Overview

This article will walk you through creating a database connection using the Template Assistant in BarTender Cloud. In addition, we'll discuss the various types of databases you can create in the Template Assistant and the types of database connections allowed when you upload a pre-existing BarTender document for use in BarTender Cloud.

Applicable to

BarTender Cloud

Information

Selecting a Database Connection in the Template Assistant

Once you've selected the Template Assistant you will be guided through the process of configuring your template. This article will focus on the configuration of external databases. For other data source types you can refer to Configuring a Label to Use Embedded Data in BarTender Cloud for more information. For a complete guide on the Template Assistant configuration process see Creating a BarTender Document Using the Template Assistant in BarTender Cloud.

Configuring the database connection consists of the following steps:

1. Select the External data items option to start configuring the data source to use a database:

2. Next, choose which database you would like your label to connect to:

3. Click Next to start configuring the database connection. 

The next section provides an overview of the different database options available.

Database Connection Types

Azure SQL Database

Azure SQL is a Microsoft-managed, cloud-based SQL database.

1. After selecting this option you will need to enter your server and login information to connect to your Azure database.

2. Before continuing, work with your IT or database administrator to add BarTender Cloud IPs to your database whitelist. For a full list, see IP Addresses Used by BarTender Cloud.
3. Select the database you want use from the list and click Next to continue.

5. You can now choose the Template Assistant to generate a SQL statement for you or to provide your own custom statement.

6. Select any tables that you wish to use from the available list and click Next. If you select multiple tables, you will be able to configure multi-table joins on the next screen. See our support article on multi-table joins here for more details.
7. If you only selected one table, click Next to continue to record filtering.

8. You now have the option to create a query to limit records available for print. Once you are finished, click Next.

9. On this screen, you can optionally select the order in which your database fields are sorted.
10. Click Next when are ready to move on to field mapping.

11. If you migrate your labels from on-premise to BarTender Cloud and they are already linked to Azure SQL Server databases, you may still encounter an error even if the documents are properly connected. Unlike BarTender Designer on-premise, when using BarTender Cloud, it is necessary to add an IP address list as an Azure Firewall exception to enable printing operations.

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel spreadsheets can be used as databases in BarTender Cloud. After selecting Microsoft Excel, you must either select an Excel file you've already uploaded or upload one here.

1. Click on Select data file to upload your XLSX file. Once your file has finished uploading, select it and click Next.

2. Select your sheet(s) and click Next.

3. You now have the option to create a query to limit records available for print. Once you are finished, click Next.

4. On this screen, you can optionally select the order in which your database fields are sorted. Click Next when are ready to move on to field mapping.

Excel Online and Google Sheets

Excel Online and Google Sheets are online, cloud-based databases.

1. Click Next after selection to sign directly into the applicable service to access your database documents.

SAP HANA Cloud

SAP HANA Cloud is an online database as a service.

1. Click Next after selecting SAP HANA from the list of available database connections.
2. Fill out the following fields before selecting Verify Connection, and If successful, click Next again to continue.

3. Before continuing, work with your IT or database administrator to add BarTender Cloud IPs to your database whitelist. For a full list, see IP Addresses Used by BarTender Cloud.
4. Select the database you want to use from the list and click Next to continue.

5. You can now choose if you want the Template Assistant to generate a SQL statement for you or to provide your own custom statement.

6. Select any tables that you wish to use from the available list and click Next. If you select multiple tables, you will be able to configure multi-table joins on the next screen. See our support article on multi-table joins here for more details.
7. If you only selected one table, click Next to continue to record filtering.

8. You now have the option to create a query to limit records available for print. Once you are finished, click Next.

9. On this screen, you can optionally select the order in which your database fields are sorted. Click Next when are ready to move on to field mapping.

Oracle Cloud

Oracle Cloud is a cloud computing service providing servers, storage, network, applications and services through a global network of Oracle Corporation-managed data centers.

1. Click Next after selecting Oracle from the list of available database connections.
2. Fill out the following fields before selecting Verify Connection, and If successful, click Next again to continue.

3. Before continuing, work with your IT or database administrator to add BarTender Cloud IPs to your database whitelist. For a full list, see IP Addresses Used by BarTender Cloud.
4. You can now choose if you want the Template Assistant to generate an SQL statement for you or to provide your own custom statement.

5. Select any tables that you wish to use from the available list and click Next. If you select multiple tables, you will be able to configure multi-table joins on the next screen. See our support article on multi-table joins here for more details.
6. If you only selected one table, click Next to continue to record filtering.

7. You now have the option to create a query to limit records available for print. Once you are finished, click Next.

8. On this screen, you can optionally select the order in which your database fields are sorted. Click Next when are ready to move on to field mapping.

Azure DB and Amazon RDS for MySQL

Azure SQL and Amazon RDS are cloud-based SQL databases managed by Microsoft and Amazon respectively.

1. After selecting one of these options you will need to enter your server and login information to connect to your MySQL database.

2. Before continuing, work with your IT or database administrator to add BarTender Cloud IPs to your database whitelist. For a full list, see IP Addresses Used by BarTender Cloud.
3. Make sure you clear your browser's cache before attempting to connect your MySQL database to BarTender Cloud.
4. Select the database you want to use from the list and click Next to continue.

5. You can now choose if you want the Template Assistant to generate a SQL statement for you or to provide your own custom statement.

6. Select any tables that you wish to use from the available list and click Next. If you select multiple tables, you will be able to configure multi-table joins on the next screen. See our support article on multi-table joins here for more details.
7. If you only selected one table, click Next to continue to record filtering.

8. You now have the option to create a query to limit records available for print. Once you are finished, click Next.

9. On this screen, you can optionally select the order in which your database fields are sorted. Click Next when are ready to move on to field mapping.

10. Finally, you can optionally specify some database options:

Field Mapping

Next, you can assign values to the various data sources on your document.

1. Automatically map your data sources to your database fields by clicking the Auto Map to Database Fields button.
2. Click Finish to complete the configuration of your BarTender Document.

Print Time Options

Lastly, you can configure how BarTender Cloud behaves at print time:

• Present the user with a data entry form for manually entering print data.
• Choose to have all database records printed at once or have the user select which records to print.

Database Limitations

BarTender Cloud has some database limitations that you should be aware of. Only the following database types are currently supported.

• Azure SQL
• SAP HANA Cloud
• Oracle Cloud
• Microsoft Excel
• Excel Online
• Google Sheets (Online)
• Azure DB for MySQL
• Amazon RDS for MySQL

• Quickbooks Online

Additional Resources

Getting Started with Database Connections using BarTender Designer