xpresso for Dreamweaver xpresso for Dreamweaver User Guide

Transcription

1 xpresso for Dreamweaver xpresso for Dreamweaver User Guide

2 by. All rights reserved. The copyright protection claimed includes all formats of copyrightable material and information governed by current or future statutory or judicial law. This includes, without limitations, any material generated by the software programs that display icons or other screen interfaces. You may not copy or transmit any part of this document in electronic or printed format without the express written permission of. xpression, CompuSet, and all other Document Sciences Corporation products mentioned in this publication are trademarks of. For complete copyright information, please see the file Licenses.txt located on your ebook Library CD., 5958 Priestly Drive, Carlsbad, CA

3 3 Table of Contents Chapter 1. Introduction... 7 Who Should Read This Book?...8 Learning How to Use xpresso for Dreamweaver... 8 Learning More About Dreamweaver... 8 Where Does xpresso for Dreamweaver Fit?... 9 Icons and Revision Bars...10 Solution Support Chapter 2. A Tour of xpresso for Dreamweaver Your xpresso for Dreamweaver Workspace...12 Dreamweaver Workspace Views What You ll See in Code View Working With Dreamweaver Panels The xpresso Insert Bar The xpresso Data Schema Panel The xpresso Design Schematic Panel The xpresso Variable Definition Panel The Click That Refreshes: Deleting xpresso Items Viewing the xpresso Log File Updating Your License xpresso Tag Validation... 26

4 4 Table of Contents Chapter 3. Creating an xpresso Document Your Document Content...29 What is Dynamic Content? What is Static Content? Associating Data With Your Document...30 Loading Your Schema Creating Your Content Creating a Content Group Creating a Content Instance Adding Criteria to Dynamic Content Defining On/Off Criteria Defining Switch Criteria Defining If-Else Criteria Editing Existing Criteria Building Dynamic Tables Creating a Content Loop Packaging Your Document Chapter 4. Using Variables A Little Bit About Variables...54 Working With Variables Creating Variables Defining Variable Attributes Placing Text Variables in Your Document Placing Image Variables in Your Document Defining a Variable as a Document Property... 61

5 5 Table of Contents Working With Variable Hyperlinks Placing Variable Hyperlinks in Your Document Arrays Creating Arrays Defining Your Array Attributes Defining Your Array Item Attributes Placing Table Variables in Your Document Creating Variable Expressions Schema Fields Functions Verifying Your Expression Viewing Variable Data in Your Document Using the Send Utility Previewing Your Work Appendix A. xpresso Tag Specifications General xpresso Tag Attributes...79 Group Tag Attributes Content Tag Attributes Text Tag Attributes Loop Tag Attributes VarDef Tag Attributes TableDef Tag Attributes... 84

6 6 Table of Contents Appendix B. Expression Functions Numeric Functions...87 abs floor ceil round stringtointeger Logic Functions Group Functions groupcount groupsum groupmax groupmin String Functions length contains tolowercase touppercase trim substring position replace numerictostring Datetime, Date, and Time Functions addyear addmonth addday now... 97

7 7 Chapter 1 Introduction Welcome to xpresso for Dreamweaver! xpresso for Dreamweaver is part of the xpression product suite, and is designed to help you create graphical, customized, and personalized HTML Web pages or messages that contain a variety of content. Content can range from correspondence that contains graphical marketing content and brand images, to account alerts or statements that drive the recipient to a personalized Web site also created in xpresso for Dreamweaver. This chapter includes these topics: Who Should Read This Book? Learning How to Use xpresso for Dreamweaver Learning More About Dreamweaver Where Does xpresso for Dreamweaver Fit? Icons and Revision Bars Solution Support

8 8 Chapter 1 - Introduction Who Should Read This Book? The xpresso for Dreamweaver User Guide contains the information that an experienced Dreamweaver user needs to use xpresso for Dreamweaver. It is expected that you have a working knowledge of Dreamweaver, and are familiar with the XML data that you will use in the documents you create with xpresso for Dreamweaver. This book doesn t instruct you how to use basic Dreamweaver features, unless there is something specific about the way you use the feature with xpresso for Dreamweaver. This book doesn t instruct you on how to create your data, but does includes guidelines for creating xpresso-compliant data, and includes information on how to use your data. Learning How to Use xpresso for Dreamweaver Along with this user guide, there is also an xpresso for Dreamweaver tutorial that you will step you through the tasks associated with creating a document. You can access the tutorial document by clicking Tutorial on the xpresso menu. xpresso for Dreamweaver also includes online Help, which you can access by clicking Help on the xpresso menu. Learning More About Dreamweaver If you re new to Dreamweaver, or just need a refresher, Document Sciences strongly recommends these learning resources: If you have Dreamweaver installed, from the Help menu select Getting Started with Dreamweaver. The tutorials in this guide lead you through the process of creating a simple but functional Web site. The Dreamweaver Documentation Resource Center is available online at:

9 9 Chapter 1 - Introduction Where Does xpresso for Dreamweaver Fit? xpresso for Dreamweaver is a design component of the xpression product suite that enables you to create dynamic Dreamweaver documents that can be published on the xprs Server. Figure 1. xpresso for Dreamweaver falls in the Document Design area of the xpression product suite.

