User Manual

Select a data source
The data source contains the variable data for the document.
The supported data source types are: *.accdb, *.mdb, *.xlsx, *.xls and *.csv. Password-protected
data sources of type *.xlsx, *.xls and *.csv are not supported. If special characters are used in a
*.csv file, you must define the encoding of the file to display the characters correctly. You must
create a schema.ini file at the same location of the *.csv file. The schema.ini file must contain:
1. Name of the data source file.
For example: sourceFile.csv
2. If a schema.ini file is used to define the encoding, the text delimiter must be defined in the file
as well.
For example: Format=Delimited(,)
3. The encoding of the data source file. The encoding can be: ANSI, UTF-8 or Unicode.
For example: CharacterSet=ANSI
When you have selected a data source, you can define the frames for the variable data. If you
select another data source after the frames are defined, the frames remain valid when:
1. The new data source type is identical to the used data source type.
2. The new data source contains the same fields as used in the frames.
3. The field types in the new data source are identical to the field types in the used data source.
Action Description
Disconnect the data source All frames will be deleted when you disconnect the data source.
1. Click [Variable data] - [Disconnect data source].
The data source is disconnected. The frames are deleted from
the document.
Select a data source
1. Click [Variable data] - [Select data source].
A [Browse] dialog will appear.
2. Browse to the data source file.
3. Select the data source file and click [Open].
4. If the data source type is *.csv, you must define the [Text delimiter] and/or the [Text
separator].
5. Click [OK].
Configure the formats of the data source fields
The data source view shows the rows and fields of the selected data source file. You can set
default formats for the fields available in the data source file. The default format does not change
the format of fields that are already used in existing frames.
1. Right-click a field in the data source view.
2. Based on the field type, you can select:
• [Default image folder]
Browse to the folder that contains the images that you want to use. If you select a folder
that does not contain images, a red cross is displayed in the frame in the preview view.
• [Default date/time format]
Configure the format for the time and date.
• [Default number format]
• [Integer digits]
Select a data source
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Chapter 5 - The [VDP] workspace
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