) for the field must be entered. This value is not available for Text Box Prompt fields.	Prompt Text Box Prompt
Read-Only	Whether a Data Provider Person or process that enters data into a form or other data entry view for a label that was configured by a Designer. A user acting as a Data Provider requires the DOCUMENT_PRINTER role or equivalent permissions. is prevented from entering data in this field. Selecting this option may be appropriate if the field is automatically populated with data from a database and should not be altered in Print .	Prompt Text Box Prompt
Character Mask	Type of characters that are permitted in the field. None indicates that there is no mask and any characters are permitted. The following options are available: None Alpha-Numeric Alpha-Only Code 39 Code 93 Full ASCII Hexadecimal Numeric-Only GS1 GS1-128 Alpha-Numeric Uppercase Alpha-Numeric Uppercase Alpha-Only	Prompt
Chars Per Line	The maximum number of characters on a line within the field. For Fixed Text, the value is automatically calculated from the text entered.	Fixed Text (read-only) Variable Text Prompt
Lines	The number of text rows in the field. For Fixed Text, the value is automatically calculated from the text entered.	Fixed Text (read-only) Variable Text Prompt
Max Chars	The greatest number of characters that can appear in the field. The value is automatically calculated based on Chars Per Line and # Lines.	Fixed Text (read-only) Variable Text (read-only)
Force Max Chars	Whether Data Providers are required to enter the number of characters specified by the Max Chars property. : Data Providers may enter any number of characters. : Data Providers can enter any number of characters up to the number of characters specified by Max Chars.	Variable Text
Trim	Whether to remove leading or trailing spaces from the value if they exist. None: Leading and trailing spaces are not removed. Left: Any spaces on the left side of the text are removed. For languages that are read from left to right, these are the leading spaces, if any. For languages that are read right to left, these are the trailing spaces, if any. Right: Any spaces on the right side of the text are removed. For languages that are read from left to right, these are the trailing spaces, if any. For languages that are read right to left, these are the leading spaces, if any. Both: Any leading or trailing spaces are removed.	Variable Text Text Box
Format Sources	A list of format sources that are applied to the field. To apply a format source to the field, click View > Format Sources, and then drag and drop a format source onto a field in the Label view. For more information, see Configuring Format Sources. To remove a format source from a field, click the field, and in the Format Sources section of the Properties pane select the name of a format source and click .	Fixed Text (Label view only) Variable Text Text Box
Send Field As	For Loftware devices, whether to print the text as an image or to use the device's native ability to encode the text. This option only applies if you are using a Loftware device. For more information, see Using a Loftware NiceLabel Driver. Device Specific Option: The text prints natively unless it is determined by the driver that it needs to image the text. Image: The text prints as an image. This option removes any potential device variation when natively encoding the text data. Native: The text prints natively if supported by the device. Tip: The Send Field As setting specified here overrides the setting specified on the Options tab of the Loftware device.	Fixed Text Variable Text
Lock Field	If selected, no changes can be made to the properties of the field, and the field cannot be moved or deleted. The order of the field relative to other fields in the label template can be changed regardless of whether the field is locked. Note: This feature can be used to prevent accidental changes to fields. It does not prevent other Designers from unlocking a field.	All Fields
Printing Field	Whether the field or area appears on the printed label. Note: This property is available in Label View only.	Fixed Text Variable Text Text Box

Clipboard

Icon	Command	Description
	Paste	Apply cut or copied fields and areas to the workspace.
	Cut	Remove selected fields and areas, and place them in the system clipboard.
	Copy	Put a duplicate of selected fields and areas into the system clipboard.

Tools

Icon	Command	Description
	Select All	Select all fields and areas in the current view (Label View or Form View, if in a label template) so that you can cut, copy, paste, or delete them.
	Select None	Deselect all fields in the current view.
	Delete	Remove the selected fields or areas from the label template.