10 10 Chapter 1 - Introduction Icons and Revision Bars When one of the following icons appears in the left margin of a page, it alerts you to special information. Caution: The warning cautions you that a fatal error, unsatisfactory output, or loss of data may occur if you do not follow directions carefully. Tip: A tip offers suggestions to simplify a task or describes a useful shortcut. They may also describe an alternate way to use the techniques described in the text. Lock: The lock icon identifies features that Document Sciences licenses individually. If you have not obtained a license, you cannot access the identified feature. For more information, contact your Document Sciences sales representative. Note: A note offers information that emphasizes or supplements important points of the main text. Other icons appear to identify a process or button described in the text. Revision bars help you locate new or changed information. Look for these revision bars in the right margin of each affected page. Solution Support For more information or to solve a problem, you can contact Document Sciences Solution Support in one of the following ways: Telephone (760) Fax (760) World Wide Web support@docscience.com

11 11 Chapter 2 A Tour of xpresso for Dreamweaver This chapter will take you on a short tour of the xpresso for Dreamweaver user interface. xpresso for Dreamweaver sits atop Macromedia Dreamweaver 8, and works seamlessly with it. An xpresso installation adds the xpresso Insert bar to Dreamweaver, and also adds the xpresso Data Schema panel, xpresso Design Schematic panel, and the xpresso Variable Definition panel. This chapter includes these topics: Your xpresso for Dreamweaver Workspace The Click That Refreshes: Deleting xpresso Items Viewing the xpresso Log File Updating Your License xpresso Tag Validation

12 12 Chapter 2 - A Tour of xpresso for Dreamweaver Your xpresso for Dreamweaver Workspace Here s what you ll typically see when you open xpresso for Dreamweaver: a standard Macromedia Dreamweaver desktop, with a few added xpresso items. You ll learn more about what these items do in the following sections. Figure 2. After installation, you ll see that these xpresso components have been added to your Dreamweaver workspace.

13 13 Chapter 2 - A Tour of xpresso for Dreamweaver Dreamweaver Workspace Views Dreamweaver has three different ways you can view your workspace: Design view, Code view, or Split view. When working in xpresso for Dreamweaver, it is best to work in a Split view workspace, so you can see both the Design view and the Code view. Figure 3. This graphic shows a sample document in Split view mode. View Buttons Code View Sample xpresso Tag Design View

14 14 Chapter 2 - A Tour of xpresso for Dreamweaver Code view in xpresso for Dreamweaver shows not only the HTML for your general document content, but also HTML generated for xpresso actions. There are some xpresso-related actions that you must do in Code view, where others can be done in Design view. You can change between the three views using the buttons at the top of the workspace, shown in Figure 3 on page 13. What You ll See in Code View xpresso for Dreamweaver places tags in the HTML code as you perform xpresso-related functions in your document, such as creating content groups, or placing variables. The following is a list of the tags you ll see as you work in xpresso for Dreamweaver, along with an example of each: Group tag <xpresso type="group" id="16" name="banner" selecttype="ifelse" logic="" onoff=""name"==" test""><xpresso type="instance" id="17" name="general" logic='"name"=="test"'></xpresso></xpresso> Content tag <xpresso type="instance" id="19" name="general" logic='"international"=="pek"' ></xpresso> Text tag <xpresso type="text" id="9" name="destination" type="text" variable="desc" vid="4">{desc}</xpresso> Loop tag <xpresso type="loop" id="10" name="triptable" variable="trip" vid="7"></xpresso> VarDef tag <VarDef name="international" id="1" type="string" exptype="schema" expression="/root/ campaign/city/international" position="2"></vardef> TableDef tag <TableDef> <TableDef name="region" id="6" exptype="schema" expression="/root/campaign/ recommendations/region" position="6"></tabledef>

15 15 Chapter 2 - A Tour of xpresso for Dreamweaver <TableDef name="trip" id="7" exptype="schema" expression="/root/campaign/recommendations/ region/trip" position="8"> <VarDef name="date" id="8" type="string" exptype="schema" expression="/root/campaign/ recommendations/region/trip/date" position="9"></vardef> </TableDef> </TableDefs> For more information, see xpresso Tag Specifications. Selecting Text in Code View When you create content groups using existing content, you must select the content in Code view, not in Design view. When you select the Code view content, ensure that you select the paragraph and font begin and end tags as well as the content itself. Figure 4. Selecting content to be made into a content group. Highlighting xpresso Elements As you ll learn in subsequent sections and chapters in this book, xpresso for Dreamweaver enables you to add dynamic content elements to your Dreamweaver documents. To have Dreamweaver identify these xpresso elements: 1. From the Edit menu select Preferences. 2. Select Highlighting from the Category list.

