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FAQ |
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Setting
the Project : |
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Working
with objects: |
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Working
with Text objects (Variables): |
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Variable
Object property: |
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Working
with graphical objects: |
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Picture: |
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Barcode: |
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Working
with table: |
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Working
with formatted text: |
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Working
with context menu: |
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Saving
project: |
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Setting a project
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What
kind of project can I create? |
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We can create two kinds of projects:
- List
They are lists projects, reports or similar forms,
like the invoices, the order forms,
etc.
- Label
This type of project is different from the previous
one, because in the labels there
are no FIELDS, that is data of tables and lists
type. You can only print VARIABLES
coming from the AS400.
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How
to set the project's font size and printable area? |
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When you create a new project you have to set the
general parameters of you
project, that is the page setup.
First of all you have to set the printable area
of the project.
Through the menu:
Menù: Project > Page setup
> Printer
Press the button Choice
In the displayed window, you can determine properties
such as paper size,
and orientation.
It is also possible to select the Standard font
type to use in the project.
You can do it through the menu:
Menù: Project > Options...
Select "Objects"
In this window it is possible to set the default
font.
Note: it is advisable to use a "Courier New"
font because the final report layout will
keep the proportion.
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How
to set a list new project? |
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First of all you have to set the general parameters
of you project,
that is the page setup.
With the Command Project > Page setup
> Printer the dialog window is displayed
in order for you to select the printer.
Press the button "Choice"
In this window you can set the setting of the printer.
The standard size of the paper is set to A4 210
x 297 mm.
The pre-defined alignment is vertical.
Press the button Property.
Via the displayed window, you can access the main
setting of the project.
The available layout options depends on the selected
project: list or label.
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How
to define a page for a label project? |
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In the page setup for labels you can set the page
size and alignment as well as the
printer sequence via the printer setup. You can
either open one of the predefined label
formats or define one of yours. Via the "Choice"
button you can determine, under the
printer options, default values, such as paper size
and alignment, and the printer
chosen for the project.
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How
to use a standard pre-defined label? |
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You can choose from a range of pre-defined label
formats in the "templates" register,
in the page setup for labels. Now you will have
to find out the size of the label you
need, and how many labels you can set on the page.
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How
to create a label new format? |
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To define your own label layout (should the one
you require not be included),
use the following default values:
Setting the Offset
The offset provides the horizontal and/or vertical
distance of the top left-hand label
to the edge of the workspace. The top left corner
of the workspace always begins
on the screen display with the co-ordinates 0/0
independent of the chosen page size
and offset. The effects of the offset can however
be seen in the full-page preview
or when you print.
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How
to define a project new layer? |
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Layers can be defined via the command Project
> Layer Definitions or by using
the Edit List command from the context menu. With
this command you open the dialog
to edit and define appearance layers
Through the two left button you can either add a
new layer and delete an old one.
Note: it is advisable that define appearance conditions
for each new layer otherwise
the the new layer will be defined as Basic and willbe
present in all the pages of the
current project.
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Working with Objects
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How
to insert Objects? |
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Objects may be inserted in the project workspace
in different ways:
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Using the menu Object
> Insert
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Via the buttons of the vertical
toolbar
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Per drag & drop from the
variable list. This method is only valid for
texts objects
and consists in choosing the desired variable
and drag it to a free area in the
project workspace.
To insert an object via the toolbar button you
have to:
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Choose the desired object type
from the Toolbar.
The mouse pointer is transformed to a cross
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Direct the pointer to the point
where one corner of the object should be located,
e.g. the upper left one
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Hold down the left mouse button
and drag the mouse pointer to the opposite
corner of your object. While dragging, a dotted
frame marks the space the object
would occupy if you released the mouse button
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Release the mouse button, when
the object (the dotted frame) has
the desired size
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How
to select one or more objects to edit them? |
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Be sure of being in selection mode, and use one
of the following methods.
To select a single object:
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Click with the left mouse button
into the object
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Click with the right mouse button
into the object. The object is selected, and
the
Context menu window is displayed.
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Select the object by dragging
across the object you wish to select with the
mouse
pointer. A thin frame appears. Release the mouse
button when the object is
completely enclosed by the frame
Note: In order for an object to be selected,
it must be completely surrounded by the
selection frame.
To select many objects to edit:
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Press the SHIFT- KEY and click
with the left mouse button into the object you
wish to select.
