Using Databases with BarTender

Many users store data, such as customer records or product information, in a file outside of BarTender, such as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, an SQL database, or a text file. If you want to use this data, BarTender can pull the information directly into any barcode, text object, table object, or encoder object on your template, and into various controls on the data entry form. These external data files are collectively known as databases.

This topic describes the steps to follow to connect to a database and pull information into a barcode, text object, or encoder object on your template.

For information about how to connect a database to a table object, refer to Creating Tables that Use Dynamic Data. For information about how to connect a database to a data entry control, refer to the BarTender help system regarding the specific control.

ClosedTo connect to a database

  1. On the File menu, click Database Connection Setup. Alternatively, click on the main toolbar. One of the following results occurs:

    • If you have not previously connected to a database, this operation starts the Database Setup wizard.

    • If you are currently connected to a database, this operation opens the Database Setup dialog. Click to start the Database Setup wizard.

  2. On the initial page of the Database Setup wizard, select the type of file that your data is stored in, and then click Next.

  3. Follow the steps in the wizard to complete the connection setup for the selected file type. At the end of the wizard, click Finish to open the Database Setup dialog.

After you connect to a database, the information that is stored in the file can be used to populate barcodes, text objects, or encoder objects on your template. The simplest way to pull in this information is to use the Data Sources pane of the Toolbox to link the object to the database field.

ClosedTo link an object to a database field

  1. In the Toolbox, click the Data Sources tab to show the Data Sources pane.

  2. Expand the Database Fields node to display all database fields in your connected database.

  3. Drag the database field that you want to the barcode, text, or encoder object that you want. Alternatively, drag the field to the template to create a text object that is linked to the field.

The record navigation bar is available at the bottom of the template design area after you connect a database file to your document and link one or more fields to an object. Use the arrows to display on your template the records that are printed with your document.

You can also click Print Preview on the File menu to view your data.

Related Topics