Label Studio User Guide Label Studio 7.90c.01.
© Copyright 2011 SAP AG. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. SAP, R/3, SAP NetWeaver, Duet, PartnerEdge, ByDesign, SAP Business ByDesign, and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG in Germany and other countries.
Contents Preface .............................................................................................................5 Chapter 1: Overview ........................................................................................................ 9 Welcome to Label Studio!..............................................................................10 Label types .....................................................................................................11 Windows drivers ...................
Preview labels ................................................................................................ 72 Page templates ............................................................................................... 74 Layout templates............................................................................................ 75 Chapter 5: Reports......................................................................................................... 77 Available reports...........................
Preface About Label Studio Label Studio is a design tool that takes your input files and then outputs customized labels. It is a perfect fit with our other database and mailing-list management and production products. With Label Studio, set up your job file, set up your printers, design and print your labels (address, container, pallet, or generic), and print your reports. In addition, you can split your output into multiple output files by creating unit and/or subunit breaks.
Documentation Complete documentation set Your complete Label Studio documentation set includes the following: Windows Vista and higher If you run Label Studio on Windows Vista or higher (such as Windows 7), you must download and install the WinHlp32.exe file from Microsoft before you can access the Label Studio online help. For instructions on downloading and installing, go to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917607.
Resources for the mailing industry Producing labels requires some familiarity with USPS rules and mailing-industry practices. If you are new to the industry, refer to these sources: U.S. Postal Service. The U.S. Postal Service offers many helpful publications. Ask your postmaster or USPS account representative about these publications. Domestic Mail Manual (DMM). We recommend that you purchase a subscription to the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), the official source of mailing rules.
Label Studio User’s Guide
Chapter 1: Overview This chapter offers an overview of Label Studio features and a steps explaining where Label Studio fits in the mailing process. It also provides examples of the types of labels you can generate and the types of printer drivers you can use. Finally, a quick tour on the last page can help get you started.
Welcome to Label Studio! Label Studio is a powerful tool that links your input files and label designs with your printing system. You can create address labels, sack and tray labels, pallet placards, and generic labels, and output them on your printing system. Label Studio’s place in the mail process Although you can use Label Studio on input files that haven’t been presorted, most customers use input files that they presorted either with Business Objects’ Presort program or with another presort program.
Label types You can design and print many types of labels with Label Studio, including USPS Address labels, USPS Container labels, USPS Pallet placards, and generic-type labels. Address labels Address labels indicate where the mail piece is destined. The USPS regulates the placement and appearance of some elements on this label type. The following is an example of a typical address label.
Pallet placards A pallet placard indicates where the pallet is destined and where it originated. The USPS mandates the appearance and placement of most elements on this label type. The following is an example of a typical pallet placard.
Generic labels Label Studio also provides a generic label type. You can use this label type as a blank slate to create all sorts of labels, such as disk labels, name tags, or file folder labels. You could also use the generic label type to print addresses from your database on index cards, post cards, or form letters. Index card example USPS verification You can use the generic label type to print your address, sack, tray, or pallet labels, if you want.
Windows drivers If you run Label Studio on a Windows operating system, you may want to use a Windows printer driver to generate your labels and reports. Label Studio supports all kinds of Windows printer drivers.
Inkjet printers and drivers Inkjet printer drivers are available on all supported Windows and UNIX operating systems. What are inkjet printers? Inkjet printers are large, high-speed printers that, from a high-pressure jet of ink, precisely deflect ink droplets as “dots” toward the print target. The dots form the characters that make up the address and message content. These inkjet printers need a different set of instructions than regular printers do.
PCL Data Stream drivers The PCL Data Stream driver outputs in PCL4 format and is available on all supported Windows and UNIX operating systems.
Generic Text driver The Generic Text driver is available for all supported Windows or UNIX operating systems. The Generic Text driver can be set up for use with any printer. Generic Text design files Label Studio comes with three Generic Text design files installed for your convenience: Text 1-up.ltd, Text 2-up.ltd, and Text 4-up.ltd. Use these design files as a basis for your text printer design files. Generic Text printer files Label Studio also includes printer files (.
Quick tour of Label Studio This quick tour introduces you to the basics of running a job in Label Studio. A ready-made job is already provided in your Samples folder, so you can easily move around Label Studio and learn about its features. Open the sample job Choose File > Open and double-click Quikjob.lsj. The job-editor window displays the job-file blocks to the left and the parameters to the right. Define your parameters Double-click each job-file block to edit the parameters of your job.
Chapter 2: Set up your job This chapter walks you through some of the steps to setting up your Label Studio job. It also provides examples for creating a label job with the Wizard and an address label job with the Job Editor.
Introduction to job files A job file is filled with instructions to process your Label Studio job. The job file tells Label Studio how to generate labels from input files that you provide. Job files are organized into groups of parameters called blocks. Each parameter and its value instruct Label Studio as to which records to generate labels for, which reports to generate, where to put the generated labels and reports, and so on.
