Field Setup for your Template

The tabbed field interface allows you to specify how a field will be used within the document.

Summary Tab

The summary tab provides a quick overview of the field type and it's metrics. The Field Name comes from the form field you set up on your master PDF, the Type will be specified in the Field Type Tab (Image, Text, Barcode, etc.), the Width and Height information reflects the size of the form field that is on your master PDF.

Field Type

Radio button selectors are used under the Field Type tab. Additional field properties within the wizard will be conditional based on these two entries. A detailed explanation of the options are described below.

What type of field will this be?

• Image - Select "Image" for fields containing graphic files or PDF's.

• Text - Select "Text" for fields that will contain text.

• Barcode - Select "Barcode" for fields that will contain a barcode. There are many different barcodes that are recognized including QR Codes. This option is not available in the Interactive Designer version.

• Non-printable Area - New! Non-printable areas – In Online Template Designer, you can now specify an area to display on the template as a non-printable image. This image layer will not be selectable in the designer even though it will be viewable by the end user. For customers who want to display die-cut lines, instructions, etc., but not have them clickable, or print on the final production file, this will be a great option. While this option was added for the Interactive Designer version, it can still be an option for Forms Based templates as well.

Using this feature:

1. Set an area on your template for the Non-Printable area.

2. Upload a Graphic File that will provide an appearance for the Non-Printable area. This will not appear on the final production file.

3. Set your Field Type to ” Nonprintable area” and “Graphic File”.

4. Set your Data Capture tab to the Graphic file you uploaded for this area.

Data from this field will come from:

Based on the selection you made in the field type, different options will be available here for you to further define the field.

• User Entry - Available for Image, Text and Barcode field types. Use this option when the end user will determine the input for this field. It could be a drop down list they are selecting from, an image they are uploading, etc.

• Another Field - Available for all field types. This option replicates information from one field to another. Data is taken from another field. After selecting “Another Field,” you will choose what field's information you would like to replicate by selecting it in the Data Capture tab. An example would be on a template where a person's name is used in multiple areas and you do not want the end user to have to complete the entry every time. Using this option will use the entry from the field in multiple areas. Each instance can use different format rules such as font style, size, etc. it is only the field entry that is replicated. Not available in the Interactive Designer version.

• Graphic File - Available for Image and Nonprintable area field types. This option is used to display a fixed or unchanging image. Images used in the field will be selected in the "Data Capture" tab from the images you uploaded in the asset area.

• Static Text or Field Scripting - Available for Text and Barcode field types. This field displays fixed (non-variable) text, or may display the result of a scripted calculation (see field scripting in a later chapter). Fields that add some fixed text to the contents of another field also use this type. Not available in the Interactive Designer.

• Variable Data File - Available for Image, Text and Barcode field types. Use this option for fields that will be populated from a file containing multiple data records in CSV (comma separated) or spreadsheet format. Not available in the Interactive Designer version

• Text Overflow - Available for Text field types only. This setting permits text to flow within this field to two or more fields in the same template. Not available in the Interactive Designer version

Tip & Tricks:

Using the Non Printable Area Option

A field set as a nonprintable area will never print on the production file. The purpose of the nonprintable area is to indicate to your customer that they cannot add any images or text to a particular area of the template. The nonprintable area prevents the customer from adding any images or text in the nonprintable area. On the other hand, if you choose to set the field to be an image coming from a graphic file, you can then choose to have the field appear only on the production file, only for proofing or for both proofing and production. Also, setting the field as an image coming from a graphic file will not prevent the customer from adding text or images in that particular area.

The nonprintable area does not generate a tab in the layer browser (the area on the left side of the template window with prompts) because it is not something the end user has to provide anything for. It is a blank spot in the design. They cannot put text or graphics there at all.

The graphic file you can assign to the nonprintable area field is there so that you can put an image which makes it obvious to your user that this is a nonprintable area -- say, crosshatching, or the words "NO TEXT ALLOWED HERE" for example. The graphic will not be part of the output file. If no graphic is assigned, then the nonprintable area will just have the exact same appearance as the master PDF shows in that specific area. That is why a graphic can be assigned -- without it, it might not be obvious where the nonprintable area is.

The only way a field tab will appear to the user is if the data source is User Entry. If it is graphic or nonprintable area then no tab will appear. This is how it is supposed to work. If you want an image field that starts with a suggested image and then lets the user replace it with something else, you want "user entry" on the field type tab and either standard upload, advanced upload or image picker on the Data Capture tab.

Q & A:

What type of barcodes are supported?

Online Template Builder gives you the capability to generate many types of barcodes. The following types are supported:

QR Code

Datamatrix

PDF417

3 of 9

128

128a

128b

128c

USPS: POSTNET

USPS: Intelligent Mail

USPS: Planet

UPC-A

UPC-A +2

UPC-A +5

UPC-E

UPC-E +2

UPC-E +5

To make a field use a barcode, select "Barcode" in the Field Type tab. In the Format tab, choose the appropriate format listed above from the Barcode Rendering dropdown menu.

Previous Chapter: Chapter 09 - Field Setup - General

Next Chapter: Chapter 11 - Field Setup: Data Capture General