Quick Guide - CoLOS - Designer

English

Markem-Imaje
9, rue Gaspard Monge B.P. 110
26501 Bourg-lès-Valence Cedex en 06/2018 - CA
France
Tél. : +33 (0) 4 75 75 55 00
Fax : +33 (0) 4 75 82 98 10

Markem-Imaje Limited
Nottingham Science Park
University Boulevard
Nottingham NG7 2RF
Tel.: +44 (0) 115 968 3603
Fax: +44 (0) 115 968 3699
www.markem-imaje.com A40021
 Contents

Overview3
„„ Overview4
„„ About CoLOS Designer 4
„„ Installation5
„„ Activation8
„„ Ribbons9

Start CoLOS Designer 15

„„ Start CoLOS Designer 16
„„ Main screen 17

Install new devices 21

„„ Install new devices 22

Create a label 27
„„ Create a label 28
„„ Save images 48

Download a label 51
„„ Download a label (with wizard) 52
„„ Revision57

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Contents

2 A40021-C
Overview

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Overview

„„ Overview
CoLOS Designer is part of the CoLOS Enterprise Suite and allows you to design
images containing product information which can then be downloaded to your device
for printing.’

„„ About CoLOS Designer

CoLOS Designer is a powerful image design application that allows you to:

• Create images containing your product information.

• Add text, graphic shapes, logos, bar codes and time-date fields to your images.

• Define the location and format of the information to be printed including default or
static information using image templates.

• Link fields in your image template to remote data sources in order to create many
different Jobs that have a consistent appearance.

• Preview your image prior to download.

• Download your image (or multiple images) to all supported devices including
CimComms, SmartLase, Small Character Ink Jet and NextGen.

• Print your image to a local or network desktop printer.

• CoLOS Designer supports the most common types of 1D and 2D bar code
symbologies.

The CoLOS Designer Quick Guide is a tutorial leading you through the basics of the
software. More in depth information can be found in the online help topics within the
application.

Most of the information in this Quick Guide is provided through images with the help
of some icons.

Icons Description

Double click with your left mouse button

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 Overview

Icons Description

Click once on your left mouse button

Right click with your right mouse button

Numbers in the different images, point to an action you need to do prior to be able to
continue. This can be:

• a mouse action (see the table above)

• a command action (downloading an image to an applicator)

• a selection (select which database item will be used)

„„ Installation
Double click on the installation exe.

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Overview

Select the installation

location.

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 Overview

If an older version was

installed, migrate the
settings to the new
version
7

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Overview

„„ Activation

Enter the activation

code you have.

Next, start CoLOS Designer.

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 Overview

Copy this Serial

Number.

Go to: http://www.markem-imaje.com/softwareactivation.

Enter the Serial Number of your own CoLOS version and fill out the other fields.

You get an activation code

Enter the activation

code you have.

„„ Ribbons

†† File

Menu Submenu
New
Open Open From Disk
Open From Repository

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Overview

Menu Submenu
Close
Close All
Save
Save as
Save to Repository
Download
Print to file
Change Target Device
Preview > Print
Page Setup…
Print Preview…
Exit

†† Edit

Menu Submenu
Undo
Redo
Cut
Copy
Paste
Select > All
Next
Previous
None
Delete

†† View

Menu Submenu
Windows > Toolbox
Advanced Properties
System Activity
Field List
Constraints
Database
Restore Default Layout

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 Overview

Menu Submenu
Overlays > Constraints
DataSources
Database items
Field Links
Fit To View
Fit To Width
Fit To Height
100%
Zoom In
Zoom Out
Rotate Anticlockwise
Rotate Clockwise
Settings…
Show Ruler
Show Wizard
Theme

†† Fields

Menu Submenu
Alignment > Aligh Left
Align Right
Align Top
Align Bottom
Align Centre (X)
Align Centre (Y)
Spacing > Make Horizontal Spacing Equal
Make Vertical Spacing Equal
Keep Horizontal Distance
Remove Horizontal Distance
Spacing Distance
Space Vertically
Space Horizontally
Rotation > Rotate Anticlockwise
Rotate Clockwise
Sizing > Increase Size

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Overview

Menu Submenu
Decrease Size
Move to Back
Move to Front
Font > Font type
Font size
Default Font
Bold
Italic
Underline
Preview Jobs in canvas
Production tables
Navigate through database

†† Tools

Menu Submenu
Database > Manage Job Sources…
Manage Production Tables…
Manage Remote Data Sources…
Times and Dates > Formatting Options…
Calendar Builder…
Change Target Device > Batch Convert
Download > To Library
To Terminal
Security > Remote Sessions…
Set Security Level…
License > Activate Designer
License Viewer…
Upgrade Designer...

†† Window

Menu Submenu
Cascade
Tile Horizontally
Tile Vertically
Arrange Icons

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 Overview

Menu Submenu
Tabbed View
Images Overview of opened images

†† Help

Menu
Contents
Indexs
Search…
About CoLOS Designer

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Overview

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Start CoLOS
Designer

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Start CoLOS Designer

„„ Start CoLOS Designer

This section explains how to start CoLOS Designer.