Job diagram In the job diagram, Label Studio uses a set of symbols to indicate the block status. With these cues you can see immediately which blocks are complete and which need work. Here’s a legend to help you interpret the symbols: Symbol Description Some individual job blocks are gathered into sensible groups. You can click a folder to expand a group to see all the blocks in it, or collapse the group to see only the group name. When a block has not yet been set up, the symbol is an open, empty box.
Before setting up new jobs Before you start creating job files, you need to: Set up your auxiliary files. Assign your auxiliary files to your job. Set your defaults. Set up your auxiliary files To process a database, Label Studio uses certain supporting files, called the definition file (.def) and format file (.fmt). You can read about them in your Database Prep guide. To create your definition files, you can use a handy tool, DefMap, which is provided in Label Studio (Tools > DefMap).
File mask definitions If you split your output and want to use file mask characters, you can set up your default characters here. See “File masks” on page 92 for more information. The default file mask settings will be used whenever you create a new job. Reports Set up default header lines and printer codes. The header lines are printed at the top of every report. The default report settings will be used whenever you create a new job. See Chapter 4 on page 77 for more information about reports.
Quick ways to set up jobs There are two ways to set up your jobs: The Wizard The Job Editor Wizard Label Studio offers a step-by-step wizard (File > New > Wizard). It’s great for simpler jobs or new users. When you’re more familiar with Label Studio, you can get started in the Wizard, and then switch to the Job Editor to fine-tune your settings or add more features. Use the Wizard for creating new jobs. See “Create a tray label design file with the Label Toolbox Wizard” on page 30.
Assign your input files Each Label Studio job must have at least one input file assigned to it. Your input file is your database that contains the names, addresses, and other data that you may want on your labels. See the Database Prep manual for more specific information about setting up your input files. Input File Setup From the Job Editor window, expand the Input File Setup folder to display the Input File, Input File New, and Input File blocks.
Design labels and set up your printer Design your labels To design your labels, use Label Toolbox, Label Studio’s label designing tool. Drag and drop fields, barcodes, and other objects onto your label design. The following image is Label Toolbox with a sample, address label design opened. Design files and printer settings All of your label design information is stored in a design file. Every Label Studio job needs a design file.
Verify your job It is important to verify that your job is free of problems. Label Studio checks your job setup in three different ways to ensure accuracy: Automatically when defining parameters in the job file blocks. When you choose the Verify Job option. Automatically when running your job. Parameters and blocks If you set a parameter in a way that is clearly wrong, Label Studio either beeps or displays an error message.
Generate labels and reports Once you have designed your labels and finished setting up your job (including setting up your reports). You can generate your labels and reports from two different ways. Type a command at your Windows command prompt or UNIX command line; see Appendix B for more information. Choose File > Run Job in Label Studio See Chapter 4 on page 77 for more information about the types of reports available in Label Studio and how to set them up.
Remote Views To set up your jobs and design your labels on a UNIX server, you must use Label Studio Remote Views. What is Remote Views Remote Views is a product for networks. You use a Windows client to design your labels and set up your jobs, which are stored on a UNIX server. Remote Views works similarly to the way Label Studio works on a Windows PC. However, there are some differences: When you launch Remote Views, you must give a user name and password to log in to the UNIX server.
Create a tray label design file with the Label Toolbox Wizard This example shows you how to set up a tray label design using the Wizard. After completing the Wizard, you will have a complete design. How to use the wizard To begin creating your new tray label job with the Wizard: 1. Choose Tools > Design Labels, or click the Design Labels button on the toolbar to open Label Toolbox. 2. From the Preview window, click the Wizard button. 3.
Create an address label job with the Job Editor This example shows you how to set up an address label job using the Job Editor. The Job Editor is another starting point for creating a new job. Create the job To begin creating a new job with the job editor: 1. Choose File > New > Job Editor. 2. Enter a job description, job owner, mailer name, and choose USPS Address from the Label Type drop-down list. Click OK. 3.
Label Studio User’s Guide
Chapter 3: Printer setup In this chapter, you’ll learn how to set up your printers for use with Label Studio.
Setting up your printers Label Studio supports many printer drivers. The features that are present in each driver vary from one driver to the other. Consult your printer’s documentation for information about supported features. Printer settings Label Studio provides easy access to your printer settings from within Label Toolbox. The printer settings you choose are used every time you use that printer. The settings populate the control line or control the output for your printer.
Option Description DeviceName Use the DeviceName option when the output is sent directly to the printer. Enter the name of a Windows printer driver here. The name you type at the DeviceName option must match the name of your printer exactly (spelling, case, and so on). We suggest copying and pasting. For a network printer, you must also specify the path (for example, \\server name or path\printer name). PadLines This option determines how the driver treats end-of-line situations.
Defining escape codes for Generic Text drivers In Label Toolbox, you can easily enter, store, and use your escape codes to control your printer. If you do not use one of the available printer files with the POSTNET escape codes defined for you, your printer’s documentation should list the escape codes available. You need to transfer those codes into Label Toolbox. 1. With a Generic Text driver design file open in Label Toolbox, choose Tools > Printer setup. 2. Select your printer, and click Modify. 3.
