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Adding Objects to the Template

While the same basic steps are used to add any object to the template, additional actions or considerations may be necessary depending on the object type.

ClosedBarcode Object

Placing a barcode on the template is quite simple, but before doing so, you must determine the best barcode for your needs and the optimal customization of that barcode. Refer to Understanding Barcode Symbologies and Barcode Properties dialog for more information about types of barcode symbologies and the property pages supported by BarTender for customizing the barcode.

ClosedTo add a barcode object to the template

  1. Select the icon on the object toolbar to open a list of recently used barcode symbologies. Alternatively, select Barcode from the Create menu. The first time you perform this step, the Select Barcode dialog is automatically displayed. In this case, please skip forward to step 3, below.

  2. Select More Barcodes from the list to open the Select Barcode dialog.

  3. Using the dialog's Navigation Pane, select the appropriate folder and click on the desired barcode from those listed in the Results Pane, to right of the Navigation Pane. A preview of the selected barcode will appear in the Select Barcode dialog.

    Alternatively, you can type a barcode name into the Search field and select from the search results, or click the All Symbologies folder in the Navigation Pane and scroll through the alphabetic barcode list in the Results Pane to locate and select the barcode you want.

  4. Click Select to return to the template.

  5. Click at the desired location on the template to add the barcode object.

  6. Open the Barcode Properties dialog to customize the object.

Once you have selected a barcode using the procedure above, the selected barcode symbology will be added to the list of Recently Used Barcodes that appears when you click the the icon. This allows you to easily add the selected barcode symbology to future template designs, bypassing the Select Barcode dialog.

ClosedText Object

When you want to add a text object to the template, the procedure will vary based on the type of text object you want to create: 

ClosedTo add a Single Line, Multi-line, or Arc Text Object to the Template

  1. Select the icon on the object toolbar to display a list of all available text object types. Alternatively, select Text from the Create menu.

  2. Click the type of text object you want to add to your template.

  3. Click at the desired location on the template to add the text object.

  4. Open the Text Properties dialog to customize the object.

ClosedTo add a Word Processor Text Object to the Template

  1. Select the icon on the object toolbar to display a list of all available text object types. Alternatively, select Text from the Create menu.

  2. Click Word Processor.

  3. Click at the desired location on the template to add the work processor text object.

  4. Open the Word Processor Text Properties dialog to customize the object.

ClosedTo add a Symbol Font Characters Text Object to the Template

  1. Select the icon on the object toolbar to display a list of all available text object types. Alternatively, select Text from the Create menu.

  2. From the dropdown list, select Symbol Font Characters to open the Insert Symbols or Special Characters dialog.

  3. Select the desired special symbol font from the Font dropdown list. The symbols included with BarTender are installed as "Seagull" fonts.

  4. Select the desired symbol from the preview images.

  5. Select the desired font size using the Size option at the bottom of the dialog.

  6. Click Insert to close the Insert Symbols or Special Characters dialog. Alternatively, double-click on the desired symbol to close the dialog.

  7. Click at the desired location on the template to add the symbol.

  8. Open the Text Properties dialog to customize the object.

Each of the symbols in a Seagull font corresponds to a letter on your keyboard. In some cases where you do not have access to a graphical interface, you can still insert special symbols into your BarTender document using these letters. When a Seagull font is selected, you can type the letter found in the bottom left corner of the Insert Symbols or Special Characters dialog to insert a selected symbol. For example, if you select Seagull: Warning v.1.0 as the font, and type the letter "S", the symbol for a stop sign will be printed on your items.

ClosedTo add a Markup Language Container Text Object to the Template

  1. Select the icon on the object toolbar to display a list of all available text object types. Alternatively, select Text from the Create menu.

  2. From the dropdown list, select the markup language you want to use.

  3. Click at the desired location on the template to add the markup language text object.

  4. From the object's context menu, select Properties to open the Markup Language Text Properties dialog.

  5. In the Navigation Pane of the Properties dialog, select the data source you want to use to populate the text object. For Embedded Data, enter the specified markup language code to create the desired text formatting.

  6. Using the additional property pages in the Navigation Pane, make further customizations to the object as needed.

  7. Click Close to close the Markup Language Text Properties dialog and return to the template.

ClosedLine Object

A line can be drawn on the template in any direction and at any angle you wish. After you have created a line object, you can format it by modifying its color and styles using the Line property page.

ClosedTo add a line to your template

  1. Select the icon on the object toolbar. Alternatively, select Line from the Create menu.

  2. Click and hold down the primary mouse button at the desired location on the template.

  3. Drag the cursor to the desired end point of the line.

  4. Release the mouse button to draw the line object.

  5. Use the secondary mouse button to open the line object's context menu.

  6. Select Properties to open the Line Properties dialog to customize the object.

ClosedShape Object

You can add a shape to a template or combine multiple shapes into a single object to make a more complex drawing. After you have added a shape to the template, you can format it by modifying its color and styles using the Shape property page.

ClosedTo add a shape to your template

  1. Select the icon on the object toolbar to display a list of all available shapes. Alternatively, select Shape from the Create menu.

  2. Click the shape you want to add to your template.

  3. Click at the desired location on the template to add the shape.

  4. Open the Shape Properties dialog to customize the object.

ClosedTo combine multiple shapes into a single object

  1. Once all of the desired objects have been added to the template and placed where you want them, select each one while pressing the Ctrl key on your keyboard.

  2. Select Group from the Arrange menu.

By grouping the objects together, when you select one object in the group, all will be selected. This allows you to move the drawing, composed of multiple objects, together as a single object. For more information, refer to Creating an Object Group.

ClosedPicture Object

You can easily add a picture object to your template in a variety of ways. For more information about the different methods for importing an image, refer to Picture Source Options.

ClosedTo add a picture object to your template

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

  2. Select the desired method for importing the image. The following options are available:

For a list of the image formats supported by BarTender, refer to Supported Image Formats.

ClosedEncoder Object

Required Edition (RFID)

Professional, Automation, Enterprise Automation

Required Edition (Smart Cards)

Enterprise Automation

Required Drivers (All Encoder Objects)

Drivers by Seagull™

Adding an encoder object to your template allows you to place RFID, magnetic stripe, and smart card technologies onto the printed item.

ClosedTo add an Encoder Object to the template

  1. Select the icon on the object toolbar to display a list of available encoding technologies. Alternatively, select Encoder from the Create menu.

  2. Click the desired encoding technology to open the Object Properties dialog.

  3. Click Close to insert the encoder object on your template.

For more information about the technologies supported by an encoder object, refer to Magnetic Stripe Technology and RFID Encoding Technology.

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