Word Processor

The content of a Word Processor text object can be formatted using BarTender's Word Processor, an easy-to-use interface that enables you to modify the content of the text object.

To access the Word Processor, double-click on a Word Processor text object or select Properties from the context menu to open the Word Processor Text Properties dialog. On the Word Processor property page, click the Word Processor button.

The Word Processor organizes all of its available commands in a "ribbon", designed to make all formatting options quickly accessible. Similar commands are organized into groups, contained within the tabs which make up the ribbon. Based on your personal preference, you can choose to minimize the ribbon, so that you only see the tabs while working inside the Word Processor.

Available Ribbon Tabs

In addition to formatting the text using the Word Processor, you can also modify the contents of the text object. To do so, simply click inside of the text until a blinking cursor appears. You can then add or delete text as desired. To remove all text from the object, click on the icon, and select Clear from the dropdown list.

Exporting and Importing Documents

The text contained inside the Word Processor can be exported and saved as a file. This allows you to use the formatting of an existing object in another object on the template, or in another document. To export the contents of the Word Processor, complete the following steps:

1. Double-click on the desired text object on the template to open the Text Properties dialog. Alternatively, select Properties from the object's context menu.

2. Select Word Processor from the list of available properties pages to display the Word Processor property page.

3. Select Word Processor.

4. Click the icon.

5. Select Export from the dropdown list.

6. Enter a file name, and select Save to export the object as a document.

In the event you need to use data and formatting from an existing document, you can import that document into an existing text object using the Word Processor. BarTender uses the information in the existing document and converts it to rich text format. If there is advanced formatting in the source document that is not supported by RTF, these advanced features will not be retained in the rich text object. When you need to import an existing document into a rich text object, complete the following steps:

1. Add a new Word Processor text object to the template.

2. Double-click on the text object to open the Text Properties dialog. Alternatively, select Properties from the object's context menu.

3. Select Word Processor from the list of available properties pages to display the Word Processor property page.

4. Select Word Processor.

5. Click the icon.

6. Select Import from the dropdown list.

7. Browse to the desired document, and select Open to import the contents into BarTender's Word Processor.

Merging Data Using the Word Processor

BarTender allows you to insert data from an external source into an object on a template. If you have multiple items to print and the data changes from item to item, you are able to connect to a database that contains the text or image path, and use the data in an object. Many objects in BarTender accept database input, including barcodes, text objects, pictures, and rich text objects. For more information on connecting to a database in BarTender, see Reading Data from Databases.

In some cases, you may need to use multiple data sources in a single object to obtain the expected output on your printed items. For example, suppose you have a data string, like your company's name, that is to appear exactly the same on every item to be printed. Rather than repeat the company name on each record in the database, you can specify the company name once as an embedded data source. Most objects allow you to have multiple data source types in the same object using multiple data sources.

The exception to this is the text object that was created using the Word Processor. Using Merge Fields, you can easily combine embedded data with data from an external data source without complicating the design process with multiple data sources.

Merge Fields

Once you have opened the Word Processor, click the Merge Fields tab to insert data from a database, or to view existing fields in your object.

The first group in the Merge Fields ribbon is the Insert group. As the name suggests, you can use the items in this group to insert a database field or named data source into the rich text object. To do so, simply click on Database Field or Named Data Source, and select the desired option from the dropdown list. Once you have selected the database field or named data source, the item will appear at the text cursor in the editor.

The second group in the Merge Fields ribbon, View, defines how the database field looks in the editor. The following options are available:

• Merged Data. Displays the data contained inside the database field or named data source. You can browse through the different records of the database using the navigation controls at the bottom of the Rich Text Editor.

• Field Names. Displays the name of the database field or named data source, contained in angle quotes («»). The database field name is formatted as the table name, followed by the selected field name.

Related Topics

• Word Processor Property Page

 

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