Introduction to Data Sources |
During printing, data from a variety of sources can be merged with your template to complete your print job. Multiple data sources can be concatenated into a single object. Most of the time, objects on a template use a single data source to determine the contents of the source. However, sometimes you may wish to place information from two or more data sources into a single barcode, encoder, or text object. By appending additional data sources to the object, you can combine them so that they are outputted as a single string (this is sometimes referred to as "string concatenation").
In the Navigation Pane of the Object Properties dialog, BarTender lists all of the data sources contained in the selected object. This list provides a clear, visual description of the number of data sources in the object, as well as the data source type used for each one.
When you select a data source in the Navigation Pane, the tabs on the right will give you the ability to do things like read from a database field, serialize a number, or link it to a control on the integrated print-time data entry form.
When you initially add an object to the template, the selected object will contain only a single data source with sample data. The default value can easily be modified, and additionally, you can append other data sources to the default data source. The total number of data sources that can be concatenated in a single barcode, encoder, or text object depends solely on the number of characters that will fit on the template.
To create a new data source
Double-click on the object to which you wish to add a new data source to open the Object Properties dialog. Alternatively, select Properties from the object's context menu.
Select the 
icon, located on the data source toolbar to launch the New Data Source Wizard.
Select the desired data source type.
Depending on the data source type, click Next to configure the data source. Otherwise, select Finish to create the new data source.
The data source toolbar, located beneath the Navigation Pane on the left side of the the Object Properties dialog, allows you to easily create a new data source; additionally, you can delete a data source, copy an existing data source, or change the order of data sources for the selected object.
The data source toolbar contains the following controls:
Launches the New Data Source wizard, which allows you to insert a new data source into the selected object.
Grants access to the GS1 Data Source wizard, which allows you to insert a data source that conforms to GS1 specifications.
Removes the selected data source.
Removes the selected data source and places a copy in
Copies the selected data source to
Inserts a copy of the data source currently in the clipboard into the selected object.
Moves the selected data source up one position in the Navigation Pane.
Moves the selected data source down one position in the Navigation Pane.