Use this guide to understand how to format the variable ticket information CSV or MS-Excel file to be uploaded for best results on the web application Ticket Generator. 

This article is relevant to you if:

• You have created an event and designed a ticket (either via Upload Own Design option or via Ticket Generator's Default Design), AND
• You've added variable information 'placeholders', each comprising of a 'header' and 'value'. In both design types, you can add upto 5 such placeholders, AND
• You're required to upload a CSV or MS-Excel file to provide the variable information data, where data in each row corresponds to the data for each ticket

What is Variable Ticket Information?

Each ticket can have two types of information:

1. Fixed Information: Data that does not change and is fixed for every ticket such as event name, event time, location etc.
2. Variable Information: Data that is unique and can change for each ticket like seat number, row number, guest name, ticket price etc. See image below for example:

Depending on type of design you choose, adding fixed information is straight-forward:

• With 'Upload Own Design', fixed information should already be part of the design
• With 'Ticket Generator's Default Design', you can add fixed information by adding these details directly in the design editor

Adding variable information is slightly tricky. Please see below for the complete steps.

A. How to add unique/variable information to tickets

Using Ticket Generator, unique/variable information can be added to tickets via two steps:

1. Add placeholders during ticket design stage
2. Upload actual ticket data before ticket generation starts

a. How to add variable information placeholders

A variable information placeholder is a design element that helps you understand where the variable information will go on the ticket. It comprises 'header' and 'value':

• 'header' is a placeholder to describe what the value is. E.g., 'Seat' or 'Name' or 'Hall'
• 'value' is a placeholder for the actual data corresponding to the 'header'. E.g., 'A3' or 'Nick Carlson'

In case of 'Upload Own Design':

• You can add upto 5 such placeholders. Use the '+' button in the variable information option
• You can move the placeholders anywhere on the image as per your design requirements
• You can edit the 'header' and 'value' text to view how actual data will look like on the ticket
• You can increase the font size of the text
• There is no limit on the number of characters in header/value data text
• You can edit the color of the text to maintain contrast with ticket image
• It is recommended that you make clear space for this information in your uploaded ticket design

In case of 'Default Design':

• You can add upto 5 such placeholders. Use the '+' button in the variable information option
• The position of the placeholders will remain constant
• You cannot edit the 'header' and 'value' text
• You cannot edit the font size of the text
• There is a limit on the number of characters in header/value data text
• You cannot edit the color (black by default) of the text as background is fixed to white

b. How to provide variable information data

How you provide data for variable information will depend on your ticket delivery method—Generate & Download, Generate & Email, Generate Form Link, or Generate via API:

1. Generate & Download

You will choose this option if you wish to download bulk tickets in PDFs via the account dashboard.

Once ticket design is ready (with variable information placeholders), you only need to provide the variable information data now.

You can do this by uploading a CSV or MS-Excel file. You will need to format the spreadsheet as follows:

1. In Row 1, you will add column headers defining the data in the column. Note that these headers will replace the 'header' placeholders in the ticket design
2. Row 2 onwards, you will add 'value' for each corresponding header. Note that each row will contain data for 1 ticket

For example, if the data in the MS-Excel is: 

the data on the ticket will be printed as follows:

The number of columns you add in the spreadsheet will depend on the number of placeholders you chose to add during ticket design. So if you added two placeholders (header-value combinations), you need to add values in the first two columns only. Extra data columns will be ignored.

Header/Value Number of Characters—Best Practice

If you have designed using 'Upload Own Design' feature, you can add as many characters in header/value data as long as the placeholder fits in your ticket design.

However, if you have designed using 'Default Design', there is a limit on the number of characters you can add in the header/value text.

The number of characters in the header and value depends on the number of columns (1-5) you are planning to add. For best results, keep in the number of characters in the range given below:

• 1 Column: 1-70 characters
• 2 Columns: 1-32
• 3 Columns: 1-19
• 4 Columns: 1-13
• 5 Columns: 1-10

Note that at no point should the total number of characters (sum of all columns text) should be greater than 70 characters. This will ensure that the information on the ticket is clearly printed and visible. 

If you're not certain, always check the ticket preview before proceeding to generate the tickets. 

2. Generate & Email

You will choose this option if you wish to email the tickets to recipients directly as attachments via the account dashboard.

Once ticket design is ready (with variable information placeholders), you only need to provide the following:

1. Email address of each recipient
2. Unique/variable information for each ticket

You can do this by uploading a CSV or MS-Excel file. You will need to format the spreadsheet as follows:

• Column A: In this column, specify email addresses of the ticket recipients. One email address in each row. Ensure that Column Header (Cell A1) is "Email ID". Note that this column is mandatory for processing of tickets using the 'Generate & Email' method

• Column B-F: You can use these columns to specify unique information that will go on the ticket of the specified recipient in Column A. In Row 1, you will add column headers defining the data in the column. Note that these headers will replace the 'header' placeholders in the ticket design. Row 2 onwards, you will add 'value' for each corresponding header. Note that each row will contain data for 1 ticket

For example, if the data in the CSV/MS-Excel is:

the data on the ticket that will be sent to user1@email.com will be printed as follows:

The 'Header/Value Number of Characters—Best Practice' shared in the previous case will be applicable here as well.

3. Generate via API

You will choose this option if you wish to generate and get tickets programmatically (one ticket per API call).

Once the ticket design is ready (with variable information placeholders), you only need to provide the variable information data via API parameters. To view parameters, see the API documentation.

The 'Header/Value Number of Characters—Best Practice' shared in the previous case will be applicable here as well.

4. Generate via Form Link (Event Registration)

You will choose this option if you wish to Generate a ticket using the Event Registration feature and wish to get the variable information from the recipient. Once ticket design is ready (with variable information placeholders), you only need to provide the following:

• Add the variable information field in the Event Registration form
• Click on 'Done Editing' and map the variable information fields according to the data input fields (like seat number, row number, etc.)
• Now click on update settings 

Now when an Event Registration form is shared with the user, they have to enter the information in the variable field and will receive the ticket displaying the variable information (seat number, audi, etc.). 

If you still have questions related to this topic, feel free to reach out to our customer relations team at support@ticket-generator.com.