Enter username and

password if applicable.

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 Start CoLOS Designer

„„ Main screen
A typical CoLOS Designer main screen looks as follows:

1 Horizontal ruler 5 Toolbox

2 Workspace / Image (label)
3 Database, …
4 Title bar, Ribbons + toolbars
6 Advanced Properties, Database,
Field names
7 Download Status, Error Messages,
System Activity
8 User name and localhost port

It is split into five different areas (or panes)

1. Toolbox (5)

2. Workspace (2)

3. Advanced Properties and others (3, 6)

4. System Activity (7)

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Start CoLOS Designer

†† Toolbox

The Toolbox contains the field types which you can select for inclusion in your image.

It also includes a Selection tool, which allows you to select parts of your image. The
following fields are available:

Field Type Description

Select a specific part of your label.

Add square or rectangular boxes to your image. Boxes are used

to section and group data on your image

Add ellipses and circles to your image (Windows printers only).

Add lines to your image. Lines are used to divide and organise
the data on your image
Add logos or graphics to your image such as a company logo.

Add fields which contain bar code data to your image. 1D and
2D bar code symbologies are available.
Add text to your image. The text can include alphabetical and
numerical data.
Add the time or date to your image. Dates can also be config-
ured with offsets.

†† Workspace

The Workspace is the space where you create your label or image.

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 Start CoLOS Designer

†† Advanced Properties and others

„„ Advanced Properties Grid

Define or change image settings as well as individual field properties. You find the
ribbon usage calculator here as well.

„„ Database

The Database window holds all the database items available to link to fields on
the image template file. Simply drag and drop the different database items on the
corresponding fields in the image template to connect a certain field.

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Start CoLOS Designer

†† System Activity

The System Activity pane allows you to view status information, including error
messages, about your Jobs as they are continuously downloaded to the devices.

†† Constraints

The Constraints pane lists any potential errors before printing commences.

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Install new
devices

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Install a New Device

„„ Install new devices

This paragraph describes how to install new devices using nothing else but CoLOS
Designer.

Make sure you have a label already open.

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 Install a New Device

Choose the device and

the type of device that
will print the image.

3
4

Enter a description for

the device.

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Install a New Device

6
Choose connection type
and enter the settings if
applicable.

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 Install a New Device

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Install a New Device

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Create a label

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Create a label

„„ Create a label

This offers an
overview of every
installed device. OR

Add a new device.

See chapter Install
New Devices to
3 discover how this
is done.
Select the device for which you want to create a label.

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 Create a label

†† Rectangle

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Create a label

Draw the rectangle.

Enter a name

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 Create a label

†† Ellipse / Circle

Draw the
ellipse / circle.

†† Line

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Create a label

Click within
the field to
place a line. 2

Select one of the points and drag with pressed mouse button to its new location.

A very thin line will appear to guide you. Let go of your mouse when you reach the
end point of your line.

†† Logo / Graphic (with wizard)

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 Create a label

Select the
source of your
logo and click
Browse.

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Create a label

Change the
settings if
necessary.

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 Create a label

†† Barcode (with wizard and job source)

Select a
barcode-type.

Choose the source

where you want the
barcode information
to come from..

For a step-by-step
description, see CoLOS
Designer online help file
- Getting Started).
3

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Create a label

Select the data

item..

Add as many data as you need to create your EAN 128 barcode by clicking Add.

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 Create a label

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Create a label

10

11

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 Create a label

†† Text (without wizard)

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Create a label

Select the data type and

change the source.

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 Create a label

Or manually enter the

necessary data.

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Create a label

†† Time /Date (no wizard)

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 Create a label

Choose your format.

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Create a label

†† Hidden Fields

Select this to hide

a field. It won't be
visible / printed on
the final result.

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 Create a label

†† Merged Fields

Create a text field.

Select Hidden.

Select the second

field and hide it in
the same way.

2
Do the same
thing with the
second hidden
field.

Create a third text field.

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Create a label

5
4

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 Create a label

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Create a label

„„ Save images

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 Create a label

Give the file a

name.

†† In a Repository

Give the file a

name.

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Create a label

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Download a label

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Download a label

„„ Download a label (with wizard)

This is the
label we want
downloaded and
printed.

Select the device you

want to download to or
click Add to add one..
3

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 Download a label

A preview of the label

appears. If any errors are
shown, amend them.

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Download a label

Set Job Settings.

These differ from
device to device. .

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 Download a label

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Download a label

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 Revision

Quick Guide CoLOS Designer

„„ Revision

Instructions update
– The revision A index corresponds to the first edition of this manual.
– The revision index changes with each update.

Date published Revision

06/2009 A
01/2011 B
06/2018 C

For Marking & Coding Equipment. Photographs and drawings are not binding in detail. This document was originally written in English. The English text of this document shall alone be
authentic and shall prevail in the event of a dispute. Markem-Imaje reserves the right to modify the specifications of its products without prior notice. Any reproduction, even partial, of this
document is prohibited. Original manual.

© 2018 Markem-Imaje All Rights Reserved. English version

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