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4 <!ENTITY legal SYSTEM "legal.xml">
5 <!ENTITY appversion "2.0">
6 <!ENTITY manrevision "1.93.2">
7 <!ENTITY date "December 2003">
8 <!ENTITY app "<application>gLabels</application>">
9 <!-- Information about the entities
10 The legal.xml file contains legal information, there is no need to edit the file.
11 Use the appversion entity to specify the version of the application.
12 Use the manrevision entity to specify the revision number of this manual.
13 Use the date entity to specify the release date of this manual.
14 Use the app entity to specify the name of the application. -->
19 (Do not remove this comment block.)
20 Maintained by the GNOME Documentation Project
21 http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gdp
22 Template version: 2.0 beta
23 Template last modified Apr 11, 2002
26 <!-- =============Document Header ============================= -->
27 <article id="index" lang="en">
28 <!-- please do not change the id; for translations, change lang to -->
29 <!-- appropriate code -->
31 <title>&app; Manual V&manrevision;</title>
35 <holder>Jim Evins</holder>
38 <!-- translators: uncomment this:
42 <holder>ME-THE-TRANSLATOR (Latin translation)</holder>
47 <!-- An address can be added to the publisher information. If a role is
48 not specified, the publisher/author is the same for all versions of the
51 <publishername> Jim Evins </publishername>
55 <!-- This file contains link to license for the documentation (GNU FDL), and
56 other legal stuff such as "NO WARRANTY" statement. Please do not change
61 <firstname>Jim</firstname>
62 <surname>Evins</surname>
65 <!-- This is appropriate place for other contributors: translators,
66 maintainers, etc. Commented out by default.
68 <othercredit role="translator">
69 <firstname>Latin</firstname>
70 <surname>Translator 1</surname>
72 <orgname>Latin Translation Team</orgname>
73 <address> <email>translator@gnome.org</email> </address>
75 <contrib>Latin translation</contrib>
81 <!-- According to GNU FDL, revision history is mandatory if you are -->
82 <!-- modifying/reusing someone else's document. If not, you can omit it. -->
83 <!-- Remember to remove the &manrevision; entity from the revision entries other
85 <!-- than the current revision. -->
86 <!-- The revision numbering system for GNOME manuals is as follows: -->
87 <!-- * the revision number consists of two components -->
88 <!-- * the first component of the revision number reflects the release version of the GNOME desktop. -->
89 <!-- * the second component of the revision number is a decimal unit that is incremented with each revision of the manual. -->
90 <!-- For example, if the GNOME desktop release is V2.x, the first version of the manual that -->
91 <!-- is written in that desktop timeframe is V2.0, the second version of the manual is V2.1, etc. -->
92 <!-- When the desktop release version changes to V3.x, the revision number of the manual changes -->
93 <!-- to V3.0, and so on. -->
96 <revnumber>gLabels Manual V&manrevision;</revnumber>
99 <para role="author">Jim Evins
100 <email>evins@snaught.com</email>
102 <para role="publisher">Jim Evins</para>
107 <releaseinfo>This manual describes version &appversion; of gLabels.
110 <title>Feedback</title>
111 <para>To report a bug or make a suggestion regarding the &app; application or
112 this manual, follow the directions in the <ulink url="http://glabels.sourceforge.net/contact/"
113 type="http">gLabels Contact Page</ulink>.
115 <!-- Translators may also add here feedback address for translations -->
119 <indexterm zone="index">
120 <primary>gLabels</primary>
122 <indexterm zone="index">
123 <primary>glabels</primary>
129 <!-- ============= Document Body ============================= -->
130 <!-- ============= Introduction ============================== -->
131 <!-- Use the Introduction section to give a brief overview of what
132 the application is and what it does. -->
133 <sect1 id="glabels-introduction">
134 <title>Introduction</title>
136 <para>The &app; application is a lightweight program for creating labels
137 and business cards for the <systemitem>GNOME desktop</systemitem>
138 environment. It is designed to work with various laser/ink-jet
139 peel-off label and business card sheets that you'll find at most
140 office supply stores.</para>
147 <!-- =========== Getting Started ============================== -->
148 <!-- Use the Getting Started section to describe the steps required
149 to start the application and to describe the user interface components
150 of the application. If there is other information that it is important
151 for readers to know before they start using the application, you should
152 also include this information here.
