Add a Field Data Catalog

You can use field data catalogs when designing a label template, layer object, or reusable object to streamline your design process and ensure you are meeting field name requirements. A field data catalog contains a predefined set of field names with associated parameters, including data source reference for variable field data, and may include validation depending on the configuration of the field data catalog .

Tip: For information about creating field data catalogs, see Create a Field Data Catalog.

To add an existing field data catalog to a label template, layer object, or reusable object, use this procedure.

1. In Label Design , in the View tab, click Field Data Catalogs.
2. In the Field Data Catalogs box, click .
3. Navigate to the field data catalog you want to use and select which version to associate with the label template, layer object, or reusable object.

   Tip: Because a specific version of a field data catalog must be associated with the object, any changes made to the field data catalog after this step will not be available to the object. For more information, see Change the Version of an Associated Field Data Catalog. You can see which version of a field data catalog is currently associated with the object by hovering over the field data catalog name in the View > Field Data Catalogs box.
   

4. Expand the field data catalog list(s) to display all available fields.

   Tip: You can hover over a field in the Field Data Catalogs box to view its data ref and max length.

5. To set the data ref of an existing barcode, image, text box, or variable text field on the label template, layer object, or reusable object, drag a field from the Field Data Catalogs box onto the existing field on the canvas. The name and data ref of the existing field are updated to that of the field data catalog.

   Tip: If a field already exists with the same name, then counter numbers are appended to the new field name.

6. To create a new barcode, image, text box, or variable text field from the field data catalog, drag a field from the Field Data Catalogs box onto the canvas, select the component type, and then click OK.
7. Continue with Validate Fields.

Validate Fields

If validation was configured on the field data catalog, you can click Field Validation in the View tab to check whether the fields and data on the label template, layer object, or reusable object are compliant with the field data catalog.

Error	Description	To Resolve
Required Catalog 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 in the field data catalog that do not exist on the label template or other object.	Add every field from the associated field data catalogs to the object.
Non-Exclusive Document Fields	Any barcodes, images, variable text, or text boxes on the label template or other object must be defined in the field data catalog. Validation fails if barcodes, images, variable text, or text boxes exist on the label template or other object that are not defined in the field data catalog.	Remove any barcodes, images, variable text, or text boxes from the object that are not defined in the associated field data catalogs.
Possible Field Data Truncation	The maximum number of characters allowed for the field is less than the number of characters allowed by the field data catalog, and the Force Max Chars property is enabled. Therefore, the field data may be truncated.	Set the field properties to allow the same number of characters as the Max Length value of the field in the field data catalog (i.e., Lines and Chars per Line for variable text, or Max Length for barcodes). Tip: Hover over a field in the Field Data Catalogs box to view its Max Length value.
Possible Field Data Overflow	The maximum number of characters configured for the field is less than the number of characters allowed by the field data catalog. Therefore, the field data may overrun the envelope.	Set the field properties to allow the same number of characters as the Max Length value of the field in the field data catalog (i.e., Lines and Chars per Line for variable text, or Max Length for barcodes). Tip: Hover over a field in the Field Data Catalogs box to view its Max Length value.
Non-Specific Layer Version	The label template contains a fixed layer with a non-specific version (i.e., *.* or *.0 or it is not version-controlled). Layers with dynamic version references may change at print time and cannot be validated through field data catalogs.	Add a specific version of the fixed layer to the label template to maintain the field data catalog association and allow for field validation.

Change the Version of an Associated Field Data Catalog

When you associate a field data catalog with a label template, layer object, or reusable object, you select a specific version of the field data catalog. Therefore, any updates made to the field data catalog after it is associated are not automatically available to the object. To see which version of a field data catalog is currently associated, hover over the field data catalog name in the View > Field Data Catalogs box.

If you want to associate a different or updated version of a field data catalog, do the following.

1. In Label Design , in the View tab, click Field Data Catalogs.
2. Disassociate the field data catalog by selecting it in Field Data Catalogs box and then clicking .
3. Click to associate the field data catalog again.
4. Navigate to the field data catalog and select the version you want to associate with the label template, layer object, or reusable object.