How to add sequence numbers

To place a sequence number on a label proceeds as for adding an ordinary text block. From the EDIT menu choose ADD ELEMENT and select TEXT BLOCK from the list displayed.

The Mouse cursor changes to crossed wires. Position the cursor on the top left-hand label and, holding down the left mouse button draw a box by dragging the mouse down and to the right. Then release the left mouse button.

A dashed box outline is shown on the label image (and on all the other label images which are visible). This outline will contain some text.

Click once within the outline in the top left hand label image with the left mouse button. It become Selected - a hatched box is drawn around it to show that it is selected. Now click within the box with the right mouse button.

The Text block Property pages appear. Choose the tab for the Source page.

By default the source of text is assumed to be fixed (as in the case of the text example given earlier). However, dLabel can also derive the text from a variety of sources, including database records, files, or by Synthesising data from a user provided formula.

Push the Synthesised radio button to specify that we wish the text to be derived from a formula. If you know the formula you can type it into the box alongside the Synthesised radio button. However, it is probably safer to use the Synthesiser Wizard accessible by pushing the Wiz button.

The Formula Wizard basically consists of three drop-down lists: one for the function and two for function parameters. Pull down the function list by clicking on the arrow alongside the function box. Scrolling down the list of available functions you will find the “Sequence duplicates” function. Click on this function - the drop-down list will close and leave the “Sequence duplicates” text visible in the function box.

The Sequence duplicates function can accept two parameters: The first (“Preamble”) is some alphanumeric text which will appear as a prefix to the sequence number (i.e. it will appear before every number printed). This may be left empty if you do not require a prefix.

The second parameter is the first number to appear as the start of the sequence. The number of digits entered as the start of sequence will be used to determine the length of all subsequent numbers that are numerically less that the start number. Thus if the start number is 0000, the next will be 0001 and so on. The number 12345 (i.e. 5 digits will still be printed, but will obviously occupy one more character position than the first label.

Enter the required start number then push the Use button. The formula appears in the Formula box. Push the OK button to close the Wizard. Then push the OK button to close the property pages.

The screen is redrawn with each label containing the appropriate sequence number within the text box.

A similar technique may be used to create a sequence of barcodes using the barcode property pages.

 

More:

How to create a new database