153 If the information about how to get started is very short, you can
154 include it in the Introduction and omit this section. -->
156 <sect1 id="glabels-getting-started">
157 <title>Getting Started</title>
159 <sect2 id="glabels-start">
160 <title>To Start &app;</title>
161 <para>You can start <application>&app;</application> in the following ways:
165 <term><guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu</term>
169 <guisubmenu>Office</guisubmenu>
170 <guimenuitem>gLabels</guimenuitem>
171 </menuchoice>. </para>
175 <term>Command line</term>
177 <para>Type <command>glabels</command>,
178 then press <keycap>Return</keycap>:</para>
184 <sect2 id="glabels-when-start">
185 <title>When You Start &app;</title>
186 <para>When you start <application>&app;</application>, the following window is displayed.</para>
188 <!-- ==== Figure ==== -->
189 <figure id="mainwindow-fig">
190 <title>&app; Start Up Window</title>
193 <imageobject><imagedata
194 fileref="figures/main-window-empty.png" format="PNG"/>
199 <!-- ==== End of Figure ==== -->
201 <!-- Include any descriptions of the GUI immediately after the screenshot of the main UI, -->
202 <!-- for example, the items on the menubar and on the toolbar. This section is optional. -->
204 <para>The &app; window contains the following elements:
208 <term>Menubar. </term>
210 <para>The menus on the menubar contain all of the commands you
211 need to create and edit labels and business cards in
212 <application>&app;</application>.</para>
216 <term>Main toolbar. </term>
218 <para>The main toolbar contains a subset of common File and Edit
219 commands that you can access from the menubar.</para>
223 <term>Drawing toolbar. </term>
225 <para>The drawing toolbar contains a subset of commands for
226 editing the current glabels document.</para>
230 <term>Display area. </term>
232 <para>The display area is the main drawing interface to
233 <application>&app;</application>.</para>
237 <term>Object sidebar. </term>
239 <para>The object sidebar provides an interface for viewing and
240 editing all properties of an individual object. </para>
244 <term>Properties toolbar. </term>
246 <para>The properties toolbar contains a set of tools to
247 manipulate the properties of selected objects and set default
248 properties for new objects.</para>
252 <term>Statusbar. </term>
254 <para>The statusbar displays information about current
255 <application>&app;</application> activity and contextual
256 information about the menu items. </para>
266 <!-- ================ Usage ================================ -->
267 <!-- Use this section to describe how to use the application to perform the tasks for
268 which the application is designed. -->
269 <sect1 id="glabels-usage">
272 <!-- ============= To create a new file ============================= -->
273 <sect2 id="glabels-open-new">
274 <title>To Create a New Label or Card</title>
276 <para>To create a new label or business card, choose
277 <menuchoice> <guimenu>File</guimenu> <guimenuitem>New</guimenuitem>
279 to display the <guilabel>New Label or Card</guilabel> dialog. Select
280 the media type and orientation for the new document,
281 then click <guibutton>OK</guibutton>. A new document is
282 displayed in the display area of the <application>&app;</application>
285 <para>If your particular media type is missing from this dialog,
286 see <xref linkend="glabels-create-template"/></para>
290 <!-- ============= To Open a File ============================= -->
291 <sect2 id="glabels-open-file">
292 <title>To Open a File</title>
294 <para>To open a file, choose
295 <menuchoice> <guimenu>File</guimenu> <guimenuitem>Open</guimenuitem>
296 </menuchoice> to display the <guilabel>Open File</guilabel> dialog.
297 Select the file that you want to open, then click
298 <guibutton>OK</guibutton>. The file is displayed in the display area
299 of the <application>&app;</application> window. </para>
301 <para>You can also open multiple files in
302 <application>&app;</application>. The application creates a separate
303 application window for each open file.</para>
305 <para>The application records the paths and filenames of the four
306 most recent files that you edited and displays the files as menu
307 items on the <menuchoice>
308 <guimenu>File</guimenu><guisubmenu>Recent Files</guisubmenu>
309 </menuchoice> menu.</para>
313 <!-- ============= To Open Multiple Files from the Command Line ========= -->
314 <sect2 id="glabels-run-from-cmd-line">
315 <title>To Open Multiple Files from a Command Line</title>
317 <para>You can run <application>&app;</application> from a command line
318 and open a single file or multiple files. To open multiple files from
319 a command line, type the following command, then press
320 <keycap>Return</keycap>:</para>
322 <para><command>glabels
323 <replaceable>file1.glabels file2.glabels file3.glabels</replaceable>
326 <para>When the application starts, the files that you specify are
327 displayed in separate <application>&app;</application> windows.</para>
331 <!-- ============= To Save a File ========= -->
332 <sect2 id="glabels-save-file">
333 <title>To Save a File</title>
335 <para>You can save files in the following ways:</para>
340 <para>To save changes to an existing file, choose
341 <menuchoice> <guimenu>File</guimenu>
342 <guimenuitem>Save</guimenuitem> </menuchoice>. </para>
347 <para>To save a new file or to save an existing file under a new
348 filename, choose <menuchoice> <guimenu>File</guimenu>
349 <guimenuitem>Save As</guimenuitem> </menuchoice>. Enter a name
350 for the file in the <guilabel>Save As</guilabel> dialog box,
351 then click <guibutton>OK</guibutton>.</para>
358 <!-- ============= To Change Label Properties ========= -->
359 <sect2 id="glabels-label-properties">
360 <title>To Change Label Properties</title>
362 <para>To change the media type and/or orientation of a label, choose
363 <menuchoice> <guimenu>File</guimenu>
364 <guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem> </menuchoice> to display the
365 <guilabel>Label properties</guilabel> dialog. Select the
366 new media type and orientation for the document, then click
367 <guibutton>OK</guibutton>.</para>
371 <!-- ============= To create a custom template ======================= -->
372 <sect2 id="glabels-create-template">
373 <title>To Create a Custom Template</title>
375 <para>To create a new custom template, choose
376 <menuchoice> <guimenu>File</guimenu>
377 <guimenuitem>Template Designer ...</guimenuitem> </menuchoice>
378 to display the <guilabel>Template Designer</guilabel> dialog.
379 This dialog will assist you in creating a custom template for
380 most types of label or card stationery that you may encounter.</para>
382 <para>If you prefer, you can create your templates manually.
383 For this option see <xref linkend="glabels-manual-create-template"/>
388 <!-- ============= To Close a File ========= -->
389 <sect2 id="glabels-close-file">
390 <title>To Close a File</title>
392 <para>To close the current document, choose
393 <menuchoice> <guimenu>File</guimenu>
394 <guimenuitem>Close</guimenuitem> </menuchoice> to close the application
395 window. If the current document is modified, a confirmation dialog
396 will be presented, allowing you to save the document or cancel
397 the command. If the window being closed is the only open window,
398 <application>&app;</application> will exit.</para>
402 <!-- ============= To Quit ========= -->
403 <sect2 id="glabels-quit">
404 <title>To Quit <application>&app;</application></title>
406 <para>To quit <application>&app;</application>, choose
407 <menuchoice> <guimenu>File</guimenu>
408 <guimenuitem>Quit</guimenuitem> </menuchoice>. This is equivalent
409 to closing all open windows. See
410 <xref linkend="glabels-close-file"/>.</para>
414 <!-- ============= To Print Labels and Cards ========= -->
415 <sect2 id="glabels-print-file">
416 <title>To Print Labels or Cards</title>
418 <para>To print labels or cards, choose
419 <menuchoice> <guimenu>File</guimenu> <guimenuitem>Print</guimenuitem>
420 </menuchoice> to display the <guilabel>Print</guilabel> dialog.