16 16 Chapter 2 - A Tour of xpresso for Dreamweaver 3. Click the Show check box next to Third-Party Tags, then click OK. Figure 5. To change the highlight color, click the color box, then use the color picker to select a new color, or enter a hexadecimal value. Working With Dreamweaver Panels Dreamweaver enables you to group its panels in logical combinations according to the way you work, and the xpresso panels are no exception. To group one or more of the xpresso for Dreamweaver panels, click the panel menu button and select Group [xpresso Panel Name] with. Choose the panel with which you want to group the selected panel. The xpresso Insert Bar You can hide or show, and collapse or expand the Dreamweaver Insert bar as necessary. You can also display the different categories of the Insert bar. Some categories of the Insert bar have buttons that contain menus with common commands. The xpresso for Dreamweaver extension adds an xpresso item to the insert bar list. If you don t see the Insert bar, click the Dreamweaver Window menu and select Insert. Click the arrow beside the category name on the left end of the Insert bar and select xpresso from the pop-up menu.

17 17 Chapter 2 - A Tour of xpresso for Dreamweaver The xpresso insert bar contains shortcut buttons to xpresso for Dreamweaver functions. Figure 6. When you roll the pointer over a button, a tooltip appears with the name of the button. The table below shows and describes each button. Click This Button To Click This Button To Load a data schema file. Insert an image variable. Create a content group. Insert a hyperlink variable. Add a content instance to a content group. Delete selected items from the xpresso panels. Add a content loop to create a dynamic table. Create a document property. Create a table from an array in the variable definition panel. Create a document package. Insert a text variable from the variable definition panel. Refresh the views in the xpresso panels.

18 18 Chapter 2 - A Tour of xpresso for Dreamweaver The xpresso Data Schema Panel The xpresso Data Schema panel displays your variable data, as contained in your data schema. Don t see it in your workspace? From the xpresso menu, select Data Schema. The Data Schema menu enables you to load a schema into your document. When you load a data schema into the panel, xpresso for Dreamweaver shows the structure of your schema in a hierarchical outline. You can only load an XSD file. If you don t have schema file, you ll need to create one from your XML data file. Figure 7. The xpresso Data Schema panel shows the content of your schema. Click the arrow to access the Data Schema menu. The schema root Data fields When you select a field in the Data Schema panel, the data type of the field appears at the bottom of the panel. This information is read-only. The xpresso Data Schema Menu The Data Schema menu enables you to load a schema into your document.

19 19 Chapter 2 - A Tour of xpresso for Dreamweaver The xpresso Design Schematic Panel The xpresso Design Schematic panel shows the structure, logic and content variation of the dynamic pieces of the document, in an outline structure. Don t see it in your workspace? From the xpresso menu, select Design Schematic Browser. Think of it as the structural plan of the variability of your document, showing you all the variable bits and pieces that can be used to create the final output, as well as the criteria governing their inclusion. Figure 8. The xpresso Design Schematic consists of an outline that displays your variable content structure, and the xpresso Schematic Attribute area that displays the attributes of the selected Schematic item. The Schematic menu The Schematic outline The attribute area

20 20 Chapter 2 - A Tour of xpresso for Dreamweaver Through the xpresso Schematic, you can create content groups, and content instances to be used in your document. You can also define the criteria for inclusion of specific content. The items listed in the Schematic correspond to variable content on the Dreamweaver page. When you select a content group or content instance in the Schematic, the corresponding content is selected on the document page. When you select content on the document page, xpresso highlights the corresponding content group in the Schematic. Figure 9. The content instance China, in the specialdeal content group, is highlighted in the schematic and the corresponding frame is selected on the document page.

21 21 Chapter 2 - A Tour of xpresso for Dreamweaver You can select a content instance in the Schematic to view it on the document page. This enables you to switch between content instances to see how they look on the page, or to make changes. Figure 10. The content instance Paris, in the specialdeal content group, is highlighted in the schematic and the corresponding frame is selected on the document page. The xpresso Schematic Attribute Area The xpresso Schematic Attribute area appears at the bottom of the xpresso Schematic panel and displays information about the selected item in the Schematic. You can make changes to any editable attribute displayed in the area. You can rename any of the content groups, content instances, or variables contained in the Schematic by editing the name displayed in the xpresso Schematic Attribute area. You can't rename the Schematic or the Global Variable folder. The information that appears in the panel depends on the type of item you select. The xpresso Schematic Menu The xpresso Schematic menu enables you to remove selected items from both the schematic and the design view.