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Drag across the objects you
wish to selects you wish to select with the
mouse
leaving the left mouse button pressed. All objects,
which are completely enclosed
by the selection frame, will be selected.
Note: In order for an object to
be selected, it must be completely surrounded by
the
selection frame.
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How
to change an object format? |
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To change the format of an object you have to:
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Select the object you require.
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When the mouse pointer is over
the frame, it will change into a two-way arrow.
Size can be changed in this state, by dragging
on the frame in one of the arrow
directions and keeping the mouse key pressed.
To change the object both horizontally and vertically
the mouse pointer has
to be on a corner of the frame.
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While dragging the mouse pointer,
a broken-line frame is created, which reflects
the new size of the object.
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Release the mouse button when
the object has reached the size you require.
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How
to reposition an object?
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To reposition an object you have to:
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Select the object you require
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A small square appears in the
middle of the frame. When the mouse pointer
is on
this square, it changes its appearance to a
four-way arrow.
Press the left mouse button and reposition the
object.
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Release the mouse button when
the object has reached the position you require
Note: it is also possible to move
the object through the 4 arrows of the keyboard.
Press the key once and the object moves 1/10 millimetres
if the SHIFTKEY is also held,
the object is moved by 1 millimetre.
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How
to change an object position through the dialog window?
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First, of all select the object that needs to
have its data changed.
(Note: only a single object can be changed via
dialog).
Use one of the following methods to call the position
dialog:
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How
to gather the objects into a group? |
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Multiple objects belonging together can be combined
into a group in order to be
treated like a single object. Please note that
an object can only be a member of one
group. It is therefore not possible to combine
a group into a further sub-group.
To combine two or more objects use the following
mode:
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Select the objects you require
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Select the command Create
Group from the Objects menu or from
the context
menu. You may also use the key combination Shift+G
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To undo a grouping, select the
command Release Group or use the key
combination Shift+K
If the Properties command is called
on a group of objects, the property dialogs of the
respective objects will be displayed one after the
other.
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How
to assign a descriptive name to the objects? |
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You have the possibility to give objects a descriptive
name for identification purposes
via the command Name from the Objects
menu or the context menu.
The name of each object is also displayed as title
of the respective context menu.
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How
to assign appearance condition to the objects? |
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You can give appearance conditions to single or
numerous selected objects,
which determine under which circumstances the object
should appear at print time.
To assign appearance condition select the command
Appearance Condition from
the menu Objects.
Menù: Object > Condition...
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How
to change an object's contents? |
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To edit the contents of objects select the object
you require and then select the
command Properties from the Objects
menu or the context menu.
Alternatively you can just press the ENTER button
or click on the properties button.
Of course, you can also just click on the icon.
This opens the properties window of the required
object. Variables and formatting etc
are examples of objects properties. The type and
number of properties is different
from object type to object type.
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Working with text object (Variables)
How
to work with layers?
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You can manage each page one by one, working on
the different layers of the project.
Select the command Assign Layer from the Objects
menu or the context menu.
Menù: Object > Assign layer...
Double-click on the required layer to assign the
selected objects to it.
Note: the assigned objects automatically receive
the colour of the corresponding layer.
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How
to insert variables?
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To insert variables in the editing line you may
use the following methods:
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Double-click on the variable
you want to transfer to the editing line
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Click on the variable and press
the " insert " button
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Drag the variable to the position
of the expression where it must be inserted
The required variable is then transferred
to the editing line with the correct syntax.
To include further variables in your expression
just repeat the steps described above.
If spaces should be between the individual variables,
you have to enter these spaces
in the editing line too. To separate NAME and SURNAME
write as follows:
NAME + " " + SURNAME
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How
to insert a fixed text? |
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The " Text " tab offers an easy way to
insert text automatically.
Enter the text and click on the " Insert "
button to insert the text into the expression
below.
The text box should be wide enough to contain at
least the largest word, otherwise
it will be clipped.
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How
to insert a line break in the text?
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To insert a line break, click the button "Linefeed".
The representation of the line break is the "¶
" which will be inserted into your text.
The separator will only take effect if the respective
object allows word wrap.
If so, the following text will begin on the next
line.
For text objects, the option "Word wrap"
must be enabled. Please note that if the text
doesn't consist of a number of words, but of a long
word will not be wrapped,
but clipped.
