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Defining variables

In the headerbar, choose Automate

A Variable panel will appear, where you can define your variables.

A list of all variables that are available in the document shows

  • Variable name
  • Variable type
  • Visibility of the variable
  • Number of occurrences of the variable in the document

Options for a variable

Each variable has a pencil icon, and three dots. The pencil icon will bring up the "Settings" panel.

The three dots will provide you below options:

Settings

Opens the settings panel of the variable

Rename

The variable name goes into inline rename modus. You can also double click/tap on the variable name.

Duplicate

Creates a copy of the variable and all its properties. Since the name of a variable must be unique, the name of the new variable is appended with an incrementing number.

Delete

A confirmation dialog is shown before the variable is deleted.

Move to Top

Will move the variable to the top of the list

You can also drag the variable in the list to where you want to position it.

This location does not have any effect on the working of your document. It will only help to guide the end-user to see them in a logical order.

Move to Bottom

Will move the variable to the bottom of the list

You can also drag the variable in the list to where you want to position it.

This location does not have any effect on the working of your document. It will only help to guide the end-user to see them in a logical order.

Variable Types

Single Line of Text

A placeholder for text.

Image

A placeholder for a reference to an image in the (GraFx) Media pool, or other sources through Connectors

Default state

The default value your variable with have.

Basic properties:

  • Name: Cannot be empty, must be unique
  • Type: See types above
  • Visible: Enabled by default
  • Required: Disabled by default
  • Read-only: Disabled by default

Required variables

When checked, the Studio Editor will ask the user to provide a value.

Info

When a variable is required and it doesn't have a default value it doesn't show an error upon opening the document.

An error is triggered upon these conditions:

  • When the input is in focus and left empty.
  • When the user enters a value for the first time, deletes it again (so the input is empty again) the error message will be shown below the input until the error is resolved.
  • When trying to save the document or generate output. A dialog is shown to inform the user that the document can't be saved or exported.

To indicate that a variable is required an asterisk ( * ) is shown next to the variable label.

Visibility conditions

When the "Visible" setting is enabled (is enabled by default), there is an option to add one or more visibility conditions. Only if ALL conditions are met the variable is visible for the end-user.

The visibility conditions:

  • Variable … has value …
  • Selected frame name contains …
  • Selected frame is of type …
  • Selected frame has private data … with value …
  • Selected layout name contains …

Note

We limit the options to keep it simple. If you want more advanced action, you can create a hidden variable that is set by an action and use that variable as a visibility condition.

Appearance settings

These setting define how the variable is presented:

  • Label: Can be empty, must not be unique, by default it has the same value as the variable name (When the variable name is changed, the label is updated, unless if the label already has a different value)
  • Label position