How to Create a Label Using GridField in CODESOFT

How to Create a Label Using GridField in CODESOFT

BY: SHAWN FRAHMAN / DATE: 24/04/2025 / TOPICS: อาหารและเครื่องดื่ม, การผลิต, ค้าปลีก, เภสัชกรรม, การจัดส่งและการรับสินค้า, LABEL DESIGN

Are you spending too much time designing label templates with multiple rows of data, repeating fields, or manually formatting content that changes with every print job? CODESOFT’s GridField feature is exactly what you need.

GridField is a powerful way to structure your label data, helping you reduce errors, save time, and scale your labeling operations. Whether you're creating case labels, shipping lists, or product documentation, GridField helps you manage multiple rows of data within a single object.

In this blog, learn how to create a label using GridField in CODESOFT label design software, step by step.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GRIDFIELD

What is GridField?

GridField is a dynamic object in CODESOFT Enterprise that allows you to display and structure multi-line, table-like data on your label—automatically pulled from a database or spreadsheet.

Instead of manually laying out multiple fields for each line item, GridField becomes a single object that displays an entire list. You can think of it like embedding a mini spreadsheet on your label. It supports both constant and variable data, making it ideal for creating reusable templates across high-volume labeling environments.

Why use GridField in your labeling

GridField simplifies the complex process of creating labels with structured data. Below are some other ways GridField helps with labeling:

• Reduce template creation time: Create one template and reuse it, even as data changes
• Display multiple database records in a dynamic label template: Pull in several rows from your database and format them consistently
• Many objects become one object to alter with ease: GridField consolidates several data points into a single, editable object
• Simplifies complex label design to a simple interface: A table-style interface makes formatting easy, even for dense information
• Easily define output and structure based on data entered: Define how rows display based on the type of content or conditions
• Document printing: Beyond product labels, create documents that resemble forms or printouts like packing slips or Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

Common use cases for GridField

The most common use cases for GridField are labels and documents that display multiple database records on one label, such as:

• Purchase orders
• Pick lists
• Case labels
• Bill of materials (BOM)
• SDS documents
• Nutritional Facts table

Industries that can benefit from GridField

GridField is a feature that is used in many different industries, including:

• Manufacturing: Print detailed work orders, BOMs, or part lists on one label
• Shipping & receiving: Create pick lists, shipment summaries, or pallet labels
• Retail: Bundle product or pricing details for kits and promotions
• Food & beverage: Format nutrition facts, ingredients, or allergen lists
• Pharma & healthcare: Include dosage, usage, and inventory data in one clean layout

How Entertainment Earth used GridField to create their labels

Entertainment Earth is an online retailer and wholesaler of licensed collectibles, including action figures, clothing, statues, prop replicas, games, vinyl figures, dolls, and toys. While using their newly implemented SENTINEL and CODESOFT labeling software, they leveraged GridField which allowed them to easily and efficiently design and print work orders. Entertainment Earth used GridField when shipping Amazon packages. When order data is received, GridField organizes the details and pricing for all items within the order into a neat and efficient grid on the work order. Read the full case study.

How to simplify complex label design with GridField

There are two ways to create the table lookup that pulls the data onto the label. 

• The first way uses a Key Field, which allows you to pull a record from a database based on a unique value that represents that record, like an Order Number or Serial Number. This is typically used when you want to pull one or more specific records onto your label.
• The second way pulls all records from the database or table onto the label. This is typically used when you want to display all the data from the data source (such as a Purchase Order) on the label.

In the next section you’ll learn how to create a label using GridField with the second method: pulling all records from the database or table onto the label.

Creating a table lookup for complex label setup without a Key Field

If the data on your label will be queried from a database connection, without using a Key Field, you must create your Table Lookup the following way.

STEP 1: Creating a database query

1. Go to Data Source > Table Lookup > Add
2. Enter a lookup name relevant to the data you are querying (for example, Item Table)
3. Select or create an OLEDB connection (for example, your database connection)
4. Select SQL as the creation mode
5. Enter an existing SQL query or create a new query using SQL Query Builder
6. Navigate to Output > Uncheck Maximum Length 
7. Navigate to Data Formatting > fill in Field Separator String & Record Separator String using characters Pipe (|) and Up Caret (^) > set Relevant Records to 0 
8. Click OK

Above shows how to create a database query in CODESOFT label design software.

Creating the GridField within the CODESOFT label template

STEP 1: Create GridField Object

1. Select the Advanced Object Tool within the Creation Toolbar on the left side of the program
2. Select GridField
3. Place your GridField Object on the label template
4. Expand/Collapse the size of the object to your desired width and height

Once you have placed your GridField object on the label template, it will automatically open the Properties window for you to alter the properties to your specifications. You can also open the Properties window by right-clicking on the GridField object and selecting Properties.

Step 2: Formatting the Grid

1. Go to Body > Grid > 6 cells by default (can easily delete some if not all cells are needed)
2. Open cell 1 > Edit > set Interpret as “Text” 
3. Open cell 2 > Edit > set Interpret as “Picture” 
4. Open cell 3 > Edit > set Interpret as “Barcode” 
5. Click Margins > check “Use Specific Setting” > change the Margins for Left and Right to 0.25. This creates the quiet zone around the barcode so it can be scanned
6. Under Body dropdown > open Grid > Edit > Go to the Columns field and enter the number of cells you wish to have on your label > double click Item Table on the right to add the data to the Grid 
   • Note: Ensure to change your values in the Column Separator and Line Separator to match the Field Separator String and Record Separator String within the Table Lookup. 
7. Click OK

The screenshots above show points 1,2, and 5 of formatting grids within CODESOFT label design software.

Step 3: Managing multiple pages

1. In Properties click on General
2. Select Manage Multiple Pages
3. Select OK

Step 4: Creating a footer with a page numbering object/formula

1. Navigate to Data Source > click Formula > click Add
2. Enter a Formula Name relevant to the variable data (E.g. Page Formula)
3. Use the following statement using a control variable "PAGE: " & {@MLOCURPAGE} & "/" & {@MLOMAXQTY}
   • MLOCURPAGE: Displays the current page of the GridField
   • MLOMAXQTY: Displays the total number of pages to all records in the GridField
4. Click OK
5. Navigate back to Properties
6. Select Footer > New > change Column(s) field to your desired number
7. Click OK
8. Hit the footer dropdown > select Grid > click New > this will create Cell 1
9. Double click Page Formula > click OK
10. Hit the Footer dropdown > Select Grid > click New > this will create Cell 2
11. Change Interpret as to “Picture” > type teklynx.jpg
    • Note: To use your own photo, save it in the Default Directory for images defined in your software settings.
12. Click OK

Once you've completed all the steps above your label will look like the image below.

Get the most out of your label design software with TEKLYNX

GridField is a powerful feature in CODESOFT that offers many options for configuring label templates. To help you get started, we’ve created a label sample that demonstrates how to use GridField to build complex labels in CODESOFT.

Have questions or need assistance? Our labeling experts are here to help. Our award-winning customer support team is always ready to assist with your labeling needs. We also provide professional services and custom label creation to support your design and setup.

Whether your business uses GridField for purchase orders, pick lists, or displaying multiple database records on a single label, CODESOFT can help streamline your labeling process. Download a free 30-day trial today to start exploring GridField.

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