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How
to insert a function? |
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Select the object you need to insert the function.
By double clicking on it, the properties of the
object will be shown.
After selecting the line where to insert the function,
by double click you will show
the "Edit field" properties.
By pressing theions and their parameters .If you
highlight any function, its description
will be displayed "Functions" card the
upper part of the dialog window displays a list
of available funct.
To insert a function, select it from the list of
available functions and double click on it,
or click on the button "Insert".
The function is inserted in the correct syntax (with
chevrons, etc.) into the function
edit field.
The placeholders for the parameters which the function
expects/allows are also
inserted. You'll be asked to replace the placeholder
with a valid value. All parameters
should be replaced before continuing to define your
expression.
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How
to insert a logical condition? |
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Select the object you need to insert the logical
condition.
By double clicking on it, the properties of the
object will be shown.
After selecting the line where to insert the function,
by double click you will show
the "Edit field" properties.
By the special function " Cond() " you
can insert a logical condition. If the result of
the
expression in the first parameter is TRUE, then
the result of the second parameter will
be returned, if it is FALSE, will be returned the
result set in the FALSE expression.
When you press "insert", the parts
will be wrapped into the "Cond(...) "
function and
inserted into the expression line below.
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How
to activate the date formatting?
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Select the object you need to insert the date formatting.
By double clicking on it, the properties of the
object will be shown.
After selecting the line where to insert the function,
by double click you will show
the "Edit field" properties.
Using the dialog with the tab" Date$() "
you can get assistance for date formatting.
You can have full text formatting for day and month
values, 2- or 4- letter
representation of the year and so on. We recommend
that you insert/choose the date,
and then enter the values. To the left is the format
string, to the right the result with
a date example.
To insert the editing required, select it from the
list, and press the "insert" button
or double click on the function.
The selected expression will be inserted, in the
correct syntax (with chevrons, etc.)
into the editing line, you have to replace the Today()
part with the variable required.
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How
to activate the number formatting?
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Select the object you need to insert the number
formatting.
By double clicking on it, the properties of the
object will be shown.
After selecting the line where to insert the function,
by double click you will show
the "Edit field" properties.
Using the register card "FStr$()" you
can define the format in which a number shall be
printed in. This is how number of digits, decimals
leading signs etc. can be determined.
To insert the required editing, select it from the
list, and press the "insert" button
or double click on the function.
The selected expression will be inserted, in the
correct syntax (with chevrons, etc.)
into the editing line, you have to replace the Number()
part with the required variable.
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How
to use the sum variables? |
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To use sum variables choose:
Menù: Project > Sum Variables
Up to 25 sum variables are possible per project.
The following logic applies for these
sum variables:
@SumXX = sum over previous record
" @SumXX " is the sum variable in which
the result of the addition is saved.
For each record which has been printed, the Designer
calculates the value from
<numeric expression> and adds it to the "
@SumXX ".
To use sum variables of this kind (" @SumXX
") in project they must first of all be given
the required numeric expressions. This is done with
the command
Project > Sum Variables
In this dialog you will find a list with the sum
variables " @SumXX ".
The corresponding variables or expressions have
to be provided first because they
form the basis of the addition.
Select the sum variable " @SumXX " to
which you wish to provide an expression and
then click on the "Edit" button. You now
have the dialog for the definition of
expressions which has already been described.
The easiest way is to simply select the numeric
variable ex: PRICE. The formula for
the result would be:
@SumXX = sum over previous records of <PRICE>.
On the other hand you can also build sums via complex
expressions, al long as the
result is only a numeric value. For example, you
could calculate the gross price in the
expression from NETPRICE and VAT the result would
be the addition of the two.
Here is the formula for the result:
@SumXX = sum over previous records of <NETPRICE
+ NETPRICE * (VAT/100)>
i.e. the sum of the results of the expression NETPRICE
+ NETPRICE * (VAT/100)
is saved in the sum variable " @SumXX ".
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How
to define a counter with the sum variables?
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With the sum variables, you can easily define the
counter that can be actualised for
each printed record. In the simplest case, a counter
is working as running number,
increasing the number for each record.
@SumXX = + 1
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Variable object property
How
to change the text property of the object?
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Select the object and by double clicking the
Text properties window will pop.
In this window, you can change both the properties
of a paragraph and the contents.
