Open topic with navigation

External Picture File

With external picture files, BarTender stores only the path and name of the picture file, not the actual picture. When you print a document, BarTender will automatically update the image based on the path and file name provided. If picture files frequently change, linking to an external picture file can be a time-saving alternative to embedding a picture as part of the document.

You may not need to import a picture if what you want is a standard complex caution, warning, hazardous materials, packaging, textile care, electrical matters, or industrial workplace symbol. Most of these are available in one of the special symbol "fonts" that come with BarTender. For more information on placing a Symbol Font Characters Text Object on the template, refer to the "Text Object" section of Adding Objects to the Template and Adding Objects to the Data Entry Form, respectively.

You can link to a picture using one of the following methods:

ClosedSpecify File Name

When you link to a picture file by specifying the file name, BarTender looks for an image stored in a specific location on your computer. If an original picture file changes, BarTender updates the picture displayed on the template or data entry form. If the original picture file is moved, deleted, or renamed and BarTender cannot locate it, the picture will turn black. BarTender will alert you if picture files cannot be found. For additional information, refer to Error Handling Dialog.

To link a picture file using the Specify File Name option

  1. Select the icon on the object toolbar to display a list of all picture sources. Alternatively, select Picture from the Create menu.

  2. Select Specify File Name to open the Select Picture dialog.

  3. In the Location field, select the drive and/or directory that contains the desired picture file.

  4. In the list box directly below the Location field, double-click on the name of the folder that contains the picture file. Continue double-clicking until you open the subfolder that contains the desired file.

  5. Select the desired picture file.

  6. Click Select to return to the template or data entry form.

  7. Click at the desired location on the template or data entry form to add the picture.

ClosedGet File Name from Database Field

The option Get File Name from Database Field is available only when importing a picture object onto the template. It is not available for importing a picture object onto the data entry form.

When you link to a database field containing the path and/or file name to a picture, BarTender references the field to locate the image on your computer. For example, if you have a database of parts for which you regularly print labels, assigning a field inside the database to reference picture files and then referencing that field from BarTender would allow you to print a different picture per item for each record in the database.

To link a picture file using the Get File Name from Database Field option

  1. Select the icon on the object toolbar to display a list of all picture sources. Alternatively, select Picture from the Create menu.

  2. Select Get File Name from Database Field to return to the template.

  3. Click at the desired location on the template to add the picture and open the Picture Properties dialog.

  4. If you have not previously connected to a database, click Database Connection Setup on the Picture property page to link a database to your document. For more information, refer to Connecting to a Database.

  5. Under Field Name, select the field containing the path and/or file name to the image.

  6. If a path is not specified in the database, enter the path into the Default Path field.

  7. Click Close to return to the template.

ClosedGet File Name from Data Source

The option Get File Name from Data Source is available only when importing a picture object onto the template. It is not available for importing a picture object onto the data entry form.

When you refer to a data source which contains the path and/or file name of a picture, BarTender locates the image at the specified location on your computer. If an original picture file changes, BarTender updates the picture displayed on the template; subsequently, the picture printed will also be updated.

To link a picture file using the Get File Name from Data Source option

  1. Select the icon on the object toolbar to display a list of all picture sources. Alternatively, select Picture from the Create menu.

  2. Select Get File Name from Data Source to return to the template.

  3. Click at the desired location on the template to add the picture and open the Picture Properties dialog.

  4. If a path is not specified in the data source, enter the path into the Default Path field.

  5. Select the data source in the Navigation Pane to display the Data Sources property page.

  6. In the Embedded Data field, enter the path and/or file name of the external picture file.

  7. Click Close to return to the template.

Related Topics