Preparing Your Data Source
• You can use any spreadsheet
program, such as Microsoft Excel, to
create your data source as long as it
uses standard delimited ASCII files
that support normal tab or comma
delimited files.
• Place all of the variable elements
within the spreadsheet. Each column
in the spreadsheet represents
a different variable field in the
document. Each consecutive row
contains the actual data for the
finished document.
• When using variable images you only
need to place the file name in the
data fields. You must, however, use
the exact file name of the image file
excluding the extension.
Types of Variable Data
VARIABLE TEXT
• Variable text will be triggered via the data source file
• Variable text, if relatively short in length (ie. names, phrases), can be
included in the data source record file
• Larger sections of variable text can be utilized via the use of assets
VARIABLE IMAGES
• Images will be triggered via the data source file
• Make sure all variable images that will be placed in the same position
are the exact same dimensions for optimal results, otherwise the
images will be scaled to fit.
• Image names must be added to the data source DO NOT include the
extension
• Package all variable images in a folder titled "Assets"
VARIABLE VERSIONS
• Multiple layout versions can be used as variables, triggered from the
data source
• Layouts must be common dimensions