DesignAdd a Variable Layer

You can add a Variable LayerClosed A type of area that includes a dynamic reference to a data ref that is resolved to the path of a layer object at print time. area to a label template that acts as a placeholder until a specific layer object is determined at print time. The path to the actual layer object in Loftware Enterprise SP can be provided by entering data into a prompt, by retrieving the path from a database, or by generating the path using a formula or script.

Tip: For general information about layers or information about adding a layer areaClosed A type of area that contains a reference to either an existing layer object or to a data ref that resolves to the path to a layer object. A layer area can be added to the Label view of a label template. to a label template, see Using Layers. For information about creating a layer objectClosed A type of object that can contain fields appropriate for the Label view of label template. To be used by a label template, a layer object must be referenced by a layer area in the label template., see Create a Layer Object.

To add a Variable Layer to the Label view of a label template, use this procedure.

  1. In the View tab, click Layers.
  2. Click Add to open the Add New Layer box. Configure the following properties for the layer area.
    1. For Name, enter a name by which to identify the layer area within this label template. This name is not required to match the name of the layer object that the field will reference.
    2. For Color, select a color to outline the envelope of the layer. This color is displayed only in Label Design Label Design and only if applied in the properties for the layer. The color is not printed.
    3. Optionally, for Layer Path you can select a layer object to serve as the default to which the layer area will refer if the Data Ref does not receive data. This path becomes the Default Value for the layer area.
    4. For Type, select Variable Layer.
  3. Click OK.
  4. In the Label view, click the layer area to select it. You can drag it to position it. For a Variable Layer, you can drag the handles to resize the layer area.
  5. The layer areas in a label template are stacked from top to bottom in the order shown in the Layers pane. To change the order, drag an entry for a layer area to change its position in the list. Alternatively, you can use the Order controls in the Position menu or toolbar.
  6. To configure the visibility of the layer area, in the Layers pane select or clear the Visible check box for that layer area.
  7. You must specify a data source designed to return the path to a layer object in Loftware Enterprise SP. Until you do so, the Data Ref is set to a preliminary value of <Layer Area Name>_REF.
    1. In the View tab, click Data Sources.
    2. In the Data Sources box, navigate to a data source designed to return the path to a layer object.
    3. Drag the data source onto the layer area.
    4. Click the layer area and confirm that the value of the Data Ref has been updated to specify the data source that you selected.

      Important! The Data Ref for a layer area must not be the same as the Field Name for that layer area.

      Tip: The Data Ref is the path to the data source that you selected. For Default Value, you can select a layer object to be referred to by this layer area if the data source does not return a value. If the data source returns a value, the Default Value will not be displayed even if the value returned by the data source is not valid.

  8. In the Properties pane, configure the Layer Area Properties.

    Tip: The option selected for Design Data in the View tab controls what data is used in fields and areas when previewed, printed, or displayed in Label Design Label Design. Either default dataClosed For each field, the value specified in the Default Value property for that field., placeholder dataClosed 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., or data from a live data setClosed 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. can be used. For more information, see Select Data to Display in Label Design.