421 Once print options have been selected, click <guilabel>Print</guilabel>
422 to print the labels or cards. To simply preview the results,
423 click <guilabel>Print Preview</guilabel> instead.</para>
425 <para>The <guilabel>Print</guilabel> dialog allows you to specify the
426 following print options:</para>
428 <sect3 id="print-dialog-job">
429 <title>Job Tabbed Section</title>
434 <term><guilabel>Copies (Simple only)</guilabel></term>
437 <para>For simple labels or cards (no document merge), the job
438 tabbed section contains the following copy controls.</para>
440 <!-- ==== Figure ==== -->
441 <figure id="print-copies-fig">
442 <title>Print Copy Controls</title>
445 <imageobject><imagedata
446 fileref="figures/print-copies.png" format="PNG"/>
451 <!-- ==== End of Figure ==== -->
453 <para>The number of copies of the label can be selected by
454 choosing the number of full sheets to print, or a specific
455 subset of labels on a single sheet.</para>
457 <para>The mini-preview can also be used to graphically select
458 the subset of labels by clicking the first label on the
459 mini-preview and dragging to the last label.</para>
465 <term><guilabel>Document Merge Control (Document merge only)</guilabel></term>
468 <para>For labels or cards using the document merge (also known
469 as "mail merge") capability, the job tabbed section contains
470 the following merge controls instead of copy controls.</para>
472 <!-- ==== Figure ==== -->
473 <figure id="print-merge-fig">
474 <title>Print Document Merge Controls</title>
477 <imageobject><imagedata
478 fileref="figures/print-merge.png" format="PNG"/>
483 <!-- ==== End of Figure ==== -->
485 <para>The total number of labels or cards printed is the
486 product of the number of records in the merge source and
487 the number of copies selected. If multiple copies are
488 selected, these can be either collated (copies of the
489 same record grouped together) or un-collated (one copy
490 each record is printed before next copy).</para>
492 <para>Printing can begin on any label on the first sheet.
493 This can be selected with the <guilabel>Start on
494 label</guilabel> spinbutton.</para>
496 <para>The mini-preview can also be used to graphically select
497 this first label, by clicking on the desired label in the
503 <varlistentry> <term><guilabel>Options</guilabel> </term>
505 <para>The following options can also be selected.</para>
508 <para><guilabel>print outlines</guilabel></para>
509 <para>Print outlines of labels. This option is useful for
510 dry-runs, to test printer alignment.</para>
513 <para><guilabel>print in reverse</guilabel></para>
514 <para>Prints the labels as mirror images. This option is
515 useful for printing on clear labels that will be viewed
516 from the reverse side (e.g. in a car window).</para>
519 <para><guilabel>print crop marks</guilabel></para>
520 <para>Prints crop marks along the edge of the sheet.
521 This option is useful for printing on blank stock, to
522 be cut after printing. This option does not work well
523 with all templates.</para>
531 <sect3 id="print-dialog-printer">
532 <title>Printer Tabbed Section</title>
534 <varlistentry> <term><guilabel>Printer</guilabel> </term>
536 <para>Use this drop-down list box to select the printer to
537 which you want to print the file.</para>
540 <varlistentry> <term><guilabel>Settings</guilabel> </term>
542 <para>Use this drop-down list box to select the printer settings.
543 To configure the printer, click
544 <guibutton>Configure</guibutton>.</para>
547 <varlistentry> <term><guilabel>Location</guilabel> </term>
549 <para>Use this drop-down list box to select the print
550 destination. To print the file to a printer, choose
551 <guilabel>lpr</guilabel>. To print the file to a print file,
552 choose <guilabel>File</guilabel>. If you select
553 <guilabel>File</guilabel>, type the name of the output file
554 in the text box provided. To print a file to a location of
555 your choice, choose <guilabel>Custom</guilabel>. Type the
556 location you want in the <guilabel>Custom</guilabel> text
566 <!-- ============= To Create New Objects ========= -->
567 <sect2 id="glabels-new-objects">
568 <title>To Create New Objects</title>
570 <para>Objects are created by choosing the appropriate selection under
571 the <menuchoice> <guimenu>Objects</guimenu>
572 <guimenuitem>Create Object</guimenuitem> </menuchoice> submenu or
573 the <guilabel>Drawing Toolbar</guilabel>. This will place the
574 display area into object creation mode as indicated by its cursor.
575 To return to the default object selection mode without creating
576 an object, choose <menuchoice> <guimenu>Objects</guimenu>
577 <guimenuitem>Select Mode</guimenuitem> </menuchoice>. This will
578 return the display area's cursor to the default selection arrow.</para>
580 <para>The following describes the object creation mode for each object
588 <para>Click the desired location of the upper left corner of the
589 text object. New text objects are initialized with the
590 string "Text." To change this text, or other properties, see
591 <xref linkend="glabels-object-properties"/>.</para>
598 <para>Click the desired location of the upper left corner of the
599 box object and drag to the desired location of the lower right
600 corner. If you simply click in a single location, a square
601 box will be created. To change properties of the box object, see
602 <xref linkend="glabels-object-properties"/>.</para>
609 <para>Click the desired location of one end of the
610 line object and drag to the desired location of the other end.