Font

Property	Description	Fields Where Available
Font Category	The type of font to use for text in the field. The following options are available: TrueType® DPL Datamax-O'Neil Programming Language, a printer control language. EasyPlug EasyPlug, a printer command language by NOVEXX Solutions. NOVEXX Solutions originated from Avery Dennison's Industrial Paint & Apply (IPA) line of business. ESC/Label Epson ESC/Label, a printer control language. IPL Intermec Printer Language, a printer control language. PGL Printronix Graphics Language, a printer language from Printronix. SBPL SATO Barcode Program Language, a programming language for communication between a computer and a printer. TPCL Tec Printer Command Language, a programming language from Toshiba for communication between a computer and a printer. ZPL II Zebra Programming Language II, a printer control language. If the Font Category is TrueType, the fonts reside on the server. For other font categories, the fonts reside on the target device. Note: The options available may be limited by the Font Category selected for the entire label template. In the Label View, click the label canvas and then configure the Font Category in the Properties pane.	Fixed Text Variable Text Text Box
Font	The set of type to use for text in the field. If the Font Category is TrueType, the fonts reside on the server. For other font categories, the fonts reside on the target device. Note: For a Text Box field, only TrueType fonts and native scalable fonts are available. Tip: If you have selected Datamax Native for Font Category, Datamax recommends using a native scalable font rather than the Smooth font.	Fixed Text Variable Text Text Box
Font Size	The size of type in the field in points. Note: If Dynamic Font Sizing is enabled, the size of text displayed or printed in a Text Box field may differ from the value specified by Font Size.	Fixed Text Variable Text Text Box
Font Height %	For text that uses a TrueType font or a native scalable font, you can adjust the height and width independently as percentages with respect to the selected point size. By default, the Font Height % and Font Width % are 100.0%. Note: This property is available only if a TrueType font or a native scalable font is used for the text.	Fixed Text Variable Text Text Box
Font Width %	For text that uses a TrueType font or a native scalable font, you can adjust the height and width independently as percentages with respect to the selected point size. By default, the Font Height % and Font Width % are 100.0%. Note: This property is available only if a TrueType font or a native scalable font is used for the text.	Fixed Text Variable Text Text Box
Font Tracking	For text that uses a TrueType font, you can adjust the amount of space between the letters of an entire word (or between the characters in an entire piece of text) in equal increments to improve readability. A value between -.1 and .3 is recommended.	Fixed Text Variable Text
Font Kerning	If available for selected font, you can turn on Font Kerning to adjust the spacing between two characters and improve readability. The spacing is predetermined by the kerning information stored in the font. This property will have no visible effect for fonts that do not include kerning information.	Fixed Text Variable Text
Font Style	For text that uses a TrueType font, additional formatting for text in the field. Options include Bold, Italic, Underline, and Strikethrough. Note: This property is available only if TrueType is selected for Font Category.	Fixed Text Variable Text Text Box
Dynamic Font Sizing	Whether to permit the point size for the text to increase or decrease until the text reaches the envelope, or to strictly adhere to the value specified by Font Size. : The text size is specified by Font Size. : The text size is automatically adjusted to allow the text to more completely fill the Text Box field. The font size is limited by Min Size, Max Size, and Maintain Aspect Ratio.	Text Box
Maintain Aspect Ratio	When Dynamic Font Sizing is enabled, whether to permit the height and width of characters change asynchronously when the size of the font is altered. : The aspect ratio of the font may be altered, asynchronously changing the height and the width of the characters to enable the text to more completely fill the field. : The aspect ratio of the font may not be altered. Note: This property is available only if Dynamic Font Sizing is selected.	Text Box
Min Size	If Dynamic Font Sizing is enabled, the smallest font size that may be used. This value is in points. Note: This property is available only if Dynamic Font Sizing is selected.	Text Box
Max Size	If Dynamic Font Sizing is enabled, the largest font size that may be used. This value is in points. Note: This property is available only if Dynamic Font Sizing is selected.	Text Box

