Variables panel overview, Create variables – Adobe Illustrator CS3 User Manual
Page 448
ILLUSTRATOR CS3
User Guide
442
•
If you’re a developer, you can code variables and data sets directly into an XML file. The designer can then import
the variables and data sets into an Illustrator file to create a design based on your specifications.
•
If you’re responsible for production, you can use scripts within Illustrator, the Batch command, or a web
production tool such as Adobe GoLive 6.0 to render the final graphics. You can also use a dynamic imaging server
such as Adobe® Graphics Server to further automate the rendering process.
See also
“About variable libraries” on page 445
Variables panel overview
You use the Variables panel (Window
> Variables) to work with variables and data sets. The type and name of each
variable in the document are listed in the panel. If the variable is bound to an object, then the Objects column
displays the name of the bound object as it appears in the Layers panel.
Variables panel
A. Data set B. Panel menu C. Variable type D. Variable name E. Name of bound object
The Variables panel uses the following icons to indicate a variable’s type:
•
Visibility variable
.
•
Text String variable
.
•
Linked File variable
.
•
Graph Data variable
.
•
No Type (unbound) variable
.
You can sort the rows by clicking items in the header bar: by variable name, object name, or by variable type.
Create variables
You can create four types of variables in Illustrator: Graph Data, Linked File, Text String, and Visibility. A variable’s
type indicates which object attributes are changeable (dynamic).
Note: The Variable panel menu also provides commands for creating variables.
Create a Visibility variable
❖
Select the objects that you want to show or hide and click the Make Visibility Dynamic button
in the
Variables panel.
B
A
C D
E