611 If you simply click in a single location, a diagonal line
612 will be created. To change properties of the line object, see
613 <xref linkend="glabels-object-properties"/>.</para>
620 <para>Click the desired location of the upper left corner of the
621 ellipse object and drag to the desired location of the lower
622 right corner. If you simply click in a single location, a circle
623 will be created. To change properties of the ellipse object, see
624 <xref linkend="glabels-object-properties"/>.</para>
631 <para>Click the desired location of the upper left corner of the
632 image object and drag to the desired location of the lower
633 right corner. If you simply click in a single location, a square
634 will be created. New image objects are initialized with a
635 simple checkerboard image. To change this image, or other
636 properties of the image object, see
637 <xref linkend="glabels-object-properties"/>.</para>
644 <para>Click the desired location of the upper left corner of the
645 barcode object. New barcode objects are initialized to a
646 POSTNET barcode with representative data. To change data
647 and properties of the barcode object, see
648 <xref linkend="glabels-object-properties"/>.</para>
657 <!-- ============= To Select Objects ========= -->
658 <sect2 id="glabels-select-objects">
659 <title>To Select Objects</title>
661 <para>A prerequisite for performing operations on objects is the
662 selection of individual objects or groups of objects. The
663 display area must be in the object selection mode to create new
664 selections, as indicated by an arrow cursor. The object
665 selection mode is selected by the
666 <menuchoice> <guimenu>Objects</guimenu>
667 <guimenuitem>Select Mode</guimenuitem> </menuchoice> menu item,
668 or the corresponding command on the <guilabel>Drawing
669 Toolbar</guilabel>.</para>
674 <term>Selecting a single object</term>
676 <para>A single object can be selected simply by clicking
677 on the desired object in the display area.
678 Once selected the object will be highlighted with a set of
679 resizing handles.</para>
684 <term>Aggregate object selections</term>
686 <para>Multiple objects can be selected by first selecting the first
687 object as above and then by holding the <keycap>Ctrl</keycap>
688 key while selecting additional objects.
689 Individual objects can be added to an existing selection
690 at any time by holding the <keycap>Ctrl</keycap> key while
691 selecting the desired objects. All objects can also be
692 selected by using the <menuchoice> <guimenu>Edit</guimenu>
693 <guimenuitem>Select All</guimenuitem> </menuchoice>
694 menu item. All objects in an aggregate object selection will be
700 <term>Area selections</term>
702 <para>Multiple objects can also be selected by clicking an empty
703 area and dragging to form a rectangular area. When released,
704 all objects contained in the area will form an aggregate
705 selection. An area selection can be used to add to an existing
706 selection by holding the <keycap>Ctrl</keycap> key while
707 performing the selection.</para>
712 <term>Unselecting objects</term>
714 <para>Individual objects can be removed from an existing
715 selection by holding the <keycap>Ctrl</keycap> key while
716 clicking on a previously selected object. An entire selection
717 can be dismissed by using the <menuchoice>
718 <guimenu>Edit</guimenu> <guimenuitem>Un-select All</guimenuitem>
719 </menuchoice> menu item
720 or by simply clicking any empty space in the display area.
721 Once an object is unselected its highlight is removed.</para>
729 <!-- ============= Clipboard Commands ========= -->
730 <sect2 id="glabels-clipboard">
731 <title>Clipboard Commands</title>
733 <para>Object selections can be manipulated using the standard clipboard
734 operations <guimenuitem>Cut</guimenuitem>,
735 <guimenuitem>Copy</guimenuitem>, <guimenuitem>Paste</guimenuitem>,
736 and <guimenuitem>Delete</guimenuitem>.</para>
744 <keycombo><keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>X</keycap></keycombo>
746 <guimenuitem>Cut</guimenuitem>
750 <para>Moves selected objects to the clipboard. The objects are
751 then available for pasting back into the current document or
752 another document.</para>
760 <keycombo><keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>C</keycap></keycombo>
762 <guimenuitem>Copy</guimenuitem>
766 <para>Copies selected objects to the clipboard without deleting
767 them. The objects are then available for pasting back into
768 the current document or another document.</para>
776 <keycombo><keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>V</keycap></keycombo>
778 <guimenuitem>Paste</guimenuitem>
782 <para>Pastes objects from the clipboard into the current document.
783 <application>&app;</application> can only paste objects from
784 another <application>&app;</application> document.</para>
792 <keycap>Delete</keycap>
794 <guimenuitem>Delete</guimenuitem>
798 <para>Deletes selected objects without placing them on the
807 <!-- ============= To Edit object Properties ========= -->
808 <sect2 id="glabels-object-properties">
809 <title>To Edit Object Properties</title>
811 <para>Most object properties can be modified through the object
812 editor sidebar, illustrated below. To use the object editor,
813 a single object must first be selected. See
814 <xref linkend="glabels-select-objects" />.</para>
816 <!-- ==== Figure ==== -->
817 <figure id="object-editor-sidebar-fig">
818 <title>Object Editor Sidebar</title>
821 <imageobject><imagedata
822 fileref="figures/object-editor-sidebar.png" format="PNG"/>
827 <!-- ==== End of Figure ==== -->
829 <para>The object editor will contain a subset of the following
830 tabbed sections, depending on object type:</para>
832 <sect3 id="object-editor-text">
833 <title>Text Tabbed Section (Text objects)</title>
835 <para>This section contains a small editor for changing the content
836 of a text object. It also contains a dropdown menu of available
837 document merge keys, that can be inserted into text.</para>
841 <sect3 id="object-editor-image">
842 <title>Image Tabbed Section (Image objecs)</title>
844 <para>This section contains a file entry with preview to select
845 image files. The browse button can be used to easily locate
846 image files. Alternatively, a document merge key can be used
847 instead to provide a filename at print time.</para>
851 <sect3 id="object-editor-data">
852 <title>Data Tabbed Section (Barcode objecs)</title>
854 <para>This section contains a text entry to enter literal barcode
855 data. Alternatively, a document merge key can be used to
856 provide this data at print time.</para>
860 <sect3 id="object-editor-style">
861 <title>Style Tabbed Section (Text objects)</title>
863 <para>This section contains controls to select text properties,
864 including font family, font size, font weight, color, and
865 text justification.</para>
869 <sect3 id="object-editor-barcode">
870 <title>Style Tabbed Section (Barcode objecs)</title>
872 <para>This section contains controls to select barcode properties,
873 including barcode style, color, whether to print text, and whether
874 to include a checksum digit.</para>
878 <sect3 id="object-editor-line">
879 <title>Line Tabbed Section</title>
881 <para>This section contains controls to select properties of lines
882 and outlines. These properties include line width and color.</para>
886 <sect3 id="object-editor-fill">
887 <title>Fill Tabbed Section</title>
889 <para>This section contains controls to select fill properties of box
890 and ellipse objects. Currently the only fill property is fill
895 <sect3 id="object-editor-size">
896 <title>Size Tabbed Section (All except line objects)</title>
898 <para>This section contains controls to select the width and height
899 of an object. A checkbox is provided, so that the current aspect
900 ratio can be locked while manipulating the width and height controls.