22 22 Chapter 2 - A Tour of xpresso for Dreamweaver The xpresso Variable Definition Panel The Variable Definition panel works together with the Data Schema panel and enables you to easily create and define variables and arrays for use in your document. Don t see it in your workspace? From the xpresso menu, select Variable Definition. The panel enables you to add variables, arrays, child elements to arrays, and modify the properties of items. The main part of the Variable Definition panel is the variable outline, where your defined variables and arrays are listed. Below the outline is the variable attributes area. When you select an item in the outline you can define or edit its attributes in the variable attributes area. Figure 11. The Variable Definition panel enables you to create and define variables for use in your xpresso document. Variable Item Container Folder This structure indicates an array that can be used to populate tables. Individual variables The attributes area

23 23 Chapter 2 - A Tour of xpresso for Dreamweaver When you apply variable data to your document, xpresso for Dreamweaver displays an n of m label and a set of arrows at the top of the Variable Definition panel to enable you to navigate through the records in your data file. Figure 12. The navigation arrows and record count as they appear on the top of the panel. The n of m label shows the number of the record that you are currently on (n), and how many records exist in the file (of m). Click the arrows to move through the records in the document. Click Load to apply the data in a particular record to your work. The results will appear in your default Web browser. The Variable Definition Menu Click the arrow in the right corner of the Variable Definition panel to access the menu. Figure 13. The menu selections will vary depending on the item you select in the panel.

24 24 Chapter 2 - A Tour of xpresso for Dreamweaver The Variable Definition menu contains the commands you need to work with your variables and their data. The menu selections will vary depending on the item you select in the panel. Select this option Define Variable Define Array Define Variable From Schema Define Array From Schema Delete Item Apply Variable Data Reset Variable Data Preview View Log To Add a text or image variable to the Variable Definition panel. For more information, see Creating Variables. Add an array or table variable to the Variable Definition panel. For more information, see Creating Arrays. Add a text or image variable to the Variable Definition panel using the selected field in the Data Schema panel. Select the field on the Data Schema panel before selecting this option. For more information, see Creating Variables. Add an array or table variable to the Variable Definition panel using the selected parent field in the Data Schema panel. Select the parent field on the Data Schema panel before selecting this option. For more information, see Creating Arrays. Delete the selected item from the Variable Definition panel. If the variable appears in your document, you can t delete it from the panel; you must delete the variable from the document page first. Open a dialog box where you can select an XML file to use for your variable data. When you select a file, xpresso for Dreamweaver updates your document using the data from the selected XML file. Reset all the variables in your document back to their original state, removing variable data. All variables display the variable name instead of actual variable data. View your work with data applied in your default Web browser. To view the xpresso.log file. For more information, see Viewing the xpresso Log File.

25 25 Chapter 2 - A Tour of xpresso for Dreamweaver The Click That Refreshes: Deleting xpresso Items xpresso for Dreamweaver enables you to remove variables from the xpresso Variable Definition panel, and content groups and instances from the xpresso Design Schematic, with the Delete menu selection. You can also remove these items from the Dreamweaver Design and Code views. However, when you delete items from these views the xpresso panels may not always catch up immediately, and a deleted item may still appear in a panel. To make sure everything is properly synchronized, click the Refresh button on the xpresso Insert bar. Viewing the xpresso Log File The xprs.log file (located in [Dreamweaver Installation Directory]\xPresso) contains information about some of the functions that xpresso for Dreamweaver has performed. The log file is cumulative, and you'll need to scroll to the very bottom of the file to find the most recent entries. You should view your log file when you receive error messages and you want see more information about them. Look for words such as "ERROR" or "WARN" to locate problems. To view the log file, click the Variable Definition menu and select View Log. The xprs.log file will open in Notepad. Scroll to the bottom of the file for the most recent entries.

26 26 Chapter 2 - A Tour of xpresso for Dreamweaver Updating Your License If you receive a new xpresso for Dreamweaver license from Document Sciences Customer Care, you can activate the new license by clicking Register on the xpresso menu. When the Register dialog box appears, replace the current license key with the new one, and click OK. Figure 14. The Register dialog box shows all the registration and license information associated with this xpresso for Dreamweaver installation. xpresso Tag Validation xpresso uses the Dreamweaver Site Reports function to validate the tags it adds to your document. To check your xpresso document after you apply your variable data, from the Site menu, select Reports. Or, click the Reports button on the Site Reports tab. The Reports dialog box appears. Figure 15. This shows the Site Reports tab in the Results panel group, with the Reports button highlighted.

27 27 Chapter 2 - A Tour of xpresso for Dreamweaver Select xpresso Validation and click Run to generate a report. A list of results appears in the Site Reports panel. Figure 16. The xpresso Validation option is located in the xpresso folder. Note: Run the xpresso validation after you apply data. If you run it on your template document, the utility will flag all xpresso tags as critical issues.

