Show details for Number Variables | IV_014

Number Variables | IV_014

In this tutorial, we will learn how to specify and utilise the Number variable type. These can be used where a numerical selector is required, such as when linking to a font size.

Tutorial Video Transcript

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In this tutorial, we

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will learn how to specify
and utilize the number variable type

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so these can be used
where a numerical selector is required,

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such as when linking
to a font size, for example.

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And that's the example
we'll do here as well.

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So to begin,
if I go to my variables tab within Invent

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and InDesign

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and click on Add Variables.

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Now what I'm choosing at
this time is a number variable.

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There's a few simple options
that I can complete.

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The first is to fill in a name

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and then I can select a default value.

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So this is the number
that will be utilized by default.

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If it is something like a font size
that we're linking to,

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this is the font size
that will eventually be used

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when the product is first opened.

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I've got some user interface information
over on the right hand side

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so I can change
the label if I wish to do so

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and I can put in some help information.

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I've optionally got some validation
information as well,

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so you can specify a minimum and a maximum

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number that it is possible to enter
along with some validation messages.

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Should you go outside of those ranges.

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So this validation is optional,
but seeing as its font size,

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it would be a good idea
to put something in.

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And then I can put
in some associated messages.

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I also have the ability
to specify the step increment.

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So in what increment
can this number picker be changed?

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And so you can't do

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anything other than integers.

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So for example, if I try and do a step of
0.5, it will default to an integer value.

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So just be aware of that

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and then I'm going to click on Save.

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Now all we need to do
is link that to our relative field.

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So a field on our actual template itself.

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So we could actually make this
so that it's driving the text

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in a particular field.

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For example, however, we will link it
to the font size in this case.

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So if I click on one of my text frames

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and go over to the Properties tab,
the first thing you need to do

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is make sure that the text frame you've
selected is enabled.

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That makes it dynamic and can

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then be driven from Invent.

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Now one of the options we have
as part of a text frame, if I look down

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this list a little bit,
is the selection of a font size.

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Now by default you'll probably see
this is set to inherit,

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so it's just going to inherit
what's already on the document.

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However,
in this case we can link it to a variable

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and then it
will show as a list of relevant variables.

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So in this case it's just the ones
which allow a numerical input.

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So I can say number variable example

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and that's it, that's the link.

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Then create created.

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So now export this template
as a MEX file

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and I'll import this
into our MegaEdit product.

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So with our product loaded up, we can now
see that we have one variable option

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available in our form on the right hand
side, which is a numbers selector.

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And when we change this value either by
typing in the new value or choosing these

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icons over on the right hand side,
you'll see that the linked field,

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the font size being utilized, changes.

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And we can't go outside of the ranges
that we've specified.

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If I type in something that's outside
of those ranges, you'll see that

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we get our associated
validation warning message.

 

Incomplete
Step by Step Guide

Number Variables

In this tutorial, we will learn how to specify and utilise the Number variable type.

These can be used where a numerical selector is required, such as when linking to a font size.

Creation Date: Jan 24, 2023
Created By: Sam Webster

1. To begin, select the Variables tab within the Invent plugin in Adobe InDesign

To begin, select the Variables tab within the Invent plugin in Adobe InDesign

2. Click Add Variable

Click Add Variable

3. Select a Number Variable

Select a Number Variable

4. Enter a variable name

Enter a variable name

5. Specify a default number value

This is the value selected by the variable upon first loading the MegaEdit editor.

Specify a default number value

6. Optionally, complete additional UI information to be displayed to the end user

Optionally, complete additional UI information to be displayed to the end user

7. Optionally, complete some additional validation settings

Minimum and maximum numerical values can be specified, along with messages displayed to the user if these numbers are exceeded.

Optionally, complete some additional validation settings

8. Specify a step increment

Specify a step increment

9. Click Save

Click Save

10. Your variable has now been created

Your variable has now been created

11. Next, we will link one of our text frames to this newly created variable

12. Select a text frame

Select a text frame

13. Click the Properties tab

Click the Properties tab

14. Enable the text frame to make it variable

Enable the text frame to make it variable

15. Locate the Font Size selection and change the type to Variable

This controls the font size of the text contained within the selected image frame.

By linking this to a number variable, we can directly control the font size via a form input.

Locate the Font Size selection and change the type to Variable

16. Select our Number Variable

Select our Number Variable

17. Navigate to the Export tab and create a MEX file of this template

Navigate to the Export tab and create a MEX file of this template

18. Upload the MEX template to your MegaEdit product and launch the editor

Upload the MEX template to your MegaEdit product and launch the editor

19. The Number Variable will be available within the MegaEdit form

The Number Variable will be available within the MegaEdit form

20. Altering the variable value will change the font size in the linked text box

Altering the variable value will change the font size in the linked text box
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