Text

Property	Description	Fields Where Available
Horizontal Alignment	For text that uses a TrueType font, horizontal alignment of text in the field. Options include Align Left, Align Right, Center, and Justify (Justify for Text Box only). Note: This property is available only if TrueType is selected for Font Category.	Fixed Text Variable Text Text Box
Vertical Alignment	Vertical alignment of text in the field. Options include Top, Center, and Bottom.	Text Box
Force Single Line	Whether the Text Box data is limited to a single line. : Text can break across multiple lines (default). : Text is limited to a single line. Overrun behavior is controlled by the Text Box Overrun Mode property. For more information, see When Data Exceeds the Space.	Text Box
Remove Line Breaks	Whether line breaks in the data should be reflected in the label. Regardless of how this property is configured, the text wraps when it reaches the envelope of the text box. : Line breaks in the data are included in the label. : Line breaks in the data are omitted from the label and replaced with a space except when preceded by a hyphen. Note: This property applies hard returns (control characters \r and \r\n), but not to soft returns.	Text Box
Line Spacing	Vertical space allotted for each line of text in the field. This can include additional space below the text if you specify more than single line spacing. For Fixed Text and Variable Text, values include 1x, 2x, 3x, and 4x. For a Text Box, you can enter a numeric value in points relative to Font Size. Single line spacing for the font's size is represented as 1.	Fixed Text Variable Text Text Box
Vertical Offset	Distance by which the text is shifted up or down from the baseline The conceptual line on which characters sit by default. Characters with a rounded bottom edge may extend slightly below the baseline. Some characters (such as y) have descenders that extend significantly below the baseline. The baseline is not printed on labels or displayed in forms, but is an alignment marker that can be viewed in Label Design.. The value is dependent on the unit of measure for the label template. Tip: Offset distances are from the top left corner of the envelope. A positive value indicates that the text is shifted below the baseline. A negative value indicates that the text is shifted above the baseline.	Fixed Text Variable Text
Padding	For variable text fields, add a margin between the field contents and the edge of the field. Options include None, Leading Zeros, Leading Spaces, Trailing Spaces, and Centered with Spaces.	Variable Text
Paragraph Before	Vertical space preceding each paragraph within a Text Box in lines of space. The height of a line of space is defined by Line Spacing.	Text Box
Paragraph After	Vertical space following each paragraph within a Text Box in lines of space. This spacing is in addition to any defined by Line Spacing. The height of a line of space is defined by Line Spacing.	Text Box

Insert Field Tools

Icon	Tool	Description
	Barcode	You can add barcodes to a label template or various other objects. A list of the supported barcode symbologies is displayed in Loftware Enterprise SP. For more information about barcode fields, see Using Barcodes.
	Image	Opens a window that allows you to select an image from your computer or network and place it in a label template. For information about images, see Using Images.
	Reusable Object	You can add reusable objects An item that can contain components of a label and a form so that you can incorporate them into labels and forms efficiently and consistently. to a label template or various other objects. For more information about reusable objects, see Using Reusable Objects.
	Fixed Text	Text that does not change for each printed label or each time a form is displayed. For information about text fields, see Using Text.
	Variable Text	Text that may change for each printed label or each time a form is displayed.
	Text Box	Text that may change for each printed label.
	Oval	Add a round shape. For information about shape fields, see Using Shapes.
	Rectangle	Add a box.
	Line	Add a straight line.

Views

Icon	Command	Description
	Fields	View the name, type, and data ref of each field in this label template or other object. This command is not displayed when viewing a layout.
	Layers	View, configure, and manage the layers in this label template or other object. You can add or remove layers and configure the properties of each layer, including visibility. For more information, see Using Layers. This command is not displayed when viewing a layer object or a layout.
	Properties	Display the Properties pane if it is closed.
	Tags	View, configure, and manage the tag values applied to this label template or other object. For more information, see Categorize a Label Template or Other Object.
	Field Data Catalogs	View, configure, and manage the field data catalogs in this label template, layer object, or reusable object. For more information, see Using Field Data Catalogs.
	Data Sources	View, configure, and manage label data sources that are part of this label template or other object. For more information, see Configuring Label Data Sources. This command is not displayed when viewing a layout.
	Data Sets	View, configure, and manage data sets for this label template or other object.
	Format Sources	View, configure, and manage format sources for this label template. For more information, see Configuring Format Sources. This command is not displayed when viewing a layout.
	Linked Text Box Group	View, configure, and manage linked text boxes for this text box or layer. For more information, see Link Text Boxes.
	Label Specific Options	View, configure, and manage Label Specific Options to override device settings on a per-device model basis for this label template or other object. For more information, see Override Device Options with Label Specific Options. This command is not displayed when viewing a layer object.

