If there is a data source is available in the form of a CSV file, then upload it under the Job Properties area.

Figure 2: The Job Properties area of the Variable Data panel with a data source loaded.

The Job Properties area offers the following settings:

• Load Data Source [1] – Click on this button to upload the CSV file.
• Delete Data Source – Delete the selected data source if you no longer need it, for example.
• Download Data Source – If you need to make changes in the CSV file, you can download it using this button and modify it in a text editor.
• Start at and End at [2] – Use this to determine with which data set the variable data job should start and up to which data set the variable data job should be created. This information is important for the transfer to the Workflow in order to locate the correct values in the Send to Printer dialog under the Variable Data tab.
• Lines per record [3] – Enter the number of data records from the control file that should be used per Print Item. If the checkout out Print Item contains two designs, e.g., a green variation and an orange variation of a label, the first data set can be used for the green and the second data se for the orange version by choosing number 2.

You can select the type of the variable data you wish to create using the Tools section. Depending on the tool selected, different options are available for defining specific types of variable data.

Figure 3: The Tools area of the Variable Data panel.

In the Tools area, four different options are available when creating variable content:

• Text [4] – Create variable text or serial numbers based on a CSV file or the serial number generator on normal paths (lines) or freely defined shapes.
• Barcode [5] – Create variable Barcodes or QR Codes based on a CSV file or using the serial number generator.
• Image [6] – Create variable images based on a CSV file.
• Shape [7] – Create variable shapes based on a CSV file.
• Non-VDP Object [8] – Convert variable elements back into simple vector shapes.

In the Preview area, you can activate this option to see updates in real time [9] of variable elements. In the display window [10] you can confirm whether the Barcode, QR Code, etc. is valid or if there are errors. Use the page numbering arrows or enter a record number to preview Individual records [11].

Figure 4: The Preview area of the Variable Data panel.

By clicking the T-button [12], different options are displayed, depending on the source [13] selected. The following options are available under Source.

By clicking on the Barcode symbol [33], different options are displayed, depending on which Barcode Type [34] is selected. The following options are available.

• Type [34] – Select the desired Barcode/QR Code. All common types (well over 100 different options) are available.
• Show Text [35] – Use this option to determine whether the text of the barcode should also be displayed in human-readable form. This option is almost exclusively available for Barcodes.
• Font and Font Size [36] – If the text of a Barcode is displayed in human readable form, the Font and Font Size can be selected.
• Additional Parameters [37] – Use these settings to determine which parameters are used to generate the Barcode. The following functions are available:
  • Others – Specify Bar Width Reduction and whether the background/foreground (e.g.: the image) should be swapped.
  • Quiet Zone – Specify an additional blank area for all pages of a Barcode/QR Code.
  • Text Options – Specifies the position of the text placement.
  • Bearers – Offers the possibility to add additional bearer bars.
  • Resolution – Information for the module width using both horizontal and vertical values.
  • Check Methods – A selection of special test methods to verify whether a barcode is valid or not.
• Source [38] – Select the source the content for the Barcode/QR Code. The options available for Source have been described earlier in the section of variable texts.
• Color [39] – Set both the foreground and the background color as needed.

Figure 9: The Barcode tool with String selected under Source.

Click on the Image icon [40] to display options for variable images. The following options are available.

• Select Folder [41] – Select the appropriate folder on the Workflow server, where images are located.
• Stretch [42] – Activate this option if you want the image to fit the size of the placeholder.
• Align [43] – Determine how the image should be aligned to the placeholder. The options Left, Center and Right are available.
• Scale up [44] – Select how the image should fit in the placeholder without distorting the image: None, Best Fit, Fit Width, Fit Height.
• Source [44] – Variable images are usually placed based on the source the a CSV file. The available options have been previously described in the variable text section.

Figure 9: The variable Image option with Datasource selected under Source.

Click on the Shapes symbol [46] to display the options for the Shape tool. Essentially, you can use this option to change the color of a shape or contour in the Color area [47]. The available options for Color have previously been explained in more detail in the section for variable texts.

Figure 10: The variable Shapes tool when Datasource is selected under Source.

1. Open the File Manager panel and select the Jobs [48] tab.
2. Find and select the Production Job [49].
3. This will automatically select the Print Item [50] in the Print Item area and display any related information in the Print Data tab.
4. Click on Check Out [51] in the footer of the panel to open the Print Item in Adobe Illustrator.