28 28 Chapter 3 Creating an xpresso Document There are several steps to creating an xpresso document. This chapter covers what you need to know to use xpresso for Dreamweaver to create a document, such as associating your data to your document, creating content, specifying criteria to control content inclusion, and adding variables. This chapter includes these topics: Your Document Content Creating Your Content Adding Criteria to Dynamic Content Building Dynamic Tables Packaging Your Document

29 29 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document Your Document Content There are two basic types of content that make up a document: dynamic and static, both of which can play an important part in the final look of your document. What is Dynamic Content? Dynamic content can change for each version of a document and is controlled by criteria and variable data. xpresso for Dreamweaver dynamic content is contained in content groups, with each variation appearing in its own content instance. Generally only one content instance in a content group appears in the final output. For example, you might have two different opening paragraphs to a document, each aimed at a different target audience. You would include each paragraph as its own content instance within the same content group, and then use criteria to determine when each paragraph appears in the output. Criteria enable you to control when dynamic content appears in the output. Your data then determines the content by satisfying the criteria you define. You can define criteria to control which content groups are active in your document, and which content instances in those content groups appear in the final output. For more information, see Adding Criteria to Dynamic Content. What is Static Content? Static content appears in every iteration of the document, and because its inclusion is not controlled by criteria, it does not need to be contained in a content group. For example, your company's name and address would probably be static content in your document. You add static content to your document as you would add any content to a Dreamweaver document. Static text can contain variables; although the inclusion of the text itself is static (it's always included in the output), you can use variables to make parts of the content dynamic.

30 30 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document Associating Data With Your Document Your data drives the final appearance of your document. It's critical that this data be set up correctly before you create your document to avoid potential problems when you move your document into production. You should have a data schema file and an XML file that contains the information specific for the document you are creating. These files should be accessible to the xpresso for Dreamweaver client computer. xpresso doesn t currently support multiple schema files. Schemas used in xpresso for Dreamweaver should be specific for the or HTML page you are designing, or for a group of similar s or pages. We suggest that your schema have no more than 50 elements. Using a schema with more than 50 elements may result in performance issues at design time, because of limitations in the Dreamweaver software. Ensure that your schema and XML files adhere to xpresso standards before you begin using them to create your document. XML data files that will be deployed on the server and used in publishing can t have the following characters in their names: & ^ = $ % *, /? \ + { } < > ; : Loading Your Schema Your schema is loaded into xpresso for Dreamweaver through the xpresso Data Schema panel, which enables you to work with your data schema file while creating your document.

31 31 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document To load a data schema: 1. Locate the xpresso Data Schema panel in your workspace. If the panel isn't showing, on the Dreamweaver xpresso menu, click Data Schema. Figure 17. The xpresso Data Schema panel lists the elements contained in the selected schema. 2. Click Load Schema on the xpresso Insert bar, or Load Schema on the Data Schema menu. The Load Schema dialog box appears. 3. Locate and select the XSD file that contains your schema. Click OK.

32 32 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document 4. If your schema contains more than one root element, xpresso asks which element you want to use as the root. Select the repeating element and click Apply. Figure 18. The repeating record root should be the highest level element that represents the data s repeating record. The data schema appears in the palette in a hierarchal structure. Note: The elements in the Select Root Element drop-down list are listed in alphabetical order, not in the order that the elements appear in the schema. This is a limitation imposed by Dreamweaver. 5. Click the Dreamweaver Split or Show Code View button and scroll to the bottom of the viewer window. Figure 19. You ll see that xpresso for Dreamweaver has inserted the elements from the schema you loaded. This schema structure is stored here temporarily; it will not appear in the final generated HTML.

33 33 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document Now that you have your schema loaded, you are ready to use your data while creating your document. You can access the schema fields for use in defining criteria, and you can use the fields as variables in your document. If you are ready to start creating variables, please see Using Variables. If you d rather create content groups and instances, please read on. Creating Your Content After you ve connected your data to your document, you re ready to add dynamic xpresso elements to your static documents. If you planned your document beforehand, you should know which areas are to be dynamic, and which areas will appear statically in all document output. Note: Content groups and content instances can t have HTML comments within their text. Any comments found within the text will be processed as straight text. For example: My text <!--My Comment--> Will appear in the document as: My text My Comment Creating a Content Group A content group is a container for dynamic content. Each variation of the content is contained in a content instance within the content group. Content groups can contain a single content instance or they can contain many instances. Single instance content groups contain content that has no variance, but that can be dynamically included or excluded from the document output. You should have a content group for each dynamic section of your document. You can create an empty content group, and then add your content, or you can select existing content to create a content group.

34 34 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document To create an empty content group: 1. Place your cursor on the document page in design view where you want the content group to start. 2. Click Create Content Group on the xpresso Insert bar. xpresso for Dreamweaver then: Adds a new item to the Schematic with the default name Content Group, and adds a content instance named Content Instance under the new content group representing the selected content. Adds one group and one instance xpresso tag to the HTML. Adds Group Begin and Group End markers to the page. 3. Type your content between the {Group Begin} and {Group End} tags that appear in design view. Figure 20. Ensure that your content appears between the two tags, as shown here. To create a content group using existing content: 1. Select the content that you want to include in the first instance of the content group. It is recommended that you select the content in code view, and that you include the font and paragraph tags as well. Figure 21. Selecting content to be made into a content group. 2. Click Create Content Group on the xpresso Insert bar.

