Importing data

AzureLabel allows you to import data from various sources and use this data when printing labels. Imported data can be linked to label elements so that printed labels display values from the imported data.

This makes it possible to print labels with dynamic content, such as different product names, prices, barcodes, or other fields. Depending on your print settings, a single data record can produce multiple printed labels, including multiple labels for each design that belongs to the label.

AzureLabel supports importing and combining data from multiple sources using different import schemes.

Import settings

Open Import settings.
In the Data sources section, add a new data source.
Select the Source type and optionally specify the Name to identify the data source.
On the Connection tab, configure the connection to the source. On the Reading tab, define how the data is read.
On the Data fields tab, click Read data fields from source 1, then adjust field settings if needed in the Data field settings area 2.

Optionally, in the field list, remove unused fields or add new ones (for example, calculated fields)

If a field contains the number of labels to print for each record, select the Use this field to set the print quantity checkbox.

If a field contains barcode values, select the Search barcodes in this field checkbox.
Optional: On the Process imported data tab, configure how data is processed after import.
Optional: In the Label print data section, configure how imported data is added to the Label print data table.
Click OK.

Example: setting up data import from an Excel file

This example uses a sample file included with the program. The first row contains column names. Your file may differ — for example, it may not include column names or may use different ones.

Click the Import settings button.
If a dialog appears, select Add new settings.
On the Connection tab, select your Excel file.
On the Reading tab, specify the row number that contains the column names. In this example, it is row 1.

If your table does not contain column names, set this value to 0.
Go to the Data fields tab and click Read data fields from source.

The column names appear in the list.

Remove any columns you do not want to import.
Click Test import to verify the data.
Click OK.

Importing data from multiple sources

In the Multi-source configuration section, you can choose how data is imported when multiple data sources are used:

Import from all sources. All data sources are imported sequentially.
All unique data fields are combined into a single table.
Records from each source are added as rows. If a source does not contain a field, its value is left empty.
Filter or join using first source. Choose how the first source is used to filter or join the other sources.
- Filter
- Left join
- Join
- Right join
More details are provided below.
Select source at import time. Before importing, a dialog appears where you can select the source.

Filter or join using first source

The following examples show how different filtering and joining methods work. Suppose you have two data sources:

The first data source contains barcodes and website links.
The second data source contains barcodes and item details.

Configure import settings for each source, then link the first source to the second using the Barcode field.

When importing data, records from both sources are matched by the Barcode field according to the selected method.

Filter

Only records from the second source whose barcodes are present in the first source are imported.

Left join

All records from the first source are imported. Each record is expanded with data from the second source when barcodes match.

Join

Only records with matching barcodes in both sources are included. Data from the second source is added to matching records from the first source.

Right join

All records from the second source are imported. Each record is expanded with data from the first source when barcodes match.

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