Tools

Icon	Tool	Description
	Barcode Wizard	Run a wizard to guide you through the creation of a new barcode field.
	DaVinci Compare	Run a tool to compare label templates.
	Field Validation	If validation was configured on the field data catalog, check whether the fields and data on the label template are compliant with the field data catalog. For more information, see Add a Field Data Catalog.

Grid

Note: The Grid menu group is available from both the View and Arrange tabs.

Command	Description	Values
Grid (Points)	Display or hide an overlay grid on the label template or other object to assist with aligning objects. The dots or lines of the grid are not displayed in printed labels or in the forms displayed to Data Providers.
Field Envelope	Display or hide a dotted line envelope border for the selected field.
Align to Grid	Force the top left corner of an item to align with the nearest alignment overlay intersection or dot.	Align to Grid
Grid Spacing	Height and width of a grid square. The value is dependent on the unit of measure for the label template.
Line	The type of alignment overlay. The dots or lines of the grid are not displayed in printed labels or in the forms displayed to Data Providers.	Dot Line Dotted Line Dashed Line

Zoom

Icon	Command	Description	Values
	Zoom	Change the magnification level at which the label template or other object is displayed.	500% 400% 200% 150% 125% 100% 75% 50%

Icon

Command

Description

Values

Zoom

Change the magnification level at which the label template or other object is displayed.

500%

400%

200%

150%

125%

100%

75%

50%

Design Data

Command	Description	Values
Design Data	What data to show in fields when displaying a label template or a reusable object in Label Design . This option affects what is displayed in the Label View and Form View in Label Design , as well as what is displayed when you preview or print a label in Label Design . More specifically, this option affects what is displayed in text fields, barcode fields, and variable image fields. Default Value: The values specified in the Default Value property for each field are used. Placeholder: The data used for each field is placeholder data For a Variable Text field, the series of digits 1234567890, repeated until the maximum number of characters allowed for the field is displayed. For a barcode field, a sample barcode that adheres to the specified properties. For an image field, a sample image. Whether placeholder data is used in Label Design is controlled by the selection for Design Data. provided by Loftware Enterprise SP. Live Data Set: If configured, values from a live data set A collection of data (names and values) that was retrieved from a data source and is specific to a label template or a reusable object. A data set can be used to populate fields displayed in Label Design, in a preview, and when test printing. obtained from a Database data source, an Alternate data source, or a Date/Time data source are used. You can also add entries to the data set manually. Tip: If the Default Value field or the value from a live data set is empty or contains only a space and that option is selected, then a placeholder value is displayed in the Label View or Form View in Label Design . No visible indication of the field is displayed when you preview or print in Label Design . For more information, see Select Data to Display in Label Design.	Default Value Placeholder Live Data Set

Command

Description

Values

Design Data

What data to show in fields when displaying a label template or a reusable object in Label Design . This option affects what is displayed in the Label View and Form View in Label Design , as well as what is displayed when you preview or print a label in Label Design . More specifically, this option affects what is displayed in text fields, barcode fields, and variable image fields.

Default Value: The values specified in the Default Value property for each field are used.
Placeholder: The data used for each field is placeholder data For a Variable Text field, the series of digits 1234567890, repeated until the maximum number of characters allowed for the field is displayed. For a barcode field, a sample barcode that adheres to the specified properties. For an image field, a sample image. Whether placeholder data is used in Label Design is controlled by the selection for Design Data. provided by Loftware Enterprise SP.
Live Data Set: If configured, values from a live data set A collection of data (names and values) that was retrieved from a data source and is specific to a label template or a reusable object. A data set can be used to populate fields displayed in Label Design, in a preview, and when test printing. obtained from a Database data source, an Alternate data source, or a Date/Time data source are used. You can also add entries to the data set manually.

Tip: If the Default Value field or the value from a live data set is empty or contains only a space and that option is selected, then a placeholder value is displayed in the Label View or Form View in Label Design . No visible indication of the field is displayed when you preview or print in Label Design .

For more information, see Select Data to Display in Label Design.