Specifying a default printer You can set a default printer for each printer type: Generic Text, Data Stream and Inkjet. The default printer is automatically selected when the design printer doesn’t exist or was deleted and in the Wizard Printer Setup window when changing printer classes. Windows printer. Label Toolbox uses the default Windows printer as specified for the system. 1. Choose Tools > Printer Setup. 2. Highlight a printer and then click Set Default. 3. Click Close.
6. Set up the following options as needed. 38 Option Default Description ConvertDigitsToBars True Controls whether or not the input digits are converted to the alternating bar pattern. If you’re using a generic text driver, set ConvertDigitsToBars to True. Descender D Value to output for the descending bar, usually D. Ascender A Value to output for the ascending bar, usually A. Tracker T Value to output for the tracker bar, usually T. Full F Value to output for the full bar, usually F.
Define your printer settings Design file printer settings Each design file must have a printer associated with it, and each design file contains editable printer settings.. Label Toolbox saves these settings within the Assigning a printer to your design file If you don't assign a printer, you can not print your labels.To assign a printer to your design file: 1. In Label Toolbox, choose File > Design Settings. 2.
The categories below change based on the printer chosen here. This button toggles between More and Less. Clicking More makes the design-file printer settings appear. Clicking Less hides the design-file printer settings. Tips for modifying printer settings Not all printer settings are available for design files. Some settings are available only in the printer settings. If a setting is available in both places, the design file setting overrides the printer setting.
Barcode printing with the Generic Text driver You can generate the POSTNET, PLANET, and Intelligent Mail barcodes in Label Toolbox with the Generic Text driver by using the barcode objects. You can also print the POSTNET and PLANET barcodes with printer escape objects.
Intelligent Mail barcode width If you want to use the Intelligent Mail barcode object on your Generic Text design, you need to determine the width of the barcode in characters and enter this information into the appropriate parameters within the Intelligent Mail section of the Modify Printer window. To do this: Set up the margins of your label 1. In Label Toolbox, choose File > Page Setup. Set up your layout 1. Drag and drop a Text object onto the first (top) line of your layout.
Use the barcode objects Label Studio provides a POSTNET, PLANET, and Intelligent Mail barcode object in Label Toolbox for use with the Generic Text driver. We recommend using this method of printing for your POSTNET and PLANET barcodes on address labels, rather than using the escape objects. To do this: 1. Drag and drop the POSTNET, PLANET, or Intelligent Mail barcode object onto your layout. The Barcode Properties window opens. 2.
How to use printer escape objects for the POSTNET and PLANET We recommend using this method only if your printer handles the barcode alignment by itself. You don’t have to define the POSTNET or PLANET values in the Modify Printer window if you are using escape code objects to generate your barcodes. To use escape codes for printing your barcodes: 1. Define your printer escape codes (see “Defining escape codes for Generic Text drivers” on page 36). 2.
Chapter 4: Design labels This chapter describes address and container (sack and tray) labels, pallet placards, and how to design them using Label Toolbox, Label Studio’s label designing tool.
Label requirements The USPS has strict requirements for address, container, and pallet labels. This section shows typical label arrangements in Label Toolbox and points out items to consider when preparing your input files. Address labels Input file details Your input file should include data for each of the fields that you want to include on your address label.
Sack label design Below is a typical sack label arrangement in Label Toolbox. Refer to the DMM for sack label requirements. The USPS mandates the placement and appearance of most elements. Destination ZIP Mail processing code Barcode field Tray label design Barcode Origin city and state Contents information Destination city and state Below is a typical tray label arrangement in Label Toolbox. Refer to the DMM for tray label requirements.
Pallet placards A pallet placard indicates where the pallet is destined and where it originated. Attach at least two of these placards to every pallet you submit to the USPS. Input file details Your input file should include data for each of the fields that you want to include on your pallet placard. Label design Below is a typical pallet placard layout in Label Toolbox. Refer to the DMM for pallet label data and format requirements. The USPS mandates the placement and appearance of most elements.
Get started designing labels Pick a design file Design files (.ltd) contain all of the information Label Studio needs to know about your labels and the printer you will use. Your Label Studio job must have a design file assigned to it in order to print your labels. You can edit design files in Label Toolbox. Which design file should you use? You can create your own design file by combining a page and layout template or you can use one of the predefined design files installed with Label Studio.
The Design File preview window closes and the Labels block opens, showing the name and location of the design file and your printer information. Click OK and the design file is assigned to your job. Edit a design file When you first set up a Label Studio job, you do not need to design a label from scratch. Instead, you can pick a design file that is close to what you need, and then edit it as appropriate. To do this: 1. In Label Studio, choose Tools > Design Labels. 2.
6. Choose File > Design Settings, enter a description of your design file, and click OK. 7. Choose File > Save As to name your design file. You can now make modifications to the setup of your design file.
Define your page settings What are page settings? Your design file’s page settings define the properties of the paper you are printing on. These properties include the paper size, the amount of labels per page, and the page margins. In Label Toolbox, choose File > Page Setup to access your page settings. Page setting information can be saved in a page template. For more information about page templates, see “Page templates” on page 74.
The Designer window in Label Toolbox Overview When you open Label Toolbox, you first see the Designer window. This area offers everything you need to create your label design. Layout window: This window contains the label design for the current design file. You can change the look of the design by deleting items from the label or by dragging fields or objects from the Objects window and dropping them onto the label.
