Word Processor |
To access the Word Processor, double-click a word processor text object, or click Properties on the context menu to open the Word Processor Text Properties dialog. Then, on the Word Processor property page, click Word Processor.
The Word Processor organizes all of its available commands in a ribbon, which is designed to make all formatting options quickly accessible. Similar commands are organized into groups and contained in the tabs that make up the ribbon. Based on your personal preference, you can choose to minimize the ribbon so that you see the tabs only while you work inside the Word Processor.
Tab |
Description |
---|---|
Home |
Contains the most frequently used commands. This includes the Clipboard, font selection, and paragraph formatting. |
Insert |
Contains commands to insert symbols, pictures, or data sources into the object. |
Merge Fields |
Contains commands to link existing data sources in the object. |
Table |
Contains commands to insert and edit tables in the object. |
Layout |
Contains commands that affect the layout of the object. |
View |
Contains commands to zoom in and out of the object display. |
In addition to formatting the text by using the Word Processor, you can modify the contents of the text object. To do this, click inside the text until a blinking cursor appears. You can then add or delete the text that you want. To remove all text from the object, click the icon, and then click Clear.
You can export the text in the Word Processor and save it as a file. When you do this, you can import the formatting of an existing object into another object on the template or into another document.
To export the contents of the Word Processor
To import an existing document into a Rich Text object
In some cases, you might 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, such as 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 one time as an embedded data source. Most objects can use multiple data source types in the same object by using multiple data sources.
The exception to this is the text object that was created by using the Word Processor. You can use Merge Fields to easily combine embedded data with data from an external data source without complicating the design process with multiple data sources.
Merge Fields
After you open 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 this, click Database Field or Named Data Source, and then click the option that you want in the list. The item then appears 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 that is contained in the database field or named data source. You can browse the different records of the database by using the navigation options at the bottom of the Rich Text Editor.
Field Names: Displays the name of the database field or named data source in merge field characters («»). The database field name is formatted as the table name followed by the selected field name.
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