FWMX Series: Data-driven Graphics wizard

Data | graphics

The data-driven Graphics wizard is a powerful feature that fireworks is starting to appear from the MX version.
This program was developed by Joseph Lowery, author of the Dearmweaver and fireworks Bible series,
In the FWMX is version 1.00, to FWMX 2004 when the upgrade to the 2.00 version,
And by the aftershape.com webmaster Edoardo Zubler strengthened the interface design and some ancillary programs.

A friend who has studied the FW data-driven Graphics wizard is not sure much,
Even if the FW comes with the help file and the official website of mm function introduction is only a stroke.
But this feature is really a great tool for FW,
And when the fireworks MX 2004 was launched, Macromedia again declared that the feature was improved,
In the end how, let us come to combat once and a detailed control it.

In this case, we used a white shirt to do the basics,

And a beautiful set of icons to make shirts for the replacement of the logo.

The FW data-driven Graphics wizard must have a standard XML file as a data source,
This XML file can be written by any text editor, generated by ColdFusion, or produced by the database software output.
Here we have written one, named Datasource.xml, according to the icon to be replaced, which reads as follows:

<?xml version= "1.0" encoding= "Iso-8859-1"?>
<items>

<item>
<subject>MSN</subject>
<pic>icon1.jpg</pic>
<linkage>http://www.msn.com</linkage>
</item>

<item>
<subject>Music</subject>
<pic>icon2.jpg</pic>
<linkage>http://www.music.com</linkage>
</item>

<item>
<subject>Software</subject>
<pic>icon3.jpg</pic>
<linkage>http://www.soft.com</linkage>
</item>

<item>
<subject>Earth</subject>
<pic>icon4.jpg</pic>
<linkage>http://www.internet.com</linkage>
</item>

<item>
<subject>Search</subject>
<pic>icon5.jpg</pic>
<linkage>http://www.google.com</linkage>
</item>

</items>

As you can see here, XML tags are customizable.
The subject, PIC, and linkage will be the variable label for our data-driven Graphics wizard.
Standards and considerations for writing formats for XML please refer to the documentation, and here's a few more details.

The beginning of work is no different from the general image editing.
The FWMX series data-driven Graphics wizard can support automatic replacement of three elements,
They are text, graphic images and links, and we'll try it all over again.
First Take fwmx as an example, we do a good job of text, images and links related processing and positioning.
Then define the variables, and all the variable labels for the data-Driven Graphics wizard need to be referenced with curly braces.

In the text section, variables can be written directly on the source file.
You can apply text fonts, choreography, outline frames, real time effects,
The dynamically replaced text will correspond to the effect settings you applied on the text variable.

The variable of the picture, see the Double circular section in the middle of the following figure,
Variable names can be defined by the property and level editions.
Also, the use of the image editing, special effects filters,
will have a consistent effect on the dynamically replaced picture.

With slices or hotspot tools, you can set the link variable,
The variable is written in the link field of the property surface,
For in-depth testing, this example also sets the flip image behavior.

Make sure all work is done,
Before you apply the data-driven Graphics wizard,
Remember to store your files first.
If you forget,
When you perform the data-driven Graphics wizard,
The system will first eject the warning window prompt:

is the archive complete yet?
Well, the most exciting moment has begun,
Open the menu command--> the data-driven Graphics wizard.

The pop-up face version is the first step of the program six step,
Select a data source.
Here we can see the type and number of variables we defined in the source file,
Select your XML file path and the folder where you want to replace the logo picture.
The question mark in the lower-left corner is the help file for the current step.
If you have a problem you can open the reference,
The I tag to the right of the question mark is the program declaration.

Press the next key to go to the next step to preview the data.
Here is a partial record of the variable data,
Use the four round arrow buttons on the face plate to check each record.

The third step is to select Record execution.
The program defaults to all records,
In addition, the first record, most of the test to see the effect.
You can also choose to perform a separate record,
Each sub-item is separated by a half-width comma, see illustration:

After you are sure to enter step fourth, indicate the variable to the OK field.
The following text box shows the variables and field relationships that have been identified for the link.
If you are exporting an XML file from another file or database,
The top selection box is likely to have other variables and field records,
We can add and subtract the variable combination by using the plus minus symbol button on the right side of the face plate.

What you need to decide now is the output settings.
Determine your file name, file format,
Specifies the path of the output file group and the generation source file group.
Here's what to note:
Regardless of your original source file template set output format,
For data-driven graphical wizards,
The output file format is subject to your setting on this surface.
If there is no change, you can use the default template Export Settings.

The final preview before executing the program,
After confirming that all data is correct,
Press the done key to perform the data-driven Graphics wizard.

Look at the results of the output,
The following is a comprehensive processing diagram:

Hey, aren't these static graphs? Where are our links?
Don't worry, if you're in the process of setting up an output source file group,
Open any generated source files randomly,
Look at the link field, not also dynamic update it?
And the behavior of slicing remains the same,
If necessary, then output to the Web page on it.

Because of the operation involving the file path,
It is common knowledge that you cannot change the associated folder name or delete a folder while the program is executing.
However, after the data-driven Graphics wizard has finished executing, FWMX
Even closing the original source file template does not change the associated folder name or delete folder.
Until you turn off fireworks MX, it's a miracle.
The same situation did not occur under FWMX 2004.
The following is a screenshot of the folder renaming and deletion after the Fireworks MX is finished.

After the test, the data-driven Graphics wizard under Fwmx,
Let's look at how the new version of FWMX 2004 is performing.
With the FWMX experience, play it at ease.

For a comprehensive overview of the data-Driven Graphics wizard under Fwmx 2004,
In addition to changes in the interface,
The most functional changes are the last two steps:
In the output setting, there is a lot of use based on the data sub-item field naming method.

In the final preview set the face edition,
There are many options for recording settings,
The result of the trial was satisfactory.
When you close the original source file template and then open the file,
To perform the data-driven Graphics wizard,
All the records are preset,
All the way Next to done is good.

Having done this,
Again, test the response of the data-driven graphics wizard to Chinese.
XML itself has a good support for Chinese,
However, the FWMX series data-driven Graphics wizard does not seem to buy this account,
If you use Chinese in an XML file,
The program prompts you that the file content format does not conform to the standard information,
Or skip the Chinese variables section while performing the data-driven Graphics wizard.

The original author of the data-Driven Graphics wizard, Joseph Lowery,
On the official website of Macromedia, there is a special article on the main points of use of the program,
But I believe he did not test Chinese, haha ~
Http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/mx/studio/articles/ddgw.html
The results are also available on the official website of Chinese Macromedia:
http://www.macromedia.com/cn/software/fireworks/productinfo/newfeatures/
Data_graphics_full.html
Friends who are interested can refer to the comparison.

This is the end of the tutorial.
I think you already know how to use the data-driven Graphics wizard.
The use of this sharp weapon can be a lot of things,
For example, some parts of the multiple graphs are replaced, as this example;
can also be a number of sites with the same style of banner, such as the original author of the example;
Or it can be a business card or membership card that makes many people.
The advantage of the data-driven Graphics wizard is that you only need to do an initial source file template,
Just change the XML file if you have other corrections later,
Let the data-driven Graphics wizard do the rest.

By the way, pack some of my files for everyone to download ,
It also includes the original source file template and XML files, for everyone to practice reference.