Using Data Entry at Print-Time |
In some cases, the data for one or more objects on your template might not be known or available until print-time. Consider the following examples:
A standard shipping label includes the weight of a package, but the weight of the package is not known until print-time.
A product label for perishable items needs the current date entered each time you print the label.
The print operator needs to be able to specify a particular database record to print from a group of records contained in a database table.
Understanding the Data Entry Form
A data entry form appears at print-time and enables users to enter data that is related to the printed items. That data can be printed directly on the items, be used as criteria to determine the content printed on the items, or even be information about the print job that is saved to a database rather than being included on the printed items.
A default data entry form is available for each document and you can create as many additional forms as you require. A form is available for use at print-time once you have created a single data entry control on it, although you can subsequently configure how often the form appears during a print job, or if it appears at all. You can also re-size the form, specify its position on the monitor at print-time, set the tab order of the controls on the form, and change the form's background color.
Many user-input controls are available for use on the data entry form and they are all highly configurable. Additionally, you can add organizational controls and objects to the form to provide structure and information to help users correctly complete the form.