Identify the Data Area in the Input (Input Conditional Area)
- 26 Jun 2024
- 3 Minutes to read
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Identify the Data Area in the Input (Input Conditional Area)
- Updated on 26 Jun 2024
- 3 Minutes to read
- Contributors
- Print
- PDF
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Creating conditional areas enables you to define which areas of the input data files to include in the print (when specific conditions are met). This can be used to recognize the area in the input data that contains invoice or order lines.
Note
Input conditional areas are relevant to text input data only.
The input can contain only one conditional area. The input conditional area is commonly referred to as the “body area”.
Define the Input Conditional Area
A conditional area is defined by selecting the Conditional Area tool from the toolbar and marking the desired area of the input data file (left hand side) when the pointer becomes a cross.
By clicking the little arrow next to the tool button, you can choose one of the following menu options to mark the area:
Cond. Area Start/Stop Line: Allows you to set a fixed position for the area, with the start and end lines.
Cond. Area Start Criterion: Allows you to set the start line of the area.
Cond. Area Stop Criterion: Allows you to set the stop line of the area.
Note
By default, when a sheet is created, a conditional area is defined for the whole document with start and stop lines at the beginning and the end of the document respectively. As such, when a start criterion is set, the stop line is the end of the document, and vice versa.
You can only define one conditional area in an input data file.
In the example above, the area of an invoice containing the invoice lines has been marked as a conditional area, represented by the yellow region.
Note
Patterns in text data input are linked to a conditional area.
A conditional area has the following properties that can be accessed via the Conditional Area dialog.
The conditional area has the following set of input properties.
Property | Description |
|---|---|
Start line | The line number from where the conditional area starts in the input data file. The start line number must be a positive numeric value. |
Stop line | The line number where the conditional area stops in the input data file. The stop number must be a positive numeric value higher than the start line number or an asterisk (*) which sets the conditional area to stop at End of Page. |
Header extra lines | This is typically used together with start criteria inserted in a conditional area. The header area can then be extended with a positive number of additional lines or decreased with a negative number of lines. |
Body extra lines | This is typically used together with stop criteria inserted in a conditional area. The conditional area can then be extended with a positive number of additional body lines or decreased with a negative number of body lines. |
Match criteria | The conditional area can have its own Start and Stop criteria. The criteria allow for greater flexibility when defining where and what constitutes a conditional area. For more information about start and stop criteria, see Use Criteria. |
Start expression | A start expression can be added by defining that a certain number of start criteria must be true. For more information about start and stop criteria, see Use Criteria. |
Stop expression | A stop expression can be defined using the stop criteria of the conditional area. For more information about start and stop criteria, see Use Criteria. |
Ignore empty lines in end of body | Selecting this option ignores any empty lines that appear at the end of the body area. Useful for stopping patterns trying to match these empty spaces. |
Master only | If checked, the conditional area will only apply to the Master sheet and not on the child forms (forms inherit data from a Master sheet). |
If Match criteria are used, they typically overrule any Start line and Stop line set. If the Match criteria are unsuccessful, then Lasernet reverts to using the Start line and the Stop line.
Note
When combining is used, the input lines are appended to each other making it difficult to use a stop line to control the end of the conditional, as the line number depends on how many documents are combined. In these cases, it is generally advisable to use a Match criterion instead.