Serialization Dialog

Serialization refers to the act of assigning a unique identification code to each item in a series. Although each identifier is typically called a "serial number," it can include letters, numbers, or symbols.

In BarTender, you can enable and configure the serialization setup for a data source using the Serialization dialog, accessible from the Transforms tab. Once you have set up a data source to serialize, the value will be set automatically by the application after every print job.

Consider the following example: You received a shipment of 10 boxes from a supply carrier. Each box has an identical label, stating the contents of the box. However, to verify that all 10 boxes are received, you want the label to identify each box in the shipment, so that the label on the first box shows "1 of 10"; the label on the second box shows "2 of 10", the label on the third box shows "3 of 10", and so on. To show this information, you would add a text object that increments to your label template. The only difference between each box's label is the incrementation (or serialization) of the new text object's data source.

Serialization Tab

The Serialization tab defines how the data source value will change for each item that prints.

Don't Serialize: When selected, specifies that the selected data source will not change its value for each item that prints. This is the default setting.
Increment: When selected, specifies that the selected data source will increase its value for each item that prints (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4).
Decrement: When selected, specifies that the selected data source will decrease its value for each item that prints (e.g., 10, 9, 8, 7).
Method/Letters: Specifies the set of characters used to serialize the data source.
Preserve the number of characters: When enabled, specifies that the length of the data source will remain the same when the value of the data source is reset. For example, if the Reset Limit is set to 100, once that limit has been reached, the serialization will reset to 001.
Increment/Decrement by: Specifies by how much the selected data source will be serialized for each item.

Opens the Serialization Step Value dialog, which defines how BarTender determines the amount by which each item in the sequence increments or decrements.
Preview Sequence: Opens the Preview of Serialized Sequence dialog, which displays the sequence with all of the current serialization settings in place.

When to Increment

The When to Increment section defines how often serialization should occur. You can choose to serialize after a specified number of items such as a page of labels, or when the value of a named data source changes.

Event: When selected, serializes the data source after the specified criteria have been met. The following options are available:

Standard: When selected, serializes the value of the data source at the frequency specified in the Event interval and Serial Numbers options below.
Every record: When selected, serializes the value of the data source after the specified number of records.
Every page: When selected, serializes the value of the data source after the specified number of pages have printed.
Every print job: When selected, serializes the value of the data source after the specified number of print jobs have been executed for the document.

When data changes: When selected, serializes the value of the data source when the value of another data source is modified, either via a database or a VBScript.
- Data Item: Specifies the data source whose value will be changed. Select the icon to open the Select Data Source dialog where you can select the desired data source.
Every copy: When selected, serializes the value of the data source after the specified number of copies have printed.

Event interval: Determines how many items, such as pages, records, or print jobs, to use before moving to the next step in the serialized sequence. For instance, if you need to print both a packaging label and an invoice that contains the same serial number, you can set the Event interval to 2 and the Event to Standard. BarTender would then print the same number on two items before proceeding with the serialization sequence.

Opens the Serialization Interval Value dialog, which manages the frequency at which the sequence increments or decrements.
Track interval remaining between print jobs: When enabled, carries over the remaining values in a serialization sequence between multiple print jobs. Consider the following example: You have a data source set to serialize every three labels, such as "1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, etc.". When you print five labels, your first print job will print 1, 1, 1, 2, 2. The next print job for this template will continue the sequence with the serial numbers "2, 3, 3, 3, 4." Available when Event interval is a constant number greater than 1.
Partial interval remaining from previous jobs: Determines the amount of interval to carry over between print jobs. The number selected may not be greater than the number specified in Event interval. BarTender will increment or decrement based on the value for each item that prints. BarTender automatically sets the serialization value after every print job.

Print Quantity

The Print Quantity section allows you to specify the number of copies per serial number. These settings can also be adjusted in the Print dialog. Clicking next to any of the options opens the Print Quantity Options dialog.

Copies: Specifies the number of copies that you want to print of each document. If you are reading from a database, this determines the number of copies that will print for each record in the print job. Available when serialization is disabled for the selected data source.
Serial Numbers: Specifies the number of times the template will print with a changed serial number. The starting data is determined by the contents of the data source. The number entered into the Serial Numbers field determines the length of the serialization sequence, using the starting data and the settings specified.

If you are reading from a database, the Serial Numbers field determines the number of changed serial numbers that will print for each record in the print job. Available when serialization is enabled for the selected data source.
Copies per Serial Number: Specifies the number of copies that will print for each value in the serialization sequence. Available when serialization is enabled for the selected data source.

Reset Tab

The Reset tab defines how often BarTender will reset the value of the data source when it is set to serialize. Using this tab, you can configure when to reset the serialization sequence, and the value at which it will reset.

When to Reset Serialized Value

Specified value is reached: When enabled, resets serialization when it reaches the specified limit value.

Value: Defines the maximum or minimum value in the serialized sequence, after which the sequence will reset. For example, if you have a value of "10" and you are incrementing the value, the sequence will reset to "1" when it reaches "10".

Opens the Serialization Reset Limit Value dialog, which allows you to manage the maximum serialization value. Once this value has been reached, the serialization sequence will reset. This value can be a set constant integer value, or pulled from a database or named data source.
Every job: When enabled, resets the serialization sequence each time a new print job is executed.
Every database record: When enabled, resets the serialization sequence when it encounters a new database record.
Data changes: When enabled, resets the serialization sequence when the value of another data source is modified, either via a database or a VBScript.

Data Item: Specifies the data source whose value will be changed. Select the icon to open the Select Data Source dialog where you can select the desired data source.
Calendar or clock changes: When enabled, resets the serialization sequence on the selected time interval, such as every day, month, or year.

Reset Value

Reset to: Determines the base value to which the sequence will return after a reset.

Opens the Serialization Reset Start Value dialog, which allows you to specify either a constant value to which the sequence will reset, or select a value from a database field or a named data source.
Reset Now: Manually resets the sequence to the value found in the Reset to field.