Understanding Label Template Files

A template file is an HTML file with tables and cells that holds the content of one label set. Cells in the template file also contain template codes that correspond to codes for each dimension of your labels. Horizon uses these codes to identify the content to put into the cells in the template file. SirsiDynix provides default label template files for three of the default label sets that come with your Horizon system (cat2X2, catlab, and ser2X2). You can use the default label template files that come with Horizon and modify them, as necessary, for your specific label sets. Or, you can set up label template files from scratch to match your specific label sets.

This section explains these topics:

Using the Default Template Files

SirsiDynix provides three default template files for three of the default label sets that come with Horizon (cat2X2, catlab, and ser2X2). Each template is a pre-formatted HTML file with tables and cells that store the content of one label set. Cells in the template file also contain pre-defined template codes. Horizon uses these codes to identify the content to put into the cells in the template file. You need to make sure the pre-defined codes in the template files correspond to the codes that you have assigned to label dimensions for the label set in the label_content view.

This section includes these topics:

To use the default cat2X2 template file

1 From your Horizon installation CD, copy and paste the t_cat2X2.htm template file to your hard drive.
2 Create a directory to store this template file on your local workstation.

You should keep this directory local on one Horizon workstation at your library. This can be the workstation where you do most of your cataloging. Make note of this template file directory for a later task.

3 Open the label_content view in the Table Editor.

Horizon displays the List Label Content Definition window:

 

Each dimension of cat2X2 label set displays as rows in this list window. Label one of cat2X2 has three dimensions; label two has seven dimensions; label three has four dimensions.

4 Use this table to match the code values for all dimensions of the first label in the set to those values in the template file that you copied in step 1:

Dimensions

Value you enter in the Code in Template field

First

11

Second

12

Third

13

5 Use this table to match the code values for all dimensions of the second label in the set to those values in the template file that you copied in step 1:

Dimensions

Value you enter in the Code in Template field

First

211

Second

212

Third

213

Fourth

22

Fifth

23

Sixth

241

Seventh

242

6 Use this table to match the code values for all dimensions of the third label in the set to those values in the template file that you copied in step 1:

Dimension

Value you enter in the Code in Template field

First

31

Second

32

Third

33

Fourth

34

7 Save your changes.

You must do these additional tasks to be able to export labels for the cat2X2 label set:

Specifying Label Export Parameters
Mapping the Label Template to a Label Set

To use the default catlab template file

1 From your Horizon installation CD, copy and paste the t_catlab.htm template file to your hard drive.
2 Create a directory to store this template file on your local workstation.

You should keep this directory local on one Horizon workstation at your library. This can be the workstation where you do most of your cataloging. Make note of this template file directory for a later task.

3 Open the label_content view in the Table Editor.

Horizon displays the List Label Content Definition window:

 

Each dimension of the Catlab label set displays as a row in this list window. Label one of Catlab has three dimensions; label two has four dimensions; label three has one dimension.

4 Use this table to match the code values for all dimensions of the first label in the set to those values in the template file that you copied in step 1:

Dimension

Value you enter in the Code in Template field

First

11

Second

12

Third

13

5 Use this table to match the code values for all dimensions of the second label in the set to those values in the template file that you copied in step 1:

Dimension

Value you enter in the Code in Template field

First

21

Second

22

Third

23

Fourth

24

6 Use this table to match the code values for all dimensions of the third label in the set to those values in the template file that you copied in step 1:

Dimension

Value you enter in the Code in Template field

First

31

7 Save your changes.

You must do these additional tasks to be able to export labels for the Catlab label set:

Specifying Label Export Parameters
Mapping the Label Template to a Label Set

To use the default ser2X2 template file

1 From your Horizon installation CD, copy and paste the t_ser2X2.htm template file to your hard drive.
2 Create a directory to store this template file on your local workstation.

You should keep this directory local on one Horizon workstation at your library. This can be the workstation where you do most of your cataloging. Make note of this template file directory for a later task.

3 Open the label_content view in the Table Editor.

Horizon displays the List Label Content Definition window:

Each dimension of the ser2X2 label set displays as a row in this list window. Label one of ser2X2 has three dimensions; label two has five dimensions; label three has three dimensions.

4 Use this table to match the code values for all dimensions of the first label in the set to those values in the template file that you copied in step 1:

Dimensions

Value you enter in the Code in Template field

First

11

Second

12

Third

13

5 Use this table to match the code values for all dimensions of the second label in the set to those values in the template file that you copied in step 1:

Dimensions

Value you enter in the Code in Template field

First

21

Second

22

Third

23

Fourth

24

Fifth

25

6 Use this table to match the code values for all dimensions of the third label in the set to those values in the template file that you copied in step 1:

Dimensions

Value you enter in the Code in Template field

First

31

Second

32

Third

33

7 Save your changes.

You must do these additional tasks to be able to export labels for the ser2X2 label set:

Specifying Label Export Parameters
Mapping the Label Template to a Label Set

Setting Up a Label Template File from Scratch

Creating a label template file from scratch is the most complex part of setting up label exporting. This task requires that you have your label sticker pages ready so that you can plan out the dimensions (lines, columns, and spacing) in each template file.

You can choose to design the tables and cells in the label template file in Microsoft Word or any HTML design tool. After you create the template file, you need to save the file with an .htm or .html extension.

You need to also review the label sticker sheet you use for each label set. Label sticker sheets differ from each other. (For example, you may have one sticker sheet that has fifty labels with all of the same dimensions, arranged in rows of five labels by ten labels. Or, you may have a sticker sheet with ten label sets with different dimensions [including a spine label and circulation label in each set].)

To create a label template file from scratch

1 Using your label sticker sheet, figure out how many labels you need across and down in your label template file.
2 Start Microsoft Word or any HTML design tool.
3 Create a table with rows and columns that correspond to the labels on your label sticker sheet.

For example, if your label sticker sheet has five labels across the sheet and five labels down the sheet, you create a table with five rows and five columns.

4 Above the table you just created, create another table with the number of rows and columns that you are mapping to the label set definition.

To create the correct format, you may need to merge rows or columns so that the table exactly corresponds to the printout format of the label itself. Later, you fit this table into each cell in the table that you created in step 3.

5 In each cell of the table that you created in step 4, fill in a template code within double brackets “[[ ]]” for each dimension of the label.

This template code is a unique string value that corresponds to each label’s dimension. (For example, you might assign a value of “[[11]]” for the first label, first line of the label set. Or, you would assign a value of “[[211]]” for the second label, first line, first column of the label in the set.) The code within the table you created in step 3 must be unique from all codes you define.

Horizon uses this value to make the value distinct from the rest of the generated template file. You need to make sure that you enter the same value for the dimension in the label_content view. (For more information, see Assigning Template Codes to Dimensions of a Label.)

6 Save your changes.
7 Copy the table that you created in steps 4 through 6 into each cell of the table that you created in step 3.
8 Delete the table that you created in step 3 from the template file.
9 Repeat steps 4 through 8 for each label in your label set.
10 Save the file with an .htm or .html extension.
11 Save the HTML file as Unicode.

This ensures that all unicode characters display on the label correctly.

Important: If you have difficulty modifying the dimensions of the default label template files to correspond to your labels, contact Customer Support.

You must do these additional tasks to be able to export labels for the template that you created for your label set:

Specifying Label Export Parameters
Mapping the Label Template to a Label Set
Assigning Template Codes to Dimensions of a Label

 


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