ID Card Workshop supports three types of database. Access(*.mdb/*.accdb), Excel(*.xls/*.xlsx) and SQL based(MS-SQL,MY-SQL etc.) databases.

Access: For SMBs and organizations and other general use and expecting will have no more than 10,0000 records in the database for ID card making, we recommend to use Access as data source.(in the create project from template and create new blank project, ID Card Workshop also use Access as default data source)

Excel: For more "lightweight" scenes and for more easier to edit the data with other software, ID Card Workshop also supports Excel as data source, you can also inserting variable image with excel. Although Image(Binary) data type doesn't supported by Excel, but you can still using variable image in ID Card Workshop, to use variable image with excel, you can create a new text column in excel which storing the file path of images(i.e. c:\employee_photos\JohnDoe.jpg), and when you inserting or editing variable image elements in the ID Card Workshop, select this text column as data source.

SQL: this type of database generally used in large enterprise which managing over 10,0000 records in the database for ID card making.

After you selected the type of database and the database location,  A select default table window will show up.

Select the table which you want to used in the ID Card making and click Next button

A "New Project" window will show-up.


Size: There are various frequently-used sizes preset in ID Card Workshop, which can meet general design requirements. You can choose the preset size in the Size option.
Unit: to set the measurement unit
Background Color: to set the background color of the canvas.

ID Card Workshop has a simple design creator for creating new blank project, it will create project's design based on the selected columns(fields). if you would use this feature, select "Yes, I want the software to create a simple template for me", and select the Fields(Columns) and use"<" ">" button to control which of columns appear on the front side or reverse side.


Click Next button, a "Template Layout" window will appear. select the layout style you would like to use for the design creator.

If you do not want the software to create a simple design for you, click on "No, I want to create a blank template" and click next button, to finish the creation.