35 35 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document 3. xpresso for Dreamweaver then: Adds a new item to the Schematic with the default name Content Group, and adds a content instance named Content Instance under the new content group representing the selected content. Figure 22. A new content group and instance in the Schematic. You can change these default names in the attributes area at the bottom of the Schematic panel. Adds one group and one instance xpresso tag to the HTML. Figure 23. You ll need to have Code View enabled to see these tags. Adds Group Begin and Group End markers to the page. Figure 24. Sample showing Begin and End markers.

36 36 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document Your content is now a specified content instance, contained within a content group. The content group should contain all the different versions of the content. Only one content instance in a content group should appear in a final document. Criteria placed on the content group determines if the content group should be included in the document, and then criteria placed on each content instance determines which instance appears in the output. You ll learn more about criteria in Adding Criteria to Dynamic Content. Creating a Content Instance xpresso for Dreamweaver automatically adds a content instance when you create a content group. You can create more content instances within the content group to contain alternative versions of the text. To create a content instance: 1. Select the content group in the Schematic to which you want to add the instance. 2. Click Add Content Instance on the xpresso Insert bar. 3. xpresso for Dreamweaver then: Adds a new item to the Schematic with the default name Content Instance under the content group. Figure 25. The new content instance.

37 37 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document Adds a new instance tag inside the group tag to the HTML. Figure 26. Note how the first content instance is now commented. Adds new Group Begin and Group End markers to the page. The text from the first content instance no longer appears. Figure 27. A new, empty, instance in design view. 4. In Code View, place you cursor as shown here, then add your new content. Figure 28. Place the cursor as shown in the highlighted area here.

38 38 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document 5. When you re done, you ll have something that looks like this. Figure 29. This example shows the newly added instance in the code view, design view, and in the Schematic. Add as many content instances as you need to any content group. Remember, only one instance from a content group should appear in the final output. Adding Criteria to Dynamic Content Once you ve started creating your dynamic content, you ll need to add the criteria to control its inclusion in the document output. Note: You ll need to have your data schema loaded into xpresso for Dreamweaver before you can define criteria. For more information, see Your Document Content. For each content group, you can specify On/Off criteria that determines whether the content group is considered for inclusion in the document output. In addition, you can define If-Else or Switch criteria to determine which content item in the content group appears in the output.

39 39 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document Switch criteria can be used when you have content items that should appear when a single data field contains a specific value. For example, say you have content that differs depending on the geographical region that the recipient lives in. You can define Switch criteria for that content group by selecting the field, such as Region, and then specifying the values that should trigger each content instance, such as southwest, northeast, south, and so on. Switch criteria is selected and defined at the content group level. For more complicated criteria requirements, you can use If-Else criteria. If-Else enables you to build an expression that is used to determine when a content instance should appear. In your expression, you can use Boolean logic, and compare variables to fields or values. You can define an expression for each content instance within the content group. If-Else criteria is selected at the content group level, but the criteria is defined at the content instance level. Note: If you delete the criteria logic associated with an item, you can t undo the deletion. Defining On/Off Criteria If you have a content group that may not be used in every document, you can turn it on or off for specific output with On/Off criteria. For example, if you have content that is only valid for recipients in the state of California, you would specify On/Off criteria to turn the content group off so it won t be considered for inclusion, if the state value in the data is not equal to California.

40 40 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document To define On/Off criteria: 1. Select the content group in the Schematic. The content group's information appears in the attributes area, at the bottom of the Schematic panel. Figure 30. For content group properties, you can change the name or selection type of the content group, or define selection logic or On/Off criteria. 2. Click the browse button next to the ON/OFF field. The On/Off Criteria dialog box appears. Figure 31. The On/Off Criteria dialog box enables you to build an expression that defines the criteria for inclusion of an item. 3. Click Add Row, then create your criteria expression. To add a variable: Click the browse button next to Variable to open the Select Variable dialog box. Select the variable you want to add from the list and click OK. To add an operator: Select an operator from the Is drop-down list.

41 41 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document To add a value: Click Value and type the value in the text box. To add a field: Click Field, and then click the browse button to open the Select Variable dialog box. Select the variable you want to add from the list and click OK. Click the (, ), AND, and OR buttons to add the appropriate operators to your expression. Note: If you are comparing date values, the value must be in YYYY-MM-DD format. 4. Click Insert to add the criteria expression to the list. 5. (Optional) Click Clear Row to clear the contents of the selected row, or click Clear All to clear the contents of all the rows in the dialog box. 6. Click OK when you are done defining your criteria expression and you ll return to the Variable Definition panel. 7. Click Save on the Variable Definition panel to add the expression. Defining Switch Criteria If you have a single field in your data that contains values used to control the inclusion of content, you can specify a Switch criteria. A Switch criteria is a simple true or false test, either the value matches and the content instance is included, or the value doesn t match and the instance isn t included. You can define one of the content instances as the default instance, which will appear in the output if all of the other instances fail to satisfy the criteria. Switch criteria are completely setup at the content group level. Only string fields can contain null values for Switch criteria. Here is how xpresso for Dreamweaver resolves string Switch criteria: If the field value is null: Show the first instance with an empty field value. If no field value is empty, show the instance specified as the default. If there is no default instance, turn off the content group.

