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Setting Up Serialization

You can enable and configure the serialization for a text or barcode object's data source by using the Serialization dialog, which is accessible from the Transforms tab on the Data Sources property page.

Standard Serialization

Any new serialization defaults to "standard" serialization, which increases (increments) or decreases (decrements) the data source value by 1 each time a document is printed. The following example is a standard serialization.

ClosedTo serialize a text or barcode object

  1. Create a text object or barcode object on your template.

  2. Double-click the object to open the Object Properties dialog. Alternatively, click Properties on the object's context menu.

  3. In the left Navigation Pane, click the object's data source.

  4. On the Data Source tab, in the Embedded Data field, enter the starting value for the data source. For this example, enter "001".

  5. Click the Transforms tab.

  6. Click the icon at the right of Serialization to open the Serialization dialog.

  7. Click the Serialization tab.

  8. Click Increment or Decrement.

  9. Click the desired serialization method on the Method dropdown list. (For more information about the available serialization methods, refer to Serialization Method).

  10. Click to select the Preserve the number of characters check box to specify that the length of the data source remains the same when the value of the data source is reset. For example, if the reset value on the Reset tab is set to 100, after that limit has been reached, the serialization will reset to 001.

  11. Leave the Increment (or Decrement) by field set at 1.

  12. Under When to Increment (or Decrement, depending on which option you selected), select the Event that will cause the number to increment or decrement.

  13. In the Event Interval field, enter the value that you want to use to specify how often you want the previously selected event to occur before the serialization value increments or decrements. Alternatively, click to the right of the field to open the Serialization Interval Value dialog, where you can specify the constant value you want to use or specify that the value is obtained from a database field or named data source.

  14. Set the Print Quantity options.

  15. Click the Reset tab to specify the reset options.

  16. On the Reset tab, click to select the Specified value is reached check box.

  17. In the Value field, enter "999" for this example.

  18. Click the Serialization tab to return to the main Serialization dialog.

  19. Test the serialization sequence by clicking Preview Sequence.

  20. When you have finished creating your serialization, click OK to close the Serialization dialog.

  21. Click Close to close the Properties dialog.

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