Adobe Photoshop CS4 - Manual (Page 644)

637 USING PHOTOSHOP CS4
Automating tasks
Last updated 1/10/2010
All the variable names are listed on the first line, in the order that the values are given in subsequent lines. Each
subsequent line represents one data set, with the values for each variable given.
To create multiple lines of text in a single line of text in a data set, enclose the text in double quotes and insert hard
returns in the tab- or comma-separated file where you want the breaks to occur.
If or is part of the variable value, then the entire value must be enclosed in double quotes.
All variables defined in the PSD document must be defined in the text file. An error is displayed if the number of
variables in the text file does not match the number in the document.
Example data set:
Using a template for flowers that holds variables for tulip and sunflower, you can set up a text file that looks like this:
Note: You can use a relative path for the image location if the text file is in the same folder as the image file. For example,
the last item in the example can be: true, VIOLET, violet.jpg.
Import a data set
1 Do one of the following:
• Choose File > Import > Variable Data Sets.
• Choose Image > Variables > Data Sets and click the Import button.
2 Navigate to the text file to import.
3 Set up your import options.
Use First Column For Data Set Names Names each data set using the content of the first column of the text file (the
values for the first variable listed). Otherwise, the data sets are named “Data Set 1, Data Set 2, and so on.”
Replace Existing Data Sets Deletes any existing data sets before importing.
External text file syntax elements
Either a comma-separated (CSV) or a
tab (tab-delimited) file that separates
each variable name or value.
A newline character that ends each
data set and can be a line feed, carriage
return, or both.
“true” and “false” Allowed values for a visibility variable.
Spaces Spaces around the delimiter are
removed when parsing the file;
between words in a value string (e.g.,
two of a kind) spaces are maintained
and leading and trailing spaces are
maintained if enclosed in double
quotes (e.g., “one kind ”).
Double quotes Can be part of a value if preceded by
another double quote (e.g., ““B”” would
be “B” in the data set).
{contents of FlowerShow.txt}
Variable 1, Variable 2, Variable 3
true, TULIP, c:\My Documents\tulip.jpg
false, SUNFLOWER, c:\My Documents\sunflower.jpg
false, CALLA LILY, c:\My Documents\calla.jpg
true, VIOLET, c:\My Documents\violet.jpg