Picture of Date and Time Variables | IV_015

Date and Time Variables | IV_015

In this tutorial, we will learn how to utilise two variable types, allowing users to pick a date and time. In our example, we will link these variables to fields within our template.

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In this
tutorial, we'll learn how to utilize

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two variable types
allowing users to pick a date and a time.

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So in our particular example
here, we're going to link

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these two variables that we create

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two fields within our template
that we have on the screen here.

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So what we basically want to have
is a date and a time

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showing some information
on this particular flyer

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So to begin

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with,
we're just going to create two variables

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by going in our InDesign window
to our Invent tab,

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variable tab, and then add variable

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that gives us a separate window with a few
different variables to choose from.

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We're going to start off
with a date variable.

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Now, the setup of
this is quite straightforward.

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We start off with the input of a name
for this variable,

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and then underneath there we have
the option to choose a default date.

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So a default value for the date
which can either be a relative date.

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So an X amount of days from today
or if you check this button here,

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you can actually choose a specific date.

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You've also
got the ability to choose the date format.

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So by default we have two presets,
we have UK format and US format

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alternative.

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Alternatively,
you can make a custom format as well.

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Moving further down,

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you have the ability optionally
to assign some constraints.

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So if there is a minimum
and a maximum date range

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that can be specified,
you can input those here.

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Now, those are again
linked to the relative date checkbox here.

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So if that is checked, it will say minimum
date is X amount of days from today.

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Maximum is X amount of days from today.

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But check that box off again.

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I have a date picker
so I can choose some specific dates

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and then coming down even further,
we have selectable days.

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So this is a sort of blanket setting where
if you've got any of these unchecked,

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those dates will not be selectable

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from the date picker that we're creating.

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So for example,
if I make it so it's just a weekend option

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and we'll see how that works
in a few moments

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time.

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I'm then going to create a second
variable, which works in very much

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the same way, but this one is the time

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variable.

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We have a default value option here
so we can choose what shown

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on the time picker by default

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when the product is first loaded,

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we can choose a date format
so either 24 hour clock or AMPM

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and we can choose a mode.

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So is ours only or you want to be able
to input minutes as well.

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Again, you have some optional constraints

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so you can choose the earliest

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available timeslots
and the latest available time.

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So for example, if I say that we're able
to choose a time between

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9 a.m. and

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3 p.m.,
anything that sits outside of those ranges

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will not be available for us to choose.

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We then hit save and as we've done
with other variable types

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in this video series,
we just need to link those variables

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to some fields
on our actual template itself.

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So first of all,
if I select one of the text frames

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that I want to populate,
go across to the variables tab

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and make sure that this is enabled,
which in this case it is already.

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But this if it's enabled
rather than disabled, that means it's now

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dynamic and can be driven by.

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Infigo Invent.

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I'm just going to map this
to one of our variables

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and choose the date picker.

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So now whatever information is shown
or selected in the date

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picker will display in this field.

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I'm going to do the same
with the time picker.

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So I've chosen a different text frame

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and I'm linking
that to a different variable.

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I'm then going to export
that as a mixed file

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and import it into our MegaEdit product.

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So that's our template
loaded into MegaEdits

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by Zoom in there you can see that
we have our populated text frames

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and they match what's been shown
over on the right hand side in the form

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where we have two variables.

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One showing the date picker
and one showing the time picker.

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And as I change those specifications,

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the time and the date on the artwork
itself

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update as well.

 

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