Creating Barcode Label Templates

In order to print your labels, you need to specify how you would like them laid on a standard 8.5" x 11" sheet (other sheet formats not supported). These layouts, called 'templates', are stored and configured in a simple text file called 'labelPrinting.properties' in the Volante root directory. To locate this file, simply go to your Volante directory and open the 'config' folder. This is where 'labelPrinting.properties' resides; if it does not already exist, you may create it using your favorite text editor (ie Notepad, Pico, etc).

The .properties file contains a list of templates, each of which contains a number of fields that specify how the barcodes are laid out for that template. A sample template is as follows:

template1.name=Sample
template1.rows=5
template1.columns=2
template1.horizontalOffset=30
template1.verticalOffset=30
template1.horizontalGap=100
template1.verticalGap=50
template1.fontSize=8
template1.barcodeSizeX=40
template1.barcodeSizeY=20
template1.barcodeFormat=upc-a
template1.gridlines=off

All templates must have this layout, and all field names for each template must be specified in order for the template to work properly. The only value that differentiates templates from one another is the template number (ie 'template1' has template number 1), and template numbers must be in increasing order. Thus, to add an additional template to the file containing the above, one would simply append a list of the same fields using 'template2' in the same manner as 'template1'. An explanation for the meaning of each field is given below:

name: This simply specifies the name that Volante will give to the template, and helps the user find templates when traversing the file.

rows and columns: This specifies the number of rows and columns of barcodes that the template produces (1).

horizontal and vertical offset: This specifies the 'offset' (in mm) of the top-lefthand-most barcode. Note that when printing, Volante will ignore any margins you specify and print precisely this distance from the edge of the sheet, so keep this in mind when writing templates (2).

horizontal and vertical gap (3): This species the 'gap' (in mm) in between the top-lefthand corner of each barcode. Note that this is NOT simply the gap between the edges of each code per say, since it also includes the space occupied by one of the barcodes.

font size (4): This specifies the point size of the font that will be used to write the item name above the barcode. Each barcode will include the item name, as listed by Volante, printed directly above it.

barcode size x and y (4): This specifies the absolute size of the COMBINED area occupied by both the barcode and the item name. This makes it very easy to lay out your barcodes; the barcode and text will be resized to fit inside this area irrespective of other parameters you select.

barcode format (or scan code format): This specifies the type of barcode that is to be printed. You may use any one of the following formats - codabar, code39, intl2of5, ean-128, ean-13,itf-14, code128, upc-a, upc-e, ean-8. As the differences between these styles are mostly cosmetic, you are free to use whatever you like best; keep in mind, however, that each type has differing requirements in terms of the length of the number that may be used to generate them. Volante recommends using 'upc-a', which requires the barcode number to be 12 digits long.

grid lines: This simply specifies whether or not to print grid lines on the sheet of barcodes, which can help you to correct layout problems with your template. We recommend you turn this on when creating and testing a new template. Be sure to turn it off when you are printing your labels!

One final note on formatting: be sure not to leave spaces in between each of your templates or their field entries in this file; doing so will prevent Volanté from reading them properly.

Testing and Printing barcode Templates

Once you have entered a new template or modified an old one, you are ready to test and print your barcodes from the Volanté BackOffice. Start the BackOffice and select Menu Setup. Then, select the item you wish to print barcodes for in the Menu Items view, and click on the Advanced tab. Before you can begin printing, hit the Edit button so that you can interact with the fields on this screen.

The combo box in the middle has all of the templates in the labelPrinting.properties file, and the 'Print Labels' button enables you to print the selected template. As stated earlier, the name above the barcode will be the name of the item in Volanté; this cannot be changed. You are free to select a barcode number, however. The code number to print will be the same as the scan code selected in the list of scan codes for the item. If you do not select a number from this list, you will be prompted to enter one of your choice once you press the 'Print' button.

Once the 'Print' button is pressed and a code number is entered, the basic print screen pops up. Aside from the printer to use and number of copies to print, we recommend you do not alter any settings on this screen, as it may interfere with the template format. Once you are ready to begin, hit 'Print'. You are STRONGLY advised to use standard sheets of 8.5" x 11" to test any new or edited template, before using more expensive sheets of label paper to print your labels.

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