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Designer

You can find the Label Designer at the top of the printer plug-in menu, next to the buttons for creating and editing labels. With the Label Designer,

  • you can specify the document size,
  • define the template variables with default values,
  • and place the elements “Text”, “Rectangle,” “Barcode”, and “Image.” Elements of the types “Text” and “Barcode” can be assigned template variables.

Setting the Document Size​

You can freely define the document size in the menu under “Settings - Document Size” or select sizes available on the printer of your choice. The second option is particularly useful if you already know which printer you will be using. On the other hand, you’re not committing to a specific printer if you use the second option here—for example, to quickly set a DIN format using the Microsoft XPS Printer. Sizes are specified in millimeters.

  1. So select the option “Custom size” or “Supported size”.” You’ll find this menu option in the Label Designer under “Settings” and “Document Size.”
    • Custom Size: Enter the document size.
    • Supported Sizes: Select a printer and document size.
  2. Confirm by clicking “OK”.”
  3. If necessary, select the desired format from the “Settings - Landscape” menu.

Defining Template Variables​

Template variables are dynamically populated at runtime with values, such as those from the control system or batch and job data from the database. Here, you define the required placeholders and assign default values if desired. The values can be printed as text or a barcode.

  1. Click the “New placeholder” button.
  2. Enter a name and confirm by clicking “OK”.”
  3. The template variable appears in the list. Assign a default value, if desired.
  4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 for all required placeholders.
  5. If you want to remove a variable, click on its name in the list and delete or rename it there.

Placing Elements​

The following elements are available:

  • Text: A combination of free text and placeholders. You can set the size and position of the text frame, as well as the font, font size, font color, and text alignment.
  • Rectangle: A frame with customizable size and position. You can set the frame color, style, and thickness, as well as the fill color.
  • Barcode: Customizable barcode. You can set the size, position, encoding, and content (fixed text/numbers and placeholders). In addition, the alignment for a barcode and/or barcode text can be configured.
  • Image: An image file with a freely adjustable position and size, to be selected from the file system.
  • Click the “New Element” button and select the “Image” type from the list that opens.
  • The element is placed in the upper-left corner. Move it using the coordinates in the properties or simply by dragging and dropping.
  • Set the size of the element. To do this, click on the element’s border and drag it to the desired size, or set the size precisely in the properties.
  • Set the other properties.
tip

Use “Insert Placeholder” (Text and Barcode) to insert a defined template variable at the appropriate location.

warning

Do not change the syntax of inserted placeholders—the router cannot map modified placeholders and will output an incorrect label.

tip

In the color definition, in addition to the values for red, green, and blue, you can also specify the value “Alpha” to set transparency (0 = invisible, 255 = opaque, for text and frames).

tip

Tip: Placeholders can also be used within the image path to dynamically exchange images.

Under the View menu, you can select “Show Frames” for image elements.

Test Print, Save, and Close​

  • Under the menu item “Test print”," select “Printing” to initiate a test print on a configured printer.
  • A save prompt appears when you try to close the input window using the window button.
  • Use the window button “Close” to exit the Designer and return to the router configuration.

Modifying Existing Templates​

You can modify the corresponding template at any time by double-clicking the entry in the plug-in configuration.

warning

Do not change any variable names or delete any template variables that are already being used in the Flow project configuration. The router cannot use placeholders that have been modified in this way and will output an incorrect label (e.g., with the default value).