42 42 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document If the field value is not null: Show the first instance whose field value matches the data s field value. If no instance matches, show the instance specified as the default. If there is no default instance, turn off the content group. For non-string fields, the content instance field value must be the same type as the data field value. For non-string fields, xpresso for Dreamweaver resolves switch criteria in this way: Show the first instance whose field value matches the data s field value. If no instance matches, show the instance specified as the default. If there is no default instance, turn off the content group. To define Switch criteria: 1. Select the content group in the Schematic. The content group s information appears in the xpresso Schematic Attribute area, at the bottom of the Schematic panel. 2. Select Simple Switch from the Selection Type drop-down list. 3. Click the browse button next to the Logic field. The Switch Condition dialog box appears. Figure 32. The Switch Condition dialog box enables you to select a field variable and then define the values for inclusion for each content item.

43 43 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document 4. Click the browse button next to Variable. The Select Variable dialog box appears. 5. Select the field that you want to use to control the inclusion of this content and click OK. 6. Type the value next to each content instance that should appear in the selected field in order for that content instance to be included in the output. 7. (Optional) Select the check box to the right of the value box to define that content instance as the default instance. You can only define one instance as the default. 8. Click Insert. Repeat Steps 4-8 for each instance. 9. Click OK. Defining If-Else Criteria If your criteria needs to be more than a simple true or false switch test, use an If-Else criteria and define a condition expression. In the If-Else expression, you can select variables to compare to a value or a field, and use Boolean operators to combine criteria statements. To define your criteria: 1. Select the content group in the Schematic. The content group's information appears in the xpresso Schematic Attribute area, at the bottom of the Schematic panel. Figure 33. For content group properties, you can change the name or selection type of the content group, or define selection logic or On/Off criteria. 2. Select Multiple If-Else from the Selection Type drop-down list.

44 44 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document 3. Select a content instance within the content group for which you want to define criteria. The content instance s information appears in the xpresso Schematic Attribute area, at the bottom of the Schematic panel. Figure 34. For content instance properties, you can change the name of the instance, or you can define selection logic. 4. Click the browse button next to the Logic field. The If-Else Expression dialog box appears. Figure 35. The If-Else Expression dialog box enables you to build an expression that defines the criteria for inclusion of an item. 5. Click Add Row, then create your criteria expression. To add a variable: Click the browse button under Variable to open the Select Variable dialog box. Select the variable you want to add from the list and click OK. To add an operator: Select an operator from the Is drop-down list: Equal (=), Greater than or Equal (>=), Less than or Equal (<=), Not Equal (<>), Less than (<), Greater than (>).

45 45 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document To add a value: Click Value and type the value in the text box. To add a field: Click Field, and then click the browse button to open the Select Variable dialog box. Select the variable you want to add from the list and click OK. Click the (, ), AND, and OR buttons to add the appropriate operators to your expression. Note: If you are comparing date values, the value must be in YYYY-MM-DD format. 6. Click Insert to add the criteria expression to the list. 7. (Optional) Click Clear Row to clear the contents of the selected row, or click Clear All to clear the contents of all the rows in the dialog box. 8. Click OK when you are done defining your criteria expression and you ll return to the Variable Definition panel. 9. Click Save on the Variable Definition panel to add the expression. 10. Repeat for each content instance in the content group. Editing Existing Criteria If you need to make changes to existing criteria, you can edit the criteria. To edit existing criteria: 1. Select the item in the xpresso Schematic that contains the criteria you want to edit. 2. Click the browse button next to the Logic field for If-Else or Switch criteria, or the On/Off field for On/Off criteria. The On/Off Criteria, Switch Condition, or If-Else Expression dialog box appears. 3. Make your changes to the criteria expression. 4. Click OK.

46 46 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document Building Dynamic Tables Dynamic tables are a great visual way to include information in your document, in an easy-to-read format. Dynamic tables grow and shrink according to the amount of data to be displayed, and have a different number of rows for each record in your data. There are two ways to include a dynamic table in your document: Use an array to create a table variable. Create a static table in Dreamweaver and applying content loops to the rows. Using a table variable is a simple and effective way to add a table to your document. Table variables are good to use when your data structure matches closely the rows and columns you want in your table. You can select and re-order columns to make them appear as you want them too. All the values in your variable data show up in the table. All the data in your table variable must come from the same parent data field. Creating a table in Dreamweaver, and then assigning content loops to rows to populate the table gives you more control over the format and content flow. You can choose which fields go into which columns or rows (since you can loop on multiple rows). You can also include data that may not be in the same parent data field in the same table, since you can create multiple loops in a table. In a sense it enables you to map fields that may be in a different order and in different rows into a table structure for publishing. For more information about creating table variables, see Arrays. For more information about creating a dynamic table using a Dreamweaver table and content loops, read on. Creating a Content Loop If you have information in your data that you want to loop through to create content in your document, you can add a content loop in xpresso for Dreamweaver. A content loop enables you to select rows of a table and create a content loop to populate those rows.

