Reading Data from Databases

A database is a collection of information, structured in a way that it relates categories of data to each other. When databases are stored on your computer, you can use the information contained therein to populate objects on your template. In other words, by setting up a database in BarTender, you can use the information in the database to print items containing different data, while using the same template. For example, if your database contains serial numbers, you can import the numbers into a barcode object on your template. When you execute a print job, each item will print with different numbers in the barcode, all printing the data contained in records of your database.

When to Read from a Database

In general, the quickest way to print simple items from BarTender means that you type directly into objects on the template, using the Embedded Data source. However, more complex designs often require that some or all of the data come from an external database rather than be typed in at the keyboard. Consider the following situations:

• You have multiple items that you need to output, but some of the data changes on each item that prints.

• All of the data you need to print on your items is contained inside of a database or spreadsheet.

• The data you need to print is automatically created by an external application.

In all of these cases, it is easier to connect BarTender to an existing database on your computer and import the information from the database into your template.

The Different Kinds of Databases

There are several categories of databases from which BarTender can read data:

• OLE DB Data Source. OLE DB is a technology that enables Windows applications to obtain data from all major database and spreadsheet formats.

• ODBC Data Source. ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) is a technology with the same purpose as OLE DB, but it is older and can be used with fewer database types.

• SAP R/3 Intermediate Document (IDoc) File. An SAP IDoc is a type of hierarchically organized text file that can be used to pass data from SAP R/3 systems to BarTender.

• Text Files. Delimited text files or fixed-width fields text files.

Related Topics

• Setting Up BarTender to Read from Databases

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