To edit a paragraph just highlight. To edit some
or all paragraphs select multiple lines.
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How
to align text? |
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Alignment
The three icons 
change the alignment of the paragraph or of the
highlighted paragraphs left centred or right.
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Can
I distribute space among the words? |
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Block justify
The property " block justify" effects
text lines that are word wrapped and printed
in more than one line.
All lines except the last will be block adjusted,
that is the spacing between the words
will be adjusted so that the lines are left and
right aligned.
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Can
I remove the blank spaces within a line? |
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Blank optimisation
Through the window text-properties you can manage
the blank optimization.
This option, will optimise the blanks that unintentionally
appear in a line.
All sequences of two or more blanks (spaces) are
reduced to one blanks character
and all leading and trailing blanks are suppressed.
This makes it easier to create an expression, resulting
by the linking of many variables
and text and deleting the intermediate blank spaces.
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Can
I ignore and skip the blanks line of the paragraph? |
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Permanent
Through the window text-properties you can ignore
and skip the blank line
of the paragraph.
Lines that are empty are usually ignored so that
the following lines move up.
This option suppresses this automatic process, which
might be needed to fill out
a fixed form. If you check this box, blanks lines
are hold. If you want to insert a blanks
line in the same variable object, you have to insert
the new paragraph under the
requested line, and check the box.
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Can
I avoid the words to be cut? |
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Word wrapping
Through the window text-properties you can avoid
the words to be cut.
It allows a word wrap into several lines if the
text is too long to fit in one line.
If this option is not set, the text will be cut
off at the end (or the beginning depending
on the text alignment) of the text object.
A text can only be wrapped between words, so one
large word
("thisisonelinethatcannotbewrapped") will
not be wrapped but clipped.
Note: With the "Hold paragraph together"
setting you can prevent a paragraph from
being wrapped by using a page break.
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Can
I orient a text? |
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Orientation
Through the window text-properties you can orient
a text.
You have the option to set a text orientation in
steps of 90 degrees.
This button starts a dialog in which you can choose
the orientation you'd like.
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Can
I activate the "Page wrapping"?
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Page wrapping
Through the window text-properties you can get the
page wrapping.
If the "Page wrapping" option is enabled,
the contents of the object will be
automatically wrapped, (if they exceed the object's
size). This is most interesting for
text objects containing several pages of text. For
label projects, the next label is not
started until all objects with this option for the
current label are printed.
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Working with graphical objects
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How
to use Rectangle, Ellipse and line? |
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A rectangle or an ellipse consists of a frame and
interior space that can be filled or left
transparent. If the picture is not transparent,
a text overlaps to it, you have to use
the "Arrange" property, of the
context menu, or option Objects > Arrange
to rearrange the objects properly.
The rectangle has different options we can change
if we need to.
By double clicking in the rectangle, the window
properties pops up.
Through this window we can change:
Border
The "frame" option lets you print or not
the frame and adjusts the width and colour
of the frame.
Fill
A rectangle can transparent (thus underlying objects
shine through) or filled.
If it should be filled, select a pattern and a colour.
Shade
The frame of a rectangle can have a shadow, creating
a 3D-effect.
Width, pattern and colour can all be selected.
Note: The default are set in the dialog of Options
> Object > Default.
Nota: I default sono impostati nel menu
Opzioni > Oggetto > Formato
di default dell'oggetto.
Ellipses are very much like rectangle objects, except
for the "shade" property (which
they don’t possess) and the "circle"
property (which they do possess).
The circle property defines whether the area reserved
for the ellipse object should be
optimally filled (that is, most likely by an ellipse
or a circle), independent of the form
in the area.
Lines
In the line object’s property dialog, options
such as width and colour can be selected.
The default are set in the following dialog:
Options > Object > Default
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Picture
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How
to insert picture? |
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You may choose between two different types using
the properties dialog.
Choose "Picture" from the Toolbar. The
mouse pointer is transformed into a cross.
Direct the pointer to the point where the box
containing the picture should be located.
Release the mouse button, when the box has the
size desired.
Fixed picture
To enter the property dialog, double click on
the object.
If you want to insert a picture that is independent
on the record set, choose
"Filename" and use the "Select"
button to get a filename.
Note: the second method is better because the
picture is always handy.
Variable picture
Pictures supported by the Designer
The Designer supports picture files with the following
formats:
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