Figure 11: The File Management panel with the Production Job selected.

Now you need to create the variable Barcode. Proceed as follows.

1. Select the Rectangle tool [52] and create a rectangle [53] using the desired size and position on the Print Item.
2. Then switch to the Variable Data Panel [54].
3. Enter both Start at and End at values [55]. In our example, 19 data records will be created.
4. Then select the Barcode tool [56]. A placeholder Barcode is displayed matching the size of the rectangle created, since no values have been defined for the Barcode.
5. Then select the Barcode Type under Type [57]. In our example, we have chosen the EAN 13 Code, which requires 13 digits. An example EAN 13 code is shown below the drop-down.
6. Since EAN 13 codes can be generated in pre-defined dimensions using so-called SC sizes, the option Use SC Size [58] is activated in our example and the standard size SC4 (120%) was selected. The size of the rectangle will be adjusted according to the predefined SC Sizes. The Apply SC Height option has been deactivated so that the height of the SC size can be freely defined.
7. EAN 13 codes are normally displayed using human-readable text. Therefore, the option Show Text [59] has been activated and the Font [60] and Font Size have been defined.

Figure 11: The Variable Data panel with defined values for the selected Barcode (Part 1).

8. Under the Source [63] section select String.
9. In the Text [64] input field, create a string for the content. In our example the Barcode consists of the following elements:
   • 1 – Country code of America
   • 12345 – The UID number of a company
   • 001000 – A six-digit serial number that starts with 1,000 and increases by 1 each time.
10. The correct Barcode is displayed immediately afterwards in the specified size.  
11. Make adjustments in the Additional Properties area as needed.
    • Others – Here we adjusted the Notch Height [61] to 3 mm. This creates a small gap between the three main separators on the bottom.
    • Quiet Zone [62] – A white space of 3 and 2 mm has been added to the top and bottom.
12. Finally, the Barcode Color [65] has been changed to match the existing color scheme. Click on the Color Field [66] and select the desired color for the Barcode.
13. Now you should quickly look at the Preview area to make sure that the Barcode is valid. You can also page through the different Barcodes to determine if they are correct. (Using a Barcode reader on your phone works well for this task to ensure that the first couple of Barcodes are able to be read or scanned).

Figure 12: The Variable Data panel with settings relevant for a variable Barcode. (Part 2)

After you are satisfied with your settings and the Barcode is correct, you need to check the Print Item back into the Workflow:

1. To save the Print Item navigate to the File Management tab [67].
2. Click on Check In [68] in the footer of the panel which will start the saving process and create a new version of the Print Item in the Workflow. Note that the Print Item preview is displayed without the Barcode, as the description of the Barcode with all the parameters is saved in the background as an XML file for the Print Item. When imposing VDP data, variable data Barcodes, Images, etc. are only displayed in the final impose output.

After checking the Print Item in, double check whether anything has changed concerning the variable element. The reason for this is because of the following: if you have applied an effect to the Barcode such as a multiply transparency, the Workflow cannot handle such information, and therefore the Barcode is displayed as it would look without the effect applied.

Figure 13: The File Management panel.

Back in the Workflow, we still need to create the impose so we can output the VDP data. In most cases, Step & Repeat Mode is used for this purpose. Proceed as follows:

1. Switch to the Impose tab in the Production Job and select Step & Repeat Mode. You can find more information about imposing using this mode here Step & Repeat.
2. Under Grid Settings [69] select the number of Columns and Rows as needed and enter Spacing for both Horizontal [70] and Vertical values.
3. Then select the order in which the variable data Barcodes should be placed under the Order (Variable Data) [71] drop-down.

Figure 14: The Impose Editor using Step & Repeat Mode.

4. You can now Save the imposition and close the Impose Editor.
5. Under the Impose tab [72] of the Production Job, the imposition preview including the variable elements [73] are displayed. Now the Production Job is ready for print.

Figure 15: The Impose tab of the Production Job after saving the imposition with variable data.

Once the Print Items have been imposed, we simply need to send the Production Job to the printer. Please read this article Sending a Production Job to the Printer.

The only important factor in terms of variable data that must be set, is under the Variable Data tab in the Send to Printer dialog. On one hand, you can split the Production Job into two or more Jobs using Split in [74] and on the other hand the Start and End values [75] e.g. for test print runs, can be changed.

Figure 16: The Variable Data tab of the Send to Printer dialog.