CONTA-CLIP CONTA-Sign 5.2 User Manual
CONTA-Sign CS 5.2
Easy-Marking-System
Manual
Labeling Software CONTA-Sign CS 5.2
Release: July 16, 2014
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©
Manual
labeling software 5.2
Table of contents
1. System requirements
2. Software installation
3. Output devices supported by the program
4. Basic program functions
5. Brief instruction
5.1 Choosing the labeling or engraving device
5.2 Select the labeling / engraving element
5.3 Labeling elements
5.4 Output of labeling data on output device
6. Manage and display of projects
7. Select, Copy, Paste, Delete
8. Instruction on how to use the labeling software
8.1 Choosing the labeling device
8.2 Select the labeling element
8.3 Labeling elements
8.4 Extended input of labeling data
8.4.1 Multiple labeling
8.4.2 Consecutive labeling
8.4.3 Importing labeling data from files
8.5 Insert graphical elements or pictures
9. Output of labeling data
9.1 Output on plotter
9.2 Output on engraver
9.3 Printing on an office printer
9.4 Printing on thermo transfer printer
10. Create layouts on tags
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11. Designer /Layouter
11.1 Setting up marking tags and strips for plotters
11.1.1 Design a marking element with one tag group (one size)
11.1.2 Design marking elements with more than one group (multiple sizes)
11.1.3 Design marking strips
11.2 Setting up engraving tags for the engraving units
11.2.1 Design an engraving element with one tag group (one size)
11.2.2 Design engraving elements with more than one group
(multiple sizes)
11.2.3 Design a marking strip
11.3 Setting up label sheets for office printers
11.4 Setting up endless labels and strips for thermo transfer printers
11.4.1 Design endless labels
11.4.2 Design endless strip
12. Import/Export of labeling elements and labels created with various
designer versions
13. Special functions using plotter and engraving versions
13.1 Import of CAD files and output on plotter and engraving units
13.2 Shift of start point and correction of scale factor
13.3 Base plates and segments
13.4 Control print of the labeling data
13.5 Calibrating plotter and engraver versions
13.6 Assign the support plate to the labeling element
14. General information and adjustments
14.1 Zoom function
14.2 Select program language
14.3 Display and switching within open project files
14.4 Specify the standard font type
14.5 Preset the standard pen size
14.6 Software version
14.7 Check for updates
14.8 Help files
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1. System requirements
PC with 1.8 GHz (min.), 512 MB RAM, graphic resolution 1024 x 768,
40 GB hard drive, USB interface / Windows 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7/8
2. Software installation
First close all other applications.
Insert the software installation CD into your CD-ROM drive.
Installation will begin automatically. You should follow the on-screen instructions. If the
auto-start feature has been switched off on your PC, double-click to start the program
XXXX_setupx.x.xxxx_xxxxxx.exe.
When installation is complete, you can start the program by double-clicking on the
program icon. Install the driver for the output device from the CD acc. to your
operating system and follow the instructions.
Language selection is automatic according to the country-specific version of Windows.
For country-specific versions of Windows where the program provides no individual
language version, the English version is automatically installed. You can override the
settings under > Options
> Language setting.
3. Output devices supported by the program
The labeling and engraving software version 5.2 supports the following output
devices:
- Plotter
Labeling devices for labeling all current labeling elements that are used in switch
cabinets and plant construction.
- Plotter full size (DIN A3)
- Plotter Basic half size (DIN A4)
- Engraving Unit (option)
Engraving device for engraving plastic, aluminum and brass plates.
Connecting the engraving unit to one of the plotter versions provides you with access
to the following engraving devices:
- Engraver full size (DIN A3)
- Engraver Basic half size (DIN A4)
- Engraving Unit (dedicated)
- Engraver full size (DIN A3)
- Engraver half size (DIN A3)
Note:
The plotter versions and the engraving units can be run with this program solely via a
USB connection
.
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- Office printer
To print any type of label sheet (DIN A3/A4).
- Thermo transfer printer
To print endless labels and endless strips
4. General program functions
Basic software structure
Various labeling devices such as plotters, engravers, office and thermo transfer
printers can be controlled using the labeling software. All labeling elements stored in
the database are assigned to the relevant labeling devices. When the labeling device
has been selected, the only labeling elements provided will be those that the particular
device can print or engrave.
If, for example, the office printer is selected as the output device, the label sheets set
up in the database are automatically provided for selection.
The corresponding designer enables new templates for various output devices to be
set up quickly and easily.
