Microplate Barcode Labeler User Guide - Agilent Technologies

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Chapter 6: Running a print job
VCode User Guide
Creating a CSV or TXT data file in a text editor
Introduction
This topic explains how to create a comma-separated value (CSV) file or
tab-delimited text (TXT) file using a text editor. You can use either of
these file types to hold bar code data for use with a schema.
About CSV and TXT
files
Comma-separated and tab-separated text files contain data that can be
read by programs. The two file formats are the same except that:
❑ Comma-separated files separate their data with commas whereas
tab-delimited files separate their data with tabs
❑ Comma-separated files have a .csv extension whereas tab-delimited
files have a .txt extension.
!! IMPORTANT !! If you mix commas and tabs in your file,
PlateTag will not correctly translate the data.
Either of these types of files can be created using a text editor, such as
Word or WordPad. They can also be created with a spreadsheet
program, such as Microsoft ® Excel, although this topic only covers the
use of text editors.
Creating a commaseparated
value file
To create a CSV file:
1. Open the text editor.
This procedure uses Windows ® Notepad for the text editor.
2. In the first row of the file, type the names of the fields as you want
them defined in the schema, separated by commas.
This row creates columns to hold the data.
3. In the second and subsequent rows, type the data under the
columns.
Make sure that you separate the data with commas.
Creating a tabdelimited
file
Creating a tab-delimited text file is the same as creating a comma
separated value text file, except that commas are replaced by keyboard
tabs.