Default Value

Placeholder

Live Data Set

Grid

Note: The Grid menu group is available from both the View and Arrange tabs.

Command	Description	Values
Grid (Points)	Display or hide an overlay grid on the label template or other object to assist with aligning objects. The dots or lines of the grid are not displayed in printed labels or in the forms displayed to Data Providers.
Field Envelope	Display or hide a dotted line envelope border for the selected field.
Align to Grid	Force the top left corner of an item to align with the nearest alignment overlay intersection or dot.	Align to Grid
Grid Spacing	Height and width of a grid square. The value is dependent on the unit of measure for the label template.
Line	The type of alignment overlay. The dots or lines of the grid are not displayed in printed labels or in the forms displayed to Data Providers.	Dot Line Dotted Line Dashed Line

Arrange

Property	Description
Left	The distance from the left edge of the selected field or area to the left edge of the label. The value is dependent on the unit of measure for the label template.
Top	The distance from the top edge of the selected field or area to the top of the label. The value is dependent on the unit of measure for the label template.
Center X	The distance from the middle of the selected field or area to the left edge of the label. The value is dependent on the unit of measure for the label template.
Center Y	The distance from the middle of the selected field or area to the top of the label. The value is dependent on the unit of measure for the label template.

Size

Property	Description
Width	The horizontal span of the selected field or area. The value is dependent on the unit of measure for the label template.
Height	The vertical span of the selected field or area. The value is dependent on the unit of measure for the label template.

Rotation

Property	Description
Rotation	The angle of the selected field or area in relation to the printed label. The value is in degrees.

Object Alignment

Icon	Command	Description
	Left	For a selected field or area, align its left edge to the left of the label template or other object. For two or more selected fields or areas, line up their left edges.
	Center	For a selected field or area, align its horizontal center to the center of the label template or other object. For two or more selected fields or areas, line up their horizontal centers.
	Right	For a selected field or area, align its right edge to the right of the label template or other object. For two or more selected fields or areas, line up their right edges.
	Top	For a selected field or area, align its top edge to the top of the label template or other object. For two or more selected fields or areas, line up their top edges.
	Middle	For a selected field or area, align its vertical midpoint to the middle of the label template or other object. For two or more selected fields or areas, line up their vertical midpoints.
	Bottom	For a selected field or area, align its bottom edge to the bottom of the label template or other object. For two or more selected fields or areas, line up their bottom edges.

Position

Command	Description
Distribute Horizontally	For two or more selected fields or areas.
Distribute Vertically	For two or more selected fields or areas.
Group	Associate the selected fields or areas so that they can be moved and configured in unison.
Ungroup	Disassociate the selected group of fields or areas so that the they can be moved and configured separately.
Bring Forward	Move a selected field or area forward in the stacking order.
Bring to Front	Move a selected field or area to the front of the stacking order.
Send Backward	Move a selected field or area backward in the stacking order.
Send to Back	Move a selected field or area to the back of the stacking order.

Print Actions, Device, and Recent Jobs

You can preview the output of this label template. You must select a device and then run the Design Print command for some options to become active.

Option	Description
View Job Status	For the job selected, display the status in Status. For more information, see Managing Job and Device Status.
Design Print	Print a label using this label template and the selected device.
Design Preview	Display a preview of the label in a separate window. The following controls are displayed in the Print Preview window. Print: Send the data currently in the form to the selected device or device queue. If running this command in Print , the values for Quantity and Duplicates specified in the main Loftware Enterprise SP window are used. If entering data for a series of labels managed by a layout, the form is reset to receive input for the next label. Close: Close the Print Preview window. Fit to Window: Scale the preview image to fit within the Print Preview window. Zoom Level: The percentage displayed is the zoom level for the preview image. You can adjust the zoom level by clicking the arrows for the field or the Fit to Window button.
Device	Select the device connection to use to print a label using this label template. This may be a physical printer, device queue, or other target for output, such as an image file or a PDF file. Click the browse button to select a device connection. Tip: Your default device is automatically selected. You can set a default device in Preferences under Print Preferences. For more information, see Set User Preferences.
Recent Jobs	View the job ID and time stamp for recent print requests.

Text Properties

Properties

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