General procedure for using the labeling software
1. Choosing the labeling or engraving device
2. Select the labeling / engraving element
3. Labeling elements
4. Output of labeling data on the output device
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5. Brief instruction on how to use the labeling software
5.1 Choosing the labeling or engraving device
From the menu bar, select > File > New project. The window to select the labeling or
engraving device opens. When you have chosen and
confirmed the relevant output device, the program
provides you with a list of all labeling element
manufacturers for the output device used.
You can pre-select the output device to be used by
clicking with the right mouse button on the device name
and select as standard. Opening a new project by
clicking on the Icon New Project selects always the
standard device.
When you have chosen the plotter or engraver and the
respective device is switched on and connected to your
PC via the USB cable, you can preselect the labeling
elements.
In this instance, the message appears:
> Do you want to use the element recognition function of the plotter or
engraver? <.
If you confirm by answering Yes, the software imports the identification of the
support plates placed from the plotter and only provides you with the manufacturers of
the labeling elements that can be printed
or engraved on the support plates used.
Note: Only for full size plotter / engraving
option
5.2 Select the labeling element
Click on the relevant manufacturer to select the labeling element required. It is then
displayed on screen.
If you have switched on element recognition for
the plotter or engraver, the individual segments
will be displayed on screen. Double-click on the
segment required. This displays only the
manufacturers of labeling elements that can be
used with the support plate fitted.
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Double-click to select the manufacturer and then the element to be printed.
The relevant template appears on screen.
5.3 Labeling elements
You can choose from a variety of options to label tags or labels.
- Label straight onto the tag
Click on the tag to be labeled. The tag is selected and the toolbar shows the default
settings for selecting the font style, font size, etc.
You can change the settings and enter the
labeling text directly.
When you have labeled individual tags, you can copy, paste, insert, delete, cut or
remove tags as well as add new tags.
A detailed description of how to select, copy,
paste, delete tags you can find within
Chapter 7 of this manual.
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- Extended input of labeling data
If you wish to create multiple labels or consecutive labeling, or if you want to import
data from Excel or text files, double-click on the tag where labeling should begin.
A window subsequently opens enabling you to use the extended input options to
create labeling data. Click on Apply to go back show the entries on the tags.
More details you can find within Chapter 8.4.
5.4 Output of labeling data to the output device
When you have entered all labeling data, click on the printer icon in the toolbar.
The window for the relevant output device appears. You can then use this to enter all
the settings you require. More details you can find within Chapter 9.
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6. Manage and display projects
As soon as you have opened or created a new project the Project Explorer is shown at
the left side of the screen.
Within the explorer view all open projects with the respective base plates and
segments are shown, providing a complete overview.
With each project the name, output device, number of base plates and segments used
are displayed.
Additional tags can be placed by clicking on segments not used.
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7. Select, Copy, Paste, Delete
The software provides multiple functions in order to select, copy, paste, insert, delete
tags.
Select tags
- Single click on one tag
Selecting the tag for labeling directly
- Double click on one tag
Selecting one tag and all blank tags following for labeling until next tag with text
- Double click on one tag
Selecting one tag and all blank tags following for labeling until next tag with different
number of lines or justification appears
Select a tag and open context menu with right mouse button
- All labeling new
Starting from the selected tag all following tags on the base plate are highlighted
despite of having labeling already
- Select all of the labeled tags same type
Starting from the selected tag all following tags with the same number of lines and
justification, even through further base plates, are highlighted for changing parameter
settings in the tool bar.
- New labeling
Starting from the selected tag all following tags are highlighted until next tag with
different number of lines or justification appears
- Edit labeling
Edit selected tag
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Additional features selecting tags
- Selecting groups of tags in order to edit, copy, paste and delete
Click on the tag with the left mouse button you like to start to select the group and drag
with the mouse the area you like to select. If you like to select another group or single
tags in addition, hold down the Control button and select in the same way the tags.
Note: Only tags of the same type can be selected at the same time for making
changes such as Edit, Copy, New, Delete using the context menu.
Do you want to send only dedicated tags or labeling areas to the output device, select
as described before and click on the printer icon.
- Selecting areas for labeling
Hold down the Alt button and click with the left mouse button you like to start to select
the group and drag with the mouse the area you like to select. If you like to select
another area, group or single tags in addition, hold down the Alt button and select in
the same way. Once selected, send the labeling to the output device by clicking on the
printer icon.
- Copy, paste and delete of selected tags
After selecting the tags as described above, you can copy, paste and delete tags using
the context menu.