901 Image objects also provide a button to reset the size to the
902 image's natural size (Assumes 72DPI).</para>
906 <sect3 id="object-editor-size-line">
907 <title>Size Tabbed Section (Line objects)</title>
909 <para>This section contains controls to select the length and angle
910 of a line object.</para>
914 <sect3 id="object-editor-position">
915 <title>Position Tabbed Section</title>
917 <para>This section contains controls to change the position of an
925 <!-- ============= Other Manipulations of Objects ========= -->
926 <sect2 id="glabels-object-manipulation">
927 <title>Other Manipulations of Objects</title>
929 <para>Objects can also be manipulated in the following ways.</para>
931 <sect3 id="other-moving-resizing">
932 <title>Moving and Resizing Objects</title>
934 <para>Objects can be moved by simply clicking on a selected
935 object and dragging the object to its new location. If the object
936 is part of an aggregate selection, all objects in the selection
937 will move with the object being dragged, maintaining their relative
938 positions to one another. If no object is selected, clicking on
939 an object will create a new selection containing that object.
940 See <xref linkend="glabels-select-objects" />.</para>
942 <para>A selected object can be resized by clicking one of its resize
943 handle and dragging it to obtain the new size.</para>
947 <sect3 id="other-stacking-order">
948 <title>Changing Stacking Order</title>
950 <para>Stacking order refers to relative position in the z-axis of
951 objects. That is when objects overlap, which object will appear
952 on top of the other. By default, newer objects will appear above
953 older objects. To change this order, select one or more objects
954 and choose <menuchoice> <guimenu>Objects</guimenu>
955 <guimenuitem>Order</guimenuitem>
956 <guimenuitem>Bring to Front</guimenuitem> </menuchoice>
957 to raise the selection to the top of the stacking
958 order, or choose <menuchoice> <guimenu>Objects</guimenu>
959 <guimenuitem>Order</guimenuitem>
960 <guimenuitem>Send to Back</guimenuitem> </menuchoice>
961 to lower the selection to the bottom of the
962 stacking order. These menuitems are also available by right-clicking
963 the display area when there is a non-empty selection.</para>
967 <sect3 id="other-rotating-flipping">
968 <title>Rotating and Flipping Objects</title>
970 <para>Objects can be rotated 90 degrees in either direction, or flipped
971 horizontally or vertically, by choosing the appropriate menuitem
972 in the <menuchoice> <guimenu>Objects</guimenu>
973 <guimenuitem>Rotate/Flip</guimenuitem> </menuchoice> sub-menu. These
974 menuitems are also available by right-clicking
975 the display area when there is a non-empty selection.</para>
979 <sect3 id="other-alignment">
980 <title>Aligning Objects</title>
982 <para>Objects can be aligned horizontally or vertically, relative to
983 one another, or relative to the center line of the label, by
984 choosing the appropriate menuitem from the <menuchoice>
985 <guimenu>Objects</guimenu>
986 <guimenuitem>Align Horizontal</guimenuitem>
987 </menuchoice> or <menuchoice> <guimenu>Objects</guimenu>
988 <guimenuitem>Align Horizontal</guimenuitem> </menuchoice> sub-menus.
989 These menuitems are also available by right-clicking
990 the display area when there is a non-empty selection.</para>
994 <sect3 id="other-property-bar">
995 <title>Using the Property Bar</title>
997 <para>The property bar can be used to change some common properties
998 of objects en-masse. These properties include font family, font
999 size, font weight, text alignment, text color, fill color, line
1000 or outline color, and line width. The property bar also controls
1001 the defaults for these properties for any newly created objects.
1010 <!-- ============= Document Merge Features ========= -->
1011 <sect2 id="glabels-merge">
1012 <title>Performing a Document Merge</title>
1014 <para>Document Merge (sometimes called "Mail Merge") is a powerful
1015 feature that allows a unique label or card to be printed for each
1016 record in an external data source.</para>
1018 <para>The first step to performing a document merge is to prepare
1019 a source document that contains your merge data. This data could
1020 be mailing addresses or any other data that you wish to create
1021 unique labels or cards for. Currently only a simple back-end
1022 for text files exists -- others are planned. The currently
1023 supported text-file format is very simple: each line is a record;
1024 fields are delimited by commas (CSV), tabs, or colons; and newlines
1025 can be embedded into fields by using the "\n" entity. This file
1026 could be created using any text editor or could be created by
1027 another program or script.</para>
1029 <para>A label must then be configured to "point at" this data file.
1030 To configure the merge properties of a document, choose
1031 <menuchoice> <guimenu>Objects</guimenu>
1032 <guimenuitem>Merge Properties</guimenuitem> </menuchoice> menu item
1033 to display the <guilabel>merge properties</guilabel> dialog. This
1034 dialog is used to select the exact data file format and file
1035 name (location) of the merge data.</para>
1037 <para>Finally, once the label has been configured for a data file,
1038 field keys can be inserted into text objects and used as source
1039 or data for barcode objects and image filenames for image objects.