Depending on the type of object, in its Properties window you may be able to set up a value expression or conditional filter, define leading or trailing characters, or suppress clear zones. See the sections in this chapter about each specific object for more information about its properties. Font properties With an object selected in your label design, choose Format > Font. In this window, define a font for the selected object.
The Layout window Placing the fields and objects you need onto your layout is as easy as dragging and dropping from the Objects window. There are a few things, however, that you first need to know when you are working in the Layout window. Base layer vs. Label area Notice, in the example at right that there is white space at the far right edge of the label. This represents the distance between labels.
To simply resize your fields, see “How to resize field objects in the layout” on page 62. To view the hidden information on your base layer, you will need to temporarily change the size of your labels. To do this: 1. Choose File > Page Setup, and click the Label Page tab to increase the label area, or click the Label Page N-up tab to decrease the number of horizontal or vertical labels. 2. Click OK to save your changes. 3. Resize the base layer to view the hidden information. 4.
Layers If you use a Windows, PCL Data Stream, or Generic Text driver, three different layers are automatically assigned to each design file: Banner, Test, and Base. Inkjet drivers offer the Base and Test layer. They cannot be deleted or renamed. Banner: Click the Banner tab to design the layout of your banner pages. Test: Click the Test tab to design your test labels. Base: Click the Base tab to design your labels. This is the default view of the layout window.
Lines When you drag and drop fields onto your layout, you drop the fields into lines. Lines on your label layout cannot be “selected” or moved by clicking and dragging. Line To insert or delete a line or to view a line’s properties: 1. Place the cursor on a line or any object on that line. 2. Right-click, and choose the appropriate action from the popup menu. Line properties In the Line Properties window control your line spacing options and justification.
Frames Frames can be used for many things: address verification, field placement on a layout, printing an indicia, and so on. The base layer of a design file is considered a frame, with most of the same properties as a frame that you drop onto your layout. Label Toolbox lets you have as many frames in your design file as you want, each with its own properties, such as blank line suppression. Frames cannot be placed inside other frames, except the base layer.
Blank line suppression You can delete blank lines from your final printed label by choosing either Up or Down from the Suppress Blank Lines drop-down list in the Frame properties window (Miscellany tab). Choosing Up moves the objects up with blank lines below. Choosing Down moves the objects down with blank lives above. To exclude a non-line based object from being affected by blank line suppression: 1. Select the object on your design. 2. Choose Format > Position. 3.
Fields The fields available in the objects window are the fields defined in your input file (DB fields), the fields that you defined in your DEF file (PW fields), as well as some that Label Studio generates (AP fields). For more information about specific fields, their uses, and any limitations, refer to the Quick Reference. Drag fields from the Objects wind onto your label design. Each field that you drop on your design has its own properties.
PW.Dest_City: Only the city portion of this field will be truncated. The state portion will be ignored, if it’s there. Label Toolbox ignores the destination facility prefix (ADC, BMC, and so on), and reduces the directional to one letter first. The minimum remaining length is 12 characters. Trim spaces In the Field Properties window designate how (extra) spaces in the field should be removed. You can choose to have spaces removed on the right, left, or both sides of the data in the field.
Barcodes Windows and PCL Data Stream drivers can use any of the barcodes listed in the Objects window, which include: POSTNET PLANET I 2 of 5 3 of 9 Code 128 Zebra Intelligent Mail See also “Barcode printing with the Generic Text driver” on page 41. Define the value expression After you drag a barcode onto your layout, the barcode properties window automatically opens. In this window, you must define the barcode’s value expression. See Appendix A for more information about value expressions.
Intelligent Mail barcode data Adjusting the height and width of the Intelligent Mail barcode The Intelligent Mail barcode supports 20, 25, 29, or 31 character digits of data. Label Studio encodes the data into the Descender, Ascender, Tracker, and Full barcode characters. The following table outlines the data layout. Data Digits Description Application ID 2 Identifies the barcode for internal USPS use only. The second digit must be a number between 0–4.
Break marks Break marks are character-based objects that you print on a label. They signal your mail room staff to, for example, start a new package, container (sack or tray), or pallet. Levels of break marks When your mailroom staff sees a label with break marks on it, they have to determine which kind of break it signifies. Label Studio allows three levels of break marks: level 1, level 2, and level 3.
Gated Scan A gated scan reader looks at a predetermined area on the label for the break mark. This type of reader does not require a clear channel to read the break mark. If you do not use machinery to read break marks, it does not matter what type of break mark you use. Setting up break marks When you set up break marks, there are essentially four things you need to do: Select the number of levels you want.
Piece position Not only can you set up how you want the break marks to look, you can tell Label Studio to print the break marks on specific mail pieces. Label Studio does not limit you in what you can or can’t break on. You can print break marks on: The first piece in a package/container/pallet. The last piece of a package/container/pallet. Both the first and last pieces of a package/container/pallet. Your choice should depend on the data in your input file and on your mailroom equipment and procedures.
