Define variables

You use variables to define which elements in a template change. You can define three types of variables. Visibility variables show or hide the content of a layer. Pixel Replacement variables replace the pixels in the layer with pixels from another image file. Text Replacement variables replace a string of text in a type layer.

Note: GoLive recognizes all text and visibility variables, but not Pixel Replacement variables.
Two versions of an image based on the same template

A.
Visibility variable

B.
Pixel Replacement variable

C.
Text Replacement variable

You cannot define variables for the Background layer.

  1. Choose Image > Variables > Define.
  2. Select a layer from the Layer pop‑up menu that contains the content you want to define as a variable.
  3. Select one or more types of variables:
    Visibility
    Shows or hides the content of the layer.

    Pixel Replacement
    Replaces the pixels in the layer with pixels from another image file.

    Text Replacement
    Replaces a string of text in a type layer.

  4. Do one of the following:

    • Choose Name and enter a name for the variable. Variable names must begin with a letter, underscore, or colon and cannot contain spaces or special characters (except for periods, hyphens, underscores, and colons).

    • Choose an existing variable from the Name pop‑up menu to link this layer to. Layers linked to the same variable are shown next to the Name menu, along with the link icon.

  5. For Pixel Replacement variables, set the following options.

    • Choose a method for scaling the replacement image: Fit scales the image so that it fits in the bounding box (which may leave parts of the bounding box empty), Fill scales the image so that it fills the bounding box entirely (which may cause the image to extend beyond the bounding box), As Is applies no scaling to the image, and Conform scales the image non-proportionally so that it fits in the bounding box.

    • Click a handle on the alignment icon  to choose an alignment for placing the image inside the bounding box. (This option is not available for Conform.)

    • Select Clip To Bounding Box to clip areas of the image that do not fit in the bounding box. This option is available only when the Fill or As Is replacement method is selected. (This option is not available for Conform.)

  6. To define variables for another layer, choose a layer from the Layer pop‑up menu. An asterisk appears next to the name of a layer that contains variables. You can use the navigation arrows to move between layers.
  7. Click OK.