Introduction Module Terminology-Designer In this video we explore the different words we decided to invent just for the Designer module. Introducing the Designer Module Interface Let’s settle in, take a look around, put our feet up on the table and learn about the Designer module, its panes, and how to create a new template. Introducing Contexts This presentation introduces the 3 contexts available in Designer: Print, Email and Web. Introduction to the Designer Module A quick introduction to the Designer module by our favourite Product Development Manager, Philippe Fontan
Variable Data Importing a Data Model Data Models are super useful, and if you haven’t already realized that, you soon will. Here’s how to use them in the Designer module. Introduction to Variable Data Here we come to the core of our software: variable data. Adding data from a data mapping configuration into your template is one of the things that is the simplest, but the most powerful, in this whole software.
Designing with HTML Elements Standard and Dynamic Tables Time to pick up the tab, err, tables. Standard (static) and dynamic tables are used to display tabular data, or in some cases to design and format a template. Internal and External Images Images used in templates can be inside your template, outside your template, up down and sideways on your hard drive. Let’s take a look at how to refer to them and import them. Using Barcodes In this animation we’ll take a look at adding dynamic barcodes to our template, and a could of popular barcode types. Charts and Graphs There isn’t a lot that can make a document more flashy than adding a graph to it. So let’s do this now by adding a couple of pie charts! Working with Boxes Boxes may sound unimpressive, but they’re really so useful and versatile, you’ll soon be using them all over the place. Basic Paragraphs and Headings Styling This animation presents the basic styling of text, paragraphs, as well as selecting different elements styles like paragraphs and headers.
Resources in the Designer Style Sheets and the Order of Execution To understand the styling of text and elements, it’s important to understand how styles work, in which order they’re evaluated, and how to set them up. Creating and using Snippets These reusable bits of contents, called statically or dynamically, are great at sharing contents between contexts, or as importable resources. Let’s learn about them. Conditional Elements If you have something to hide, there’s a perfect way to do it in Designer. Alright it won’t hide your taxes from the IRS, but it can handle paragraphs easily! Identifying HTML Elements with IDs and Classes One of the biggest superpowers of web technologies is the ability to affect the styling and the properties of one or more elements in as broad or as fine-grained a level as you need to. This is how we do it.
Print Contexts Print Contexts, Medias and Master Pages We all you know you’re here to print. Well, with the use of contexts, medias and master pages, you’ll have the freedom to print exactly what you need, how you need it, more than you ever had before. Sections and their Properties Read all about what sections are, how they’re useful and how to configure them. Managing Whitespace Elements If you’re creating transactional output with a variable number of elements, you can use the whitespace on your last page to display things depending on the available size. We’re pretty sure you can think of something to display!
Email Contexts All about Email Contexts Let’s take a look at create a new Email template and check out the properties of its sections. We also throw in a few considerations that you should pay attention to. Simple Promotional Email In this animation we create a simple email using the drag & drop tools available in the Designer Module. Please note that some features shown in this video have changed since it was recorded.
Web Contexts All about Web Contexts Let’s create a new Web template and learn about the specifics of using Web contexts in Designer, previewing them, setting their properties, and all that jazz. We also use the Form Builder to create a form the user can fill in.
Conclusion & Miscelaneous Preparing Files for the Automation Module If you want to automate the production of output, you need to prepare your files for the automation module. It’s pretty simple, too. Using Template Wizards Whether you’re done looking at the barren default templates or want to see just how pretty our pre-made templates are, this animation guides you through the Template Wizards available in PlanetPress Connect Designer.