Images You can add any number of images to any number of your labels (Windows printer drivers only). Add images to your design You must complete a few steps before your image will appear on the labels the way you want it to: Choose your image(s) from your Image Files folder (set up in Tools > Options > File location tab). Assign a value to the image(s). Create a value expression for the image(s). Create a conditional expression for the image (optional).
4. Select the Minnesota image and enter the value MN. Then select the Wisconsin image and give it a value of WI. These values tell Label Toolbox that when the PW.State field is populated with MN, print the minnesota.bmp image. The same goes for WI; when WI appears in the PW.State field, print the cheese.bmp image.
Other miscellaneous objects Text Drop a Text field onto a layout to add any text you want onto your labels. For example, you could type a greeting or a short message right onto the label design. Be sure to check USPS requirements for your other label elements’ placement and position. Tab Adding a tab to your layout can help you in designing your label. For example, you can use it to make a field start at any position on a line. It can be used as a right tab or a left tab.
Verify labels The USPS has specific rules about which elements you can print on your labels and where they should be positioned. Label Toolbox checks your label layout for you to ensure that it does not violate basic USPS rules. ! Status window Label Toolbox catches several obvious errors, but it does not enforce all USPS rules on your label layout. Even if Label Toolbox finds no errors in your layout, we can’t guarantee USPS acceptance. For details on USPS rules, see the DMM.
Preview labels There are two ways to preview labels. You can either preview them through Label Studio or through Label Toolbox. Label Studio To view your labels before you print, choose Tools > Preview Labels. This will only work if there is a design file assigned to the current job file and the required blocks are completed. Label Toolbox When you are in the Design window of Label Toolbox, you can preview your labels as you design them by choosing View > Label Preview.
By selecting a radio button and clicking the Reverse Label Order button, it reverses the order the labels are displayed in. For more information about each feature in the Label Preview window, see the Label Toolbox or Label Studio help file. Intelligent Mail barcode If you’re using an inkjet or generic text print driver, you can see in the label preview if the conversion of barcode digits to Intelligent Mail barcode DATF (descender, ascender, tracker, and full barcode lines) characters was successful.
Page templates When you create a new design file, you must pick a page template (.ltp) to use. Page templates contain the physical information about the page of labels that you are using. This information includes the size of the page, the number of labels per page, the size of the margins, and so on. When working in Label Toolbox, you can create and save your own page templates, as well as load existing page templates in the current design.
Layout templates When you create a new design file, you must pick a layout template (.ltl). Layout templates contain information about what fields, barcodes, break marks, or other objects appear on your labels, banner pages, or test labels. When working in Label Toolbox, you can create and save your own layout templates, as well as load existing layout templates in the current design.
Label Studio User’s Guide
Chapter 5: Reports Label Studio provides reports for your own management, for clients, or for other bureaus or vendors. This chapter introduces you to Label Studio reports. You will become familiar with the available reports and learn the basics about working with them.
Available reports Job Summary The Job Summary reports lists the settings of your job file that affect label printing. Print Log The Print Log shows what units were formed and why. The Print Log also shows any breaks that you make during printing. It lists starting and ending record numbers and the total number of records in each unit. The Print Log is especially useful if you split your Label Studio output.
Print reports You can print your reports directly to your printer or to a file. If you print to a file, you can preview your reports before printing them. You can write all of your reports into one file, or write each type of report to a separate file. Send the reports directly to the printer Enter the port address of the printer (for example, Lpt1) in the Output Destination parameter. Follow the guidelines for setting this as a default for all reports, or setting it in the individual report setup.
Format reports Before printing reports, you set up several options for their appearance: Basics: File name, number of copies, what to do if the file already exists, and so on. Page layout: Page size, margins, headers, and capitalization. Printer setup: Control codes that switch your printer into a different font, size, print direction, and so on.
Job Summary The Job Summary report lists the settings in your job-file blocks that control Label Studio output. We recommend that you generate a Job Summary report in every job. This printed report is then available for reference if the results of your Label Studio job are not what you expected. For example, check the setup shown on your Job Summary if labels don’t appear to have been output with the correct breaks.
Job Summary Report Label Studio 7.71 [c01] Page 2 Address label job Business Objects 02-Aug-2006 05:55:57pm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Labels --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Design File: D:\Label Studio\ls\design files\sample_address.
Print Log report The Print Log is especially useful to those who split their Label Studio output. It includes these items: What units were formed and why. Any breaks that you make during printing (if you interrupt printing). The starting and ending label numbers. The total number of labels in each unit. ! Caution: Be sure to print this report only after you have printed your labels.
Banner pages A banner page announces the beginning of a report in large letters and makes it easier to find your way in a thick stack of reports.
Chapter 6: Output Rather than send your label output to one file, you can split up the output into several files. This chapter discusses the reasons for wanting to split Label Studio output, and shows you how to do it. For information about the Inkjet Output Summary file, see the Label Studio Inkjet Reference.
Output destinations When you run your job, you can send your output (labels and reports) directly to the printer assigned to your design file, or to one or multiple output files. To print your output to a file, select Print to File in the Labels block. If you do not select this checkbox, your output is sent directly to your printer. Inkjet and PCL Data Stream printer drivers can only print to a file; they cannot print directly to a printer.