There are three options available to paste selected tags.
If you like to carry all labeling information with to the next tags, such as number of
lines, justification, font settings etc. click on the first tag you like to start to paste the
copied tags, then open with the right mouse button the context menu and select
> Paste labeling special
or use Control I to paste the information. Already existing
tags with text or symbols could be overwritten.
If you like to carry only the text information to the next tags, click on the first tag you
like to start to paste the copied tags, then open with the right mouse button the context
menu and select > Paste labeling
or use Control V to paste the information as text
only with the default settings. Already existing tags with text or symbols could be
overwritten.
Further, if you like to paste labelings with reverse sequence select and copy the group
of tags with the separator used. Click on the first tag you like to start to paste the
copied tags, then open with the right mouse button the context menu and select
> Paste labeling with reversed sequence based on separator
in addition select the separator used.
(Example: copy from the left, paste to the right)
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8. Instruction on how to use the labeling software
8.1 Choosing the labeling or engraving device
Follow the menu path > File > New project. The window to select the labeling or
engraving device opens. When you have chosen and
confirmed the relevant output device, the program
provides you with a list of all labeling element
manufacturers for the output device used.
You can assign the output device by selecting and
setting with the right mouse button as standard.
When you have chosen the plotter or engraver and the
respective device is switched on and connected to your
PC via the USB cable, you can preselect the labeling
elements.
In this instance, the message appears:
> Do you want to use the element recognition function of the plotter or
engraver? <.
If you confirm by answering Yes, the
software imports the identification of the
support plates placed from the plotter and
only provides you with the manufacturers
of the labeling elements that can be printed
or engraved on the support plates used.
Note: Only for full size (A3) plotter / engraving option
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8.2 Select the labeling element
Click on the relevant manufacturer to select the labeling element required.
If you have switched on element recognition for the plotter or engraver, the individual
segments will be displayed on screen.
Double-click on the segment required. This
displays only the manufacturers of labeling
elements that can be used with the support
plates fitted.
Double-click to select the manufacturer and
then the element to be printed.
The relevant template appears on screen.
If you are not using the element recognition,
or using the VE 600, the labeling element will be shown on the screen by selecting
with a click.
There are different sizes, shapes and
material thicknesses available, in this
case tags with the size 10 x 15 mm
were selected.
If the labeling element, label sheet or endless labels are not available in the database,
you can use the designer variant to set these up at any time.
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8.3 Labeling elements
You can choose from a variety of data input options to label tags or labels.
- Label straight onto the tag
Click on the tag to be labeled. The tag is selected and the toolbar shows the default
settings for selecting the font style, font size, etc.
You can change the settings and enter the labeling text directly. When you have
labeled individual tags, you can copy, insert, delete, cut or remove tags as well as add
new tags.
A more detailed instruction of how to select, copy, paste and delete tags you can find
within chapter 7.
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8.4 Extended input of labeling data
If you wish to set up multiple or consecutive labeling, or if you want to import data from
Excel or text files, double-click on the tag where labeling should begin. A window
subsequently opens enabling you to use the extended input options to create labeling
data.
Within the pre-view window the exact orientation and image of the text or graphic is
shown.
The top line of the window that has now opened next to pre-view provides you with
information about the tag or element as well as the number of tags available.
Underneath the line of information, a number of settings are available to change the
labeling data. Using the mouse, if you place the pointer on the relevant icon in the
toolbar, the respective function will be displayed.
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You can change the following settings:
Font style, font size, bold, underline, left align, center, right align, rotate labeling by
90° at a time, number of lines, line spacing.
Changed settings can be saved as standard user settings by clicking on the Floppy
disc icon in the upper right tool bar.
Click on the Arrow icon at the end of the toolbar to restore all factory default settings.
Note:
The typeface selection in Bold or Italic is only available using the thermo transfer or
office printer.
If you have selected a plotter or an engraver as your device, you can modify specific
settings with reference to the relevant output device. The settings are displayed in the
lower part of the window.
The right section of the window provides you with special symbols and special
characters for the selected font type. Those could vary from type to type.
The extended character set provides country-specific characters and special symbols
for selection. This means that labels for other countries can be created without any
problem.
Country specific character sets such as Baltic, Greek, Turkish, Cyrillic etc. are
provided within the typeface ISO_3098_international or Block_Light_international
to be selected within the drop down menu.
In addition serif and ornamental typefaces can be chosen to be used spec. for
engraving.
Various Symbols and dedicated symbol fonts are available for selection, you can find
easily when checking the box Show symbol fonts only.