1040 See <xref linkend="glabels-object-properties" /> for more information
1041 on using merge data for these object types.</para>
1043 <para>Now that your label is configured, gLabels will print a unique
1044 label for each record in your source document -- substituting fields
1045 from each record for field keys in the all text, barcode, and
1046 image objects.</para>
1056 <!-- ============= Customization ============================= -->
1057 <!-- Use this section to describe how to customize the application. -->
1058 <sect1 id="glabels-prefs">
1059 <title>Settings</title>
1060 <para>To configure &app;, choose
1062 <guimenu>Settings</guimenu>
1063 <guimenuitem>Preferences</guimenuitem>
1065 <guilabel>Preferences</guilabel> dialog contains the following tabbed
1070 <xref linkend="glabels-prefs-locale"/></para>
1074 <xref linkend="glabels-prefs-object-defaults"/></para>
1077 <!-- =============== Customization Subsection ================ -->
1078 <!-- Use a new section to describe different tabbed sections on the Settings or Preferences
1080 <sect2 id="glabels-prefs-locale">
1081 <title>Locale</title>
1085 <guilabel>Units</guilabel> </term>
1087 <para>Use this radio button group to specify your prefered units.
1088 Select one of the following options:</para>
1092 <guilabel>Points</guilabel> </para>
1093 <para>Use points (1 point = 1/72 in = 0.352778 mm).</para>
1097 <guilabel>Inches</guilabel> </para>
1098 <para>Use inches.</para>
1102 <guilabel>Millimeters</guilabel> </para>
1103 <para>Use millimeters.</para>
1107 <guilabel>Inches</guilabel>.</para>
1112 <guilabel>Default page size</guilabel> </term>
1114 <para>Use this radio button group to specify your prefered page size.
1115 This will make it quicker for you to locate media types when creating a new
1116 label or card.</para>
1120 <guilabel>US Letter</guilabel> </para>
1121 <para>Most of your media will be of the US Letter page size (8.5 x 11 inches).</para>
1125 <guilabel>ISO A4</guilabel> </para>
1126 <para>Most of your media will be of the ISO A4 page size (210 x 297 mm).</para>
1130 <guilabel>US Letter</guilabel>.</para>
1135 <!-- ============= Customization Subsection ===================== -->
1136 <!-- Another tabbed section on the Preferences dialog. -->
1137 <sect2 id="glabels-prefs-object-defaults">
1138 <title>Object defaults</title>
1142 <guilabel>Text</guilabel> </term>
1144 <para>Use these controls to set the default properties of new text objects.
1145 These properties are</para>
1149 <guilabel>Font</guilabel> </para>
1150 <para>These controls are used to select font family and font size, and
1151 whether the font should bold or in italics.</para>
1155 <guilabel>Color</guilabel> </para>
1156 <para>This control selects the default text color.</para>
1160 <guilabel>Alignment</guilabel> </para>
1161 <para>These controls are used to select the default text alignment (left, center or right).</para>
1168 <guilabel>Line</guilabel> </term>
1170 <para>Use these controls to set the default properties of lines and outlines of
1171 new objects. These properties are</para>
1175 <guilabel>Width</guilabel> </para>
1176 <para>This control selects the default line width.</para>
1180 <guilabel>Color</guilabel> </para>
1181 <para>This control selects the default line color.</para>
1188 <guilabel>Fill</guilabel> </term>
1190 <para>Use these controls to set the default fill properties of
1191 new objects. These properties are</para>
1195 <guilabel>Color</guilabel> </para>
1196 <para>This control selects the default fill color.</para>
1208 <!-- ============= Creating templates ================================== -->
1209 <sect1 id="glabels-manual-create-template">
1210 <title>Manually Creating New Templates</title>
1212 <para>Predefined templates are defined by XML files located in
1213 <filename>${prefix}/share/glabels/</filename>,
1214 where <filename>${prefix}</filename> is usually something like
1215 <filename>/usr/local</filename> or <filename>/usr</filename> depending
1216 on the configuration option <filename>prefix</filename>. gLabels will
1217 use all files of the form <filename>*-templates.xml</filename>
1218 or <filename>*.template</filename>, that it finds in
1219 <filename>${prefix}/share/glabels/</filename> and
1220 <filename>${HOME}/.glabels/</filename>.
1221 Additional templates can be added by creating additional
1222 <filename>*.template</filename> files in either of these directories.
1225 <para>The format for these files is defined in the DTD:
1226 <ulink url="http://glabels.sourceforge.net/doc/glabels-2.0.dtd.txt"
1227 type="http">glabels-2.0.dtd</ulink>. (This DTD also describes other
1228 XML formats used by glabels.)</para>
1230 <sect2 id="template-assumptions">
1231 <title>Assumptions/caveats</title>
1234 <para>A sheet contains only one size of label or card (if a sheet
1235 contains more than one size of item, it can be split into
1236 multiple templates for multiple pass printing)</para>
1239 <para>Distances can be expressed in units of <emphasis>pt</emphasis>,
1240 <emphasis>in</emphasis>, <emphasis>mm</emphasis>,
1241 <emphasis>cm</emphasis>, or <emphasis>pc</emphasis>. For example:
1242 "<literal>1.0in</literal>" or "<literal>2.54cm</literal>". If no
1243 units are specified, computer points (<emphasis>pt</emphasis>) will
1244 be assumed (1 <emphasis>pt</emphasis> =
1245 1/72 <emphasis>in</emphasis> = 0.352778 <emphasis>mm</emphasis>).
1251 <sect2 id="template-file">
1252 <title>Template Files</title>
1255 <?xml version="1.0"?>
1256 <Glabels-templates>
1258 <replaceable>...templates...</replaceable>
1260 </Glabels-templates>
1265 <sect2 id="template-example">
1266 <title>Example Template</title>
1268 <Template name="Avery 8160" size="US-Letter" description="Mailing Labels">
1269 <Label-rectangle id="0" width="189" height="72" round="5">
1270 <Markup-margin size="5"/>
1271 <Layout nx="3" ny="10" x0="11.25" y0="36" dx="200" dy="72"/>
1272 </Label-rectangle>
1273 <Alias name="Avery 5160"/>
1274 <Alias name="Avery 6233"/>
1279 <sect2 id="template-template-node">
1280 <title>Template Node</title>
1282 <para>A <emphasis>Template</emphasis> node describes a single stationary
1283 product. It must contain one instance of any type of Label node
1284 (<emphasis>Label-rectangle</emphasis>,
1285 <emphasis>Label-round</emphasis>, or <emphasis>Label-cd</emphasis>).