Create multiple output files If you create just one output file, it could be quite a large file and it could only be sent to one printer. However, if you create unit and/or subunit breaks, you can create multiple output files. You create unit breaks according to values in your input file and/or subunit breaks based on the number of records. See “Set up units” on page 88 and “Set up subunits” on page 90 for more information.
Set up units You can tell Label Studio to read values from certain fields in your input file and then group the output files accordingly. Label Studio calls these groups of records with common input file values units. Define your unit breaks in the Input Options window. The following examples show how to set up your Unit Break Definition and Unit Break Description parameters for one description or multiple descriptions.
Multiple Unit Break Descriptions You can have up to 10 Unit Break Description and Unit Break Definition parameters defined for each component of the unit. In the Unit Break Definition window, just define each break separately. For example, if you were splitting by entry point then segment (where you have fields DB.Ent_Pt_No and DB.Seg_No defined in your .fmt file): With this setup, each specified unit can change differently (different Unit Break Definition parameters).
Set up subunits Subunit breaks divide your output based on the number of records. You do not need to have units defined in order to create subunits. Limit the number of records per output file If you want to limit the number of records per output file, set up subunit breaks. Each file would contain the number of records (or less) that you set. To do this: 1. Expand the Output folder, and double-click the Subunits block. 2. Select Divide Units Into Subunits. 3.
Subunit at Level 3 boundaries (pallet). This setup will end your output files at the last full container and/or pallet before exceeding your desired maximum number of pieces, 240,500. To do this: 1. Open the Subunits block, and select Divide Units into Subunits. 2. Type 240500 in the Maximum Number of Pieces Per Subunit field. 3. Select End Subunits at Level 2 Boundaries and End Subunits at Level 3 Boundaries, assuming that you have defined these level boundary breaks.
File masks When you print output to multiple files, you must specify a name for each file. To keep the files from having the same name and overwriting each other, include a variable, or file mask, in the name. At print time the file mask is replaced, resulting in a unique file name. How it works You associate a file mask character with a data field (input or output) that identifies the unit or subunit.
Output file sizes If you define unit or subunit breaks, the sizes of your output files may differ. That’s because Label Studio forms a new subunit whenever it reaches the number of specified labels or the end of a unit, whichever comes first. For example, let’s suppose you need to prepare a large national mailing. You choose to group your records by changing entry point (DB.Ent_Pt_No) values because your West-Coast-bound trucks leave first.
Label Studio User’s Guide
Appendix A: Creating expressions and filters This appendix explains what expressions and filters are and how to set them up in Label Studio. Most of this information is also available in Filter Builder’s online help. You can access this help by pressing F1 when you are in Filter Builder.
Expressions and filters When you drop certain objects onto your layout, you may need to create a value expression or conditional filter for that object. Label Toolbox provides a utility for creating and editing your filters and expressions. To access this utility, select the object and choose Format > Properties from the Label Toolbox menubar. Click the Filter Browser button. Value expressions A value expression tells Label Toolbox to print the value of the specified field or data.
Filter Builder Label Toolbox provides a utility that you can use to create, verify, and select filters and expressions. If you click the Filter Browser button, it opens the Filter Browser window. From this window, you can access Filter Builder to edit or create new filters and expressions. Filter Browser window Filter Browser buttons When you click the Filter Browser button, the Filter Browser window opens. The Available Filters box lists predefined filters and your own filters.
Examples of value expressions and conditional filters To help illustrate the process of creating new expressions and filters, this section walks you through a few scenarios. Each one will have a brief description of what you will accomplish and the steps necessary to do it. Scenario #1: Printing the current date and time Say you want to place the current time and date on every address label in our mailing.
4. Click OK until you reach the Field Properties window. Now you need to set up your conditional filter for the Expression field that tells Label Toolbox when to print “Current Resident.” To do this: 1. Click the Filter Builder button next to the Conditional Filter box. In the Filter Browser window, click New. In the Filter Builder window, type a name for your new conditional filter, such as Empty Name. 2. In the Filter Syntax box, type empty(DB.FIRST).OR.empty(DB.LAST).
Label Studio User’s Guide
Appendix B: Command line options Label Studio Print reads your job-file settings and generates the labels as the job file and associated design file direct. If you include a command-line option, the options override the job-file’s Execution Options settings. Command line syntax and options To run a Label Studio job, at your Windows command prompt or UNIX command line, type: lsprint [Options] The
Start and end values Option Description Windows syntax end:u,s,l or end:a /end:u,s,l Stop printing after unit #u, subunit #s, label #l, or, with absolute label # a. See or the following section “Start and end val- /end:a ues.” -end:u,s,l or -end:a pause Pause between subunits. -pause rev Displays version information to the stan- /rev dard output device. No is required. -rev del Delete work files. Overrides Execution Options block parameter values.
Appendix C: Predefined design files, templates, and printer files This appendix lists the predefined design files, page templates, layout templates, and printer files that are provided with Label Toolbox. The design files and templates are samples and are read-only.
