A data set is a collection of variables and associated data. You can switch between data sets to upload different data into your template.

Assigning data values to variables to create two data sets

To edit the default data set:

1. Do one of the following:
* Choose Image > Variables > Data Sets.
* If the Variables dialog box is open, choose Data Sets from the pop-up menu at the top of the dialog box, or click Next.
* Choose Variables from the Layers palette menu. Then choose Data Sets from the pop-up menu at the top of the dialog box, or click Next.

Note: You must define at least one variable before you can edit the default data set.
2. Select a variable from the Name pop-up menu or the list at the bottom of the dialog box.
3. Edit the variable data:
* For Visibility variables Visibility variable, select Visible to show the layer's content or Invisible to hide the layer's content.
* For Pixel Replacement variables Pixel Replacement variable, click Browse (Windows) or Choose (Mac OS) and select a replacement image file.
* For Text Replacement variables Text Replacement variable, enter a text string in the Value text box.
4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 for every variable in the template.
5. Click OK, or click Next.

To create a new data set:

1. Click the New Data Set button New button.
2. Edit the variable data.
3. Click OK.

To rename a data set:

Enter a name in the Data Set text box.

To select a data set:

Do one of the following:
* Choose a data set from the Data Set pop-up menu.
* Click the Previous Data Set button Previous Tile button to select the previous set in the list.
* Click the Next Data Set button Next button to select the next set in the list.

To change the data in a data set:

1. Select the data set you want to modify.
2. Edit the variable data.
3. Click OK.

To delete a data set:

1. Select the data set you want to delete.
2. Click the Trash button Trash button .

You use variables to define which elements in a template are dynamic (changeable). A variable's type corresponds to the type of data you want to change in a template. Visibility variables let you show or hide the content of a layer. Pixel Replacement variables let you replace the pixels in the layer with pixels from another image file. Text Replacement variables let you replace a string of text in a type layer.

Note: You can use Photoshop to designate text as a variable for Adobe GoLive, if you put your variable text in the topmost text layer. Otherwise, you can use ImageReady to explicitly denote variables. GoLive recognizes all ImageReady text and visibility variables, but not pixel replacement variables.













Illustration of Two versions of a Web image based on the same template with these callouts: A. Visibility variable B. Pixel Replacement variable C. Text Replacement variable
Two versions of a Web image based on the same template A. Visibility variable B. Pixel Replacement variable C. Text Replacement variable

To define variables:

1. In the Layers palette, select a layer for which you want to define variables.

Note: You cannot define variables for the Background layer.
2. Choose Image > Variables > Define, or choose Variables from the Layers palette menu.
3. Select one or more types of variables:
* Visibility to show or hide the content of the layer.
* Pixel Replacement to replace the pixels in the layer with pixels from another image file.

Note: You specify the replacement image (as well as the replacement text and visibility states) when you define a data set. (See Using data sets.)
* Text Replacement to replace a string of text in a type layer.
4. If desired, enter names for the variables. Variable names must begin with a letter, underscore, or colon and cannot contain spaces or special characters (except for periods, hyphens, underscores, and colons).
5. For Pixel Replacement variables, click Pixel Replacement Options, and do the following:
* Choose a method for scaling the replacement image: Fit to scale the image to fit within the bounding box (which may leave parts of the bounding box empty), Fill to scale the image to entirely fill the bounding box (which may cause the image to extend beyond the bounding box), As Is to not scale the image, and Conform to scale the image non-proportionally to fit within the bounding box.
* Click a handle on the alignment icon Center Point icon to choose an alignment for placing the image inside the bounding box.
* Select Clip to Bounding Box to clip areas of the image that do not fit within the bounding box. This option is only available when the Fill replacement method or As Is replacement method is selected.
6. To define variables for an additional layer, choose a layer from the Layer pop-up menu. Repeat Steps 3 through 5.
7. Click OK.

To rename a variable:

1. Choose Image > Variables > Define, or choose Variables from the Layers palette menu.
2. Choose the layer that contains the variable from the Layer pop-up menu.
3. Enter a name in the Name text box. Variable names must begin with a letter, underscore, or colon and cannot contain spaces or special characters (except for periods, hyphens, underscores, and colons).

Note: If you are using data sets and want to rename a variable globally (in all layers), change the name in the Data Sets section of the Variable dialog box. (See Using data sets.)

To remove variables:

1. Choose Image > Variables > Define, or choose Variables from the Layers palette menu.
2. Choose a layer from the Layer pop-up menu.
3. Deselect one or more variables.
4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 to remove variables from additional layers, and then click OK.

Data-driven graphics make it possible to produce multiple versions of an image quickly and accurately. Let's say, for example, that you need to produce 500 different Web banners based on the same template. In the past, you had to manually populate the template with data (images, text, and so on). With data-driven graphics, you can quickly generate Web banners using variables and data sets.

You can turn any image into a template for data-driven graphics by defining variables for layers in the image. In addition, you can create different sets of variable data to view what your template will look like when it is rendered.
Illustration of Creating different versions of an image using variables with these callouts: A. Source file template B. User defines layers as variables C. Different versions of the image can be created, each with a different variable data set



















Creating different versions of an image using variables A. Source file template B. User defines layers as variables C. Different versions of the image can be created, each with a different variable data set