1286 This node can be followed by zero or more
1287 <emphasis>Alias</emphasis> nodes.</para>
1289 <informaltable frame="topbot">
1291 <colspec colname="col1"/>
1292 <colspec colname="col2"/>
1295 <entry colname="col1" colsep="0" valign="top">
1296 <para>Property</para>
1298 <entry colname="col2" valign="top">
1299 <para>Description</para>
1305 <entry><para>name</para></entry>
1307 <para>Name or part # of stationary product.
1308 E.g. "Avery 8160"</para>
1312 <entry><para>size</para></entry>
1314 <para>Size of sheet. E.g., "US-Letter," "A4", ...</para>
1318 <entry><para>description</para></entry>
1320 <para>Description of stationary product. E.g,
1321 "Mailing Labels."</para>
1325 <entry><para>_description</para></entry>
1327 <para>Translatable description of stationary product.
1328 E.g, "Mailing Labels." (Only useful for predefined
1333 <entry><para>width</para></entry>
1335 <para>Page width. Only valid if size="Other"</para>
1339 <entry><para>height</para></entry>
1341 <para>Page height. Only valid if size="Other"</para>
1350 <sect2 id="template-label-rectangle-node">
1351 <title>Label-rectangle Node</title>
1353 <para>A <emphasis>Label-rectangle</emphasis> node describes the
1354 dimensions of a single label or business card that is rectangular
1355 in shape (may have rounded edges).</para>
1357 <informaltable frame="topbot">
1359 <colspec colname="col1"/>
1360 <colspec colname="col2"/>
1363 <entry colname="col1" colsep="0" valign="top">
1364 <para>Property</para>
1366 <entry colname="col2" valign="top">
1367 <para>Description</para>
1373 <entry><para>id</para></entry>
1375 <para>Reserved for future use. Should always be 0.</para>
1379 <entry><para>width</para></entry>
1380 <entry><para>Width of label/card</para></entry>
1383 <entry><para>height</para></entry>
1384 <entry><para>Height of label/card</para></entry>
1387 <entry><para>round</para></entry>
1389 <para>Radius of corners. For items with square edges
1390 (business cards), the radius should be 0.</para>
1394 <entry><para>waste</para></entry>
1396 <para>Amount of waste (over-print) to allow. This is useful
1397 for minimizing alignment problems when using non-white
1398 backgrounds (e.g. images).</para>
1405 <!-- ==== Figure ==== -->
1406 <figure id="template-label-fig">
1407 <title>Label-rectangle Parameters</title>
1410 <imageobject><imagedata
1411 fileref="figures/glabels-template-label.png" format="PNG"/>
1416 <!-- ==== End of Figure ==== -->
1420 <sect2 id="template-label-round-node">
1421 <title>Label-round Node</title>
1423 <para>A <emphasis>Label-round</emphasis> node describes the dimensions
1424 of a simple round label (not a CD).</para>
1426 <informaltable frame="topbot">
1428 <colspec colname="col1"/>
1429 <colspec colname="col2"/>
1432 <entry colname="col1" colsep="0" valign="top">
1433 <para>Property</para>
1435 <entry colname="col2" valign="top">
1436 <para>Description</para>
1442 <entry><para>id</para></entry>
1444 <para>Reserved for future use. Should always be 0.</para>
1448 <entry><para>radius</para></entry>
1449 <entry><para>Radius (1/2 diameter) of label</para></entry>
1452 <entry><para>waste</para></entry>
1454 <para>Amount of waste (over-print) to allow. This is useful
1455 for minimizing alignment problems when using non-white
1456 backgrounds (e.g. images).</para>
1465 <sect2 id="template-label-cd-node">
1466 <title>Label-cd Node</title>
1468 <para>A <emphasis>Label-cd</emphasis> node describes the dimensions
1469 of a CD, DVD, or business card CD.</para>
1471 <informaltable frame="topbot">
1473 <colspec colname="col1"/>
1474 <colspec colname="col2"/>
1477 <entry colname="col1" colsep="0" valign="top">
1478 <para>Property</para>
1480 <entry colname="col2" valign="top">
1481 <para>Description</para>
1487 <entry><para>id</para></entry>
1489 <para>Reserved for future use. Should always be 0.</para>
1493 <entry><para>radius</para></entry>
1494 <entry><para>Outer radius of label</para></entry>
1497 <entry><para>hole</para></entry>
1498 <entry><para>Radius of concentric hole</para></entry>
1501 <entry><para>width</para></entry>
1503 <para>If present, the label is clipped to the given width.
1504 (Useful for "business card CDs").</para>
1508 <entry><para>height</para></entry>
1510 <para>If present, the label is clipped to the given height.