USPS address label design files The following table lists the design file (.ltd) samples included for USPS address labels. 104 Label Studio User’s Guide New Name Description Dot Avery 4143 Dot matrix Avery 4143 label for Windows printer, 2-up continuous, 15/16” x 4”. Dot Avery 4144 Dot matrix Avery 4144 label for Windows printer, 3-up continuous 1” x 2.5”, (not enough room for POSTNET barcode). Dot Avery 4146 Dot matrix Avery 4146 label for Windows printer, 1-up continuous, 4" x 1-7/16".
USPS sack label design files The following table lists the design file (.ltd) samples included for USPS sack labels. Name Description USPS Sack 2 Inch USPS sack label, 1-up continuous, 3.375" x 1.875", extraneous Label Dot 1-up 4-down information on bottom of label USPS Sack 2 Inch USPS sack label, 1-up continuous, 3.3" x 2", extraneous inforLabel Dot 1-up 5-down mation on bottom of label USPS Sack 2 Inch Label Dot 2-up USPS sack label, 2-up continuous, 3.
USPS tray label design files The following table lists the design file (.ltd) samples included for USPS tray labels. 106 Label Studio User’s Guide Name Description USPS Tray Dot 1-up 4-down USPS tray label, 1-up continuous, 3.375" x 1.875", extraneous information on bottom of label. USPS Tray Dot 1-up 5-down USPS tray label, 1-up continuous, 3.3" x 2", extraneous information on bottom of label. USPS Tray Dot 2-up USPS tray label, 2-up continuous, 3.
USPS pallet placard design files The following table lists the design file (.ltd) samples included for USPS pallet placards. Name Description USPS Pallet Placard 1 USPS pallet label for use with Windows printer drivers. USPS Pallet Placard 2 USPS pallet label, Dest_Zip on line 2 for use with Windows printer drivers. USPS Pallet Placard 3 USPS pallet label, extraneous information on bottom, 3 of 9 Barcode for use with Windows printer drivers.
Generic label design files The following table lists the design file (.ltd) sample included in Label Studio for generic labels. 108 Label Studio User’s Guide New Name Description EMD-ASN Barcode EMD-ASN barcode labels for the USPS 8125 form, 2-up laser, 2" x 4".
USPS address label layout templates The following table lists the layout template samples included for USPS address labels. Layout template Description Layout area Envelope 2 IM.ltd Windows #10 envelope, with full area printable and mailing address and permit indicia. Envelope 3 IM.ltd Windows #10 envelope, with full area printable, mailing address, permit indicia, and return address. Laser Avery 52618161 IM.
Label Studio User’s Guide Layout template Description Layout area LTTEXT3.ltl Blank (Generic Text) H = 9 lines W = 48 char.
USPS sack label layout templates The following table lists the layout template samples included for USPS sack labels. Layout template Description Layout area LT2SACK1.ltl USPS sack 2-inch label, extraneous information on bottom of label H = 3.25" W = 1.875" LT2SACK2.ltl USPS sack 2-inch label, extraneous information on bottom of label H = 3.25" W = 1.9" LT2SACK3.ltl USPS sack 2-inch label, extraneous information on bottom of label H = 3.375" W = 1.875" LT2SACK4.
USPS tray label layout templates The following table lists the layout template samples included for USPS tray labels. 112 Label Studio User’s Guide Layout template Description Layout area LTTRAY1.ltl USPS tray label with extraneous information on bottom of label H = 1.875" W = 3.25" LTTRAY2.ltl USPS tray label, Insert extraneous information on bottom of label (main frame offset 0.1" from top, creating non-printable area) H = 1.9" W = 3.25" LTTRAY3.
USPS pallet placard layout templates The following table lists the layout template samples included for USPS pallet placards. Layout template Description Layout area LTPALLET1.ltl USPS pallet layout (main frame offset 0.5" from top, creating non-printable area) H = 6.5" W = 10.5" LTPALLET2.ltl USPS pallet layout (main frame offset 0.5" from top, creating non-printable area) H = 6.5" W = 10.5" LTPALLET3.ltl USPS pallet layout (main frame offset 0.5" from top, creating non-printable area) H = 6.
Generic label layout templates The following table lists the layout template samples included for generic labels. 114 Label Studio User’s Guide Layout template Description Layout area LTGENERIC1.ltl Blank (main frame offset 0.5" from top and 0.5" from left, creating non-printable area around frame) H = 10" W = 7.5" LTGENERIC2.ltl Blank H = 1" W = 3.2" LTRENA.
USPS address label page templates The following table lists the page template samples (.ltp) included in Label Studio for USPS address labels. Sample Description Accufast 12 lines x 40 characters for Accufast printers. Use printer's front panel to set position AstroJet 1.48" x 9.5" size for AstroJet Avery 2160 Mini sheet with a label size of 1" x 2.63" with 1 across and 4 down Avery 2162 Mini sheet with a label size of 1.
Sample Description Bryce 12 lines x 40 characters for Bryce printers. Use printer's front panel to set position Bryce 30k 2.98" x 9.5" size for Bryce 30k Buskro 12 lines x 40 characters for Buskro printers. Use printer's front panel to set position Cheshire 4-up Custom 11" x 13.4" paper size with a label size of 1" x 3.35" with 4 across and 11 down DataTech 12 lines x 40 characters for DataTech printers.