With the selection of the symbol font IEC 60414 you can find 11 sub folders within the
drop down menu to select symbols from. The font Symbol 1 and Symbol 2 are
showing additional technical symbols.
A detailed list of the available symbols you can find under > Help
from the main menu.
You can select the check box within the font selection in order to show
> Symbol fonts only
.
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Note:
It is not possible to mix fonts and symbols per tag right away. If like to do so, please
create text boxes for the tag with the layout feature, as each box can be used with its
own font or symbol. Details you can find in chapter 10.
- Parameter settings
In the lower part of the window you can modify specific settings with reference to the
relevant output device.
For the plotter you can set plotter pen size and plotter pen speed, for the engraver you
can set tool size (see note), spindle revolution, engraving and penetration speed.
- Engraving tool size
The size of the engraving needle respective diameter of the cutter needle can be set
within the combo box.
Note:
Usually the tool size will be set according the font height using the formula 1/10 of the
height, e.g. 7 mm font height => .7mm tool size.
Click on the Arrow icon at the right side of the window to restore all factory default
settings. For the engraving the default values are well tested providing good results
from the beginning with the correct chosen material.
For the plotter the default values are set to provide a good quality plot versus speed.
All of the parameter settings can be changed before sending the data to the relevant
output device, details you can find in chapter 9.
- Mirror labeling
When checking the box Mirror labeling, the output on the engraver will be mirrored.
The respective tag will indicate the activated feature in a different color.
For this function specific reverse engraving material is needed, as engraved from the
back side and readable from the front side it is used for harsh environments, such as
food and oil industry.
In the middle of the window, you will see three tabs:
Multiple labeling – Consecutive labeling – Import labeling
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8.4.1 Multiple labeling
The relevant number of lines for editing will be opened according to the number of
lines set for each tag. You can now enter a suitable text and specify the number of
tags to be labeled with the same text in the > Repeat field. The entries are displayed in
the preview window. If required, you can also insert blank tags before or after the tags
you have labeled.
8.4.2 Consecutive labeling
If you need to number labels consecutively, you should first specify the number of lines
on the Consecutive labeling tab in which the consecutive numbering should be
inserted. To enable you to do this, the > Lines for consecutive labeling
field is activated
after the relevant lines.
After this, the program opens the consecutive labeling tab and the consecutive
labeling entries can then be added. You can enter the initial value, final value, text
prefix, text suffix, steps, counter and the number of repeats. You can opt for counting
to be ascending, i.e. the initial value is smaller than the final value, or descending,
i.e. the initial value is larger than the final value.
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The window is split into two sections: primary consecutive number and secondary
consecutive number. This enables you to create two consecutive numbers that are
linked to one another. You can choose whatever you like as a separator.
The example shows the primary range TP 1 to 5 and the secondary
range 10 to 15-H, - has been selected as the separator, TP is thus the prefix text
and –H is the suffix text. The entries are displayed in the preview window.
When you click on the Apply button, the program takes you back to the previous tab.
If necessary, you can now add blank tags in front of each labeled tag. Likewise, you
can specify the number of series in the > Repeat
field in the Multiple labeling tab.
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8.4.3 Importing labeling data from files
If you click on the Import labeling tab, you can import data from files.
You can copy data from programs such as E-plan, from text files or from
spreadsheet programs.
For a fast and easy way, you can copy and paste data through the clipboard.
A more efficient transfer help tool is available to do this, which enables you to extract
data from various file formats.
Click on the Import from file button to search for the file to be imported, then select it
by clicking on the file name and finally click Open to prepare the file for importing.
A window opens up and the file
to be imported is entered into a
table.
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In this example, an Excel file was chosen. You can now select certain fields, sections
or individual cells and copy the selected data by clicking on the Selected fields
button. You can also copy all the data from the file by clicking on the All fields button.
Various options are available for importing:
- Overwrite preview
You have already imported data you do not want to use, just check the box
> Overwrite preview < and take the new selected data as new, this will overwrite the
existing data.
- Ignore empty fields
In case your spreadsheet file contains empty fields you do not want to import, just
check the box Ignore empty fields and they will be left out.
- Left to right
If you have selected 2 lines for the tag to be labeled, you can import the data e.g. from
Excel in a way that the orientation is correct from the beginning, in order to do so,
check the box > Left to right < and select two columns in the spreadsheet, when
importing.
When you have finished copying, click on the Apply button.
This will close the window and the data will be displayed in the previous window.
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