1511 (Useful for "business card CDs").</para>
1515 <entry><para>waste</para></entry>
1517 <para>Amount of waste (over-print) to allow. This is useful
1518 for minimizing alignment problems when using non-white
1519 backgrounds (e.g. images).</para>
1526 <!-- ==== Figure ==== -->
1527 <figure id="template-label-cd-fig">
1528 <title>CD Label Parameters</title>
1531 <imageobject><imagedata
1532 fileref="figures/glabels-template-cd.png" format="PNG"/>
1537 <!-- ==== End of Figure ==== -->
1541 <sect2 id="template-markup-margin-node">
1542 <title>Markup-margin Node</title>
1544 <para>A <emphasis>Markup-margin</emphasis> describes a margin along
1545 all edges of a label.</para>
1547 <informaltable frame="topbot">
1549 <colspec colname="col1"/>
1550 <colspec colname="col2"/>
1553 <entry colname="col1" colsep="0" valign="top">
1554 <para>Property</para>
1556 <entry colname="col2" valign="top">
1557 <para>Description</para>
1563 <entry><para>size</para></entry>
1565 <para>Size of the margin. I.e. the distance of the margin
1566 line from the edge of the card/label.</para>
1575 <sect2 id="template-markup-line-node">
1576 <title>Markup-line Node</title>
1578 <para>A <emphasis>Markup-line</emphasis> describes a markup line.</para>
1580 <informaltable frame="topbot">
1582 <colspec colname="col1"/>
1583 <colspec colname="col2"/>
1586 <entry colname="col1" colsep="0" valign="top">
1587 <para>Property</para>
1589 <entry colname="col2" valign="top">
1590 <para>Description</para>
1596 <entry><para>x1</para></entry>
1598 <para>x coordinate of 1st endpoint of the line segment.</para>
1602 <entry><para>y1</para></entry>
1604 <para>y coordinate of 1st endpoint of the line segment.</para>
1608 <entry><para>x2</para></entry>
1610 <para>x coordinate of 2nd endpoint of the line segment.</para>
1614 <entry><para>y2</para></entry>
1616 <para>y coordinate of 2nd endpoint of the line segment.</para>
1625 <sect2 id="template-markup-circle-node">
1626 <title>Markup-circle Node</title>
1628 <para>A <emphasis>Markup-circle</emphasis> describes a markup circle.
1631 <informaltable frame="topbot">
1633 <colspec colname="col1"/>
1634 <colspec colname="col2"/>
1637 <entry colname="col1" colsep="0" valign="top">
1638 <para>Property</para>
1640 <entry colname="col2" valign="top">
1641 <para>Description</para>
1647 <entry><para>x0</para></entry>
1649 <para>x coordinate of circle origin (center).</para>
1653 <entry><para>y0</para></entry>
1655 <para>y coordinate of circle origin (center).</para>
1659 <entry><para>radius</para></entry>
1660 <entry><para>Radius of circle.</para></entry>
1668 <sect2 id="template-layout-node">
1669 <title>Layout Node</title>
1671 <para>A label node may contain multiple <emphasis>Layout</emphasis>
1672 children. If labels are arranged in a simple grid pattern, only
1673 one layout is needed. However, if labels are arranged in multiple
1674 grids, such as a running bond pattern, multiple
1675 <emphasis>layout</emphasis> tags can be used. Note: a single label
1676 can always be treated as a grid of one.</para>
1678 <informaltable frame="topbot">
1680 <colspec colname="col1"/>
1681 <colspec colname="col2"/>
1684 <entry colname="col1" colsep="0" valign="top">
1685 <para>Property</para>
1687 <entry colname="col2" valign="top">
1688 <para>Description</para>
1694 <entry><para>nx</para></entry>
1696 <para>Number of labels/cards across in the grid
1701 <entry><para>ny</para></entry>
1703 <para>Number of labels/cards up and down in the grid
1708 <entry><para>x0</para></entry>
1710 <para>Distance from left edge of sheet to the left edge of
1711 the left column of cards/labels in the layout.</para>
1715 <entry><para>y0</para></entry>
1717 <para>Distance from the top edge of sheet to the top edge of
1718 the top row of labels/cards in the layout.</para>
1722 <entry><para>dx</para></entry>
1723 <entry><para>Horizontal pitch of grid.</para></entry>
1726 <entry><para>dy</para></entry>
1727 <entry><para>Vertical pitch of grid.</para></entry>
1733 <!-- ==== Figure ==== -->
1734 <figure id="template-layout-fig">
1735 <title>Layout Parameters</title>
1738 <imageobject><imagedata
1739 fileref="figures/glabels-template-layout.png" format="PNG"/>
1744 <!-- ==== End of Figure ==== -->
1748 <sect2 id="template-alias-node">
1749 <title>Alias Node</title>
1751 <para>An <emphasis>Alias</emphasis> node provides the name of a
1752 product with the same size and layout characteristics as the
1753 parent template.</para>
1755 <informaltable frame="topbot">
1757 <colspec colname="col1"/>
1758 <colspec colname="col2"/>
1761 <entry colname="col1" colsep="0" valign="top">
1762 <para>Property</para>
1764 <entry colname="col2" valign="top">
1765 <para>Description</para>
1771 <entry><para>name</para></entry>
1773 <para>The name or part # of a product with the same size and
1774 layout characteristics.</para>
1788 <!-- ============= Bugs ================================== -->
1789 <!-- This section is optional and is commented out by default.
1790 You can use it to describe known bugs and limitations of the
1791 program if there are any - please be frank and list all
1792 problems you know of.
1794 <sect1 id="mayapp-bugs">
1795 <title>Known Bugs and Limitations</title>
1803 <!-- ============= About ================================== -->
1804 <!-- This section contains info about the program (not docs), such as
1805 author's name(s), web page, license, feedback address. This
1806 section is optional: primary place for this info is "About.." box of
1807 the program. However, if you do wish to include this info in the
1808 manual, this is the place to put it. Alternatively, you can put this information in the title page.-->
1809 <sect1 id="glabels-about">
1810 <title>About &app;</title>
1811 <para> &app; was written by Jim Evins
1812 (<email>evins@snaught.com</email>). To find more information about
1813 &app;, please visit the
1814 <ulink url="http://glabels.sourceforge.net" type="http">gLabels Web
1815 page</ulink>. </para>
1817 To report a bug or make a suggestion regarding this application or
1818 this manual, follow the directions at the
1819 <ulink url="http://glabels.sourceforge.net/contact/" type="http">gLabels Contact Page</ulink>.
1822 <para> This program is distributed under the terms of the GNU
1823 General Public license as published by the Free Software
1824 Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option)
1825 any later version. A copy of this license can be found at this
1826 <ulink url="ghelp:gpl" type="help">link</ulink>, or in the file
1827 COPYING included with the source code of this program. </para>