USPS sack label page templates The following table lists the page template samples (.ltp) included in Label Studio for USPS sack labels. Sample Description USPS Sack 1-up Continuous Custom 1-up continuous with 8 labels per section and a label size of .937" x 3.375" USPS Sack 1-up Continuous Tall Custom 1-up continuous with 10 labels per page and a label size of .98" x 3.375" USPS Sack 2-up Continuous Custom 2-up continuous with 16 labels per section and a label size of .937" x 3.
USPS tray label page templates The following table lists the page template samples (.ltp) included in Label Studio for USPS tray labels. 118 Label Studio User’s Guide Sample Description USPS Tray 1-up Continuous Custom 1-up continuous with 4 labels per section and a label size of 1.875" x 3.375" USPS Tray 1-up Continuous Tall Custom 1-up continuous with 5 labels per section and a label size of 2" x 3.
USPS pallet placard page templates The following table lists the page template samples (.ltp) included in Label Studio for USPS pallet placards. Sample Description USPS Pallet Landscape Letter paper size in landscape mode with a label size of 7.5" x 10.5" USPS Pallet Portrait Letter paper size in portrait mode with a label size of 7.5" x 10.
Generic label page templates The following table lists the page template samples included in Label Studio for generic labels. 120 Label Studio User’s Guide Sample Paper Size Page Margins N-up Label Area LTGENERIC1.ltp H = 11" W = 8.5" All = 0.2" 1" H = 10.6" W = 8.1" LTGENERIC2.ltp H = 1.2" W 3.2" All = 0" 1 H = 1.2" W = 3.2" LTRENA.ltp H = 2" W = 8.5" All = 0" 1 H = 2" W = 8.
Printer files The following table lists the sample printer files included with Label Studio. Assign one of these files to your design in the Label Toolbox Design Settings window (File > Design Settings). Printer file Printer driver Description POSTNET escape codes Generic Text.ltr Generic Text Default No Videojet PrintPro.ltr Videojet PrintPro Default No Scitex Admark III v8.ltr Scitex Admark III v8 Default No Scitex EktaJet 5000.ltr Scitex EktaJet 5000 Default No Domino JetAddress.
Printer file Printer driver Description POSTNET escape codes Genicom 4800-5100 Series.ltr Generic Text Genicom 4800 and 5100 Series Yes Genicom 4800-5100 Series HTabs.ltr Generic Text Genicom 4800 and 5100 Series, includes tab stops for multi-up labels Yes Mannesmann Tally MT 380 or 2045.ltr Generic Text Mannesmann Tally MT 380 and 2045 Yes Mannesmann Tally MT 380 or 2045 HTabs.
Printer file Printer driver Description POSTNET escape codes Tally T6045-6215 HTabs.ltr Generic Text Tally T6045, 6065, 6090, 6091, 6100, 6101, 6140, 6141, 6180, 6215, includes tab stops for multi-up labels Yes Taneum TCP 635-650 or 1000.ltr Generic Text Taneum TCP 635, 640, 650, 1000 Yes Taneum TCP 635-650 or 1000 HTabs.ltr Generic Text Taneum TCP 635, 640, 650, 1000, includes tab stops for multi-up labels Yes Taneum TCP 620-625.
Label Studio User’s Guide
Glossary Address labels Parameters A label or form that contains whatever information you want to print, such as name and address data. The USPS governs the content of these labels. Options you can set to control various aspects of label printing. Parameters are found in each job file block. In some cases, you turn them on and off, and in others, you assign values to them. Banner pages Pages that separate groups of labels (for example, a job, unit, or subunit) or reports.
Label Studio User’s Guide
Index Symbols , 37 $job, 79, 86 Numerics 3 of 9 barcode, 63 A address blocks, 59 address labels, 11, 46 copies labeling, 25 align barcodes, 37 ASCII codes, 80 report format, 80 auxiliary files, 22 B banner pages definition, 125 layout templates, 75 output, 87 reports, 84 barcode objects, 43 barcode width, 41 barcodes, 63 clear zones, 63 PLANET, 41 POSTNET, 41 base layer, 55 blank line suppression, 60 blocks, 27 break levels, 90 break marks, 65 clear channel, 65 gated scan, 66 input fields, 67 setting, 6
G generic labels, 13, 71 Generic Text driver, 17 PLANET barcode, 41 POSTNET barcode, 41 printer files, 17 glossary, 125 H M Heidelberg drivers layout line printer settings, 40 I I 2 of 5 barcode, 63 images, 68 indicias, 57 Inkjet drivers, 15 Input File Setup, 25 input files, 25 break marks, 67 Remote Views, 29 instances of printers, 35 Intelligent Mail, 11, 37, 42, 63, 73 barcode, 41, 63 J job diagram, 21 Job Editor, 24 samples, 31 job file blocks, 20 job files, 20 Report blocks, 78 samples, 24, 30 set
defining, 39 design file, 39 lines on your layout, 40 modifying, 34 tips, 40 printers, 39, 86 adding comments, 36 assigning, 39 changing, 39 codes, 80 default, 37 printing date and time, 98 labels, 28 PW.
Label Studio User’s Guide