47 47 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document The first step in using table content loops to create a dynamic table is to add a table to your document using Dreamweaver table functionality. Once your table is placed in the correct location on the document page, you can start adding the variables to the table that will populate the table cells with data. Then you can select a row, or multiple rows, and assign a content loop. You can have multiple rows in one content loop, and you can have multiple content loops in your table. To create a content loop dynamic table: 1. Place a table in your document using the Insert Table command on the Dreamweaver Table menu. The Insert Table dialog box appears. Figure 36. The basis for your dynamic table is a Dreamweaver table. 2. Select the number of body rows you need to create your loop, or loops. You don t need to have enough rows in your table to accommodate the generated data, xpresso for Dreamweaver will add rows as need for all the data. Select the number of columns, and header and footer rows. Figure 37. This is an example of a basic table in Design view.

48 48 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document 3. Place the cursor in the first cell of the third row and click Insert Text Variable. Figure 38. Select the variable that you want to loop from the array. 4. Place variables from the Variable Definition panel into the appropriate cells in the table. Figure 39. Here we have added variables to our static table. 5. Add your column headers, and any footers that you need to your table. Once you have the headers and variable content laid out in your table to your satisfaction, you are ready to create the table content loop, or loops. Figure 40. Here we ve added column headers to our table.

49 49 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document 6. Select the row, or multiple rows, that you want included in the loop. Figure 41. This shows the selection of a row that we want to loop. 7. Click Add Content Loop and select the variable array that you want associated with the loop. Figure 42. Select the variable array that contains the data that will populate your selected table rows. 8. Switch to Code View and note how xpresso has added a loop tag inside the HTML table tag. Figure 43. An xpresso loop tag in place.

50 50 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document 9. Test your table by applying some data. Click the Variable Definition menu and select Apply Variable Data. Select a data file and click Load. Figure 44. Click Load to resolve you document. The page will appear in a new tab in Dreamweaver. 10. Your table should be expanded and populated with data from your data file. Figure 45. This is the sample table populated with variable data. Contrast this table to the type of table created from an array, and you ll begin to see some of the flexibility an xpresso content loop can offer.

51 51 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document Packaging Your Document Before a document can be published through xdashboard, it must be packaged on the xpresso for Dreamweaver client computer, and saved to a location accessible from the xprs Server. After the document resides on the server, you can publish the document. You can t make any changes to the document on the server. If you have to change your document, you must make the change in xpresso for Dreamweaver, repackage it, and then deploy the updated version in xdashboard. For more information on document deployment, see the xdashboard User Guide. An xprs document package contains all the information necessary for the xprs publishing engine to publish the document, including the HTML document, assembly logic, the schema, a thumbnail of the document, and a few other files required by the publishing engine. To package a document: 1. Open the document in xpresso for Dreamweaver. 2. On the xpresso insert bar, click Create Package. The Create xprs package dialog box appears. 3. Navigate to the directory where you want to store your package. This directory should be accessible from the xprs Server. If it isn t, you'll need to move the package file to a directory that is accessible before you can deploy it on the server and publish it. 4. Type a file name for your package. Package file names can t contain the following characters: & ^ = $ % *, /? \ + { } < > ; :

52 52 Chapter 3 - Creating an xpresso Document 5. Click OK. Once the packaging process completes, your document is ready for deployment on the xprs Server, where it can be published through xdashboard. Figure 46. You ll get this message if your package was created successfully. 6. xpresso for Dreamweaver automatically runs its tag validation utility when you create a package. If it encounters an error, you ll receive this message. For more information, see xpresso Tag Validation. Figure 47. Follow the troubleshooting information in this message to correct the error.

53 53 Chapter 4 Using Variables Adding variables and variable arrays to your document enables you to control the content, tables, and images that are included in the output you create. This kind of flexibility allows you to personalize each document for the intended recipient. You can streamline your message to include information pertinent only to the specific individual receiving the document. This chapter includes these topics: A Little Bit About Variables Working With Variables Placing Image Variables in Your Document Working With Variable Hyperlinks Arrays Creating Variable Expressions Viewing Variable Data in Your Document

54 54 Chapter 4 - Using Variables A Little Bit About Variables Variables are created and stored in the Variable Definition panel. The Variable Definition panel works together with the Data Schema panel and enables you to create and define text and image variables, and arrays for use in your document. Arrays can be used when creating table variables, content loops, and page loops. You can create a variable from scratch, or if you simply want to use a schema data field as your variable, you can easily create a variable by selecting the field. You can also include calculations in your variables by using functions and building expressions. To use a variable in your document, you must first create it, define it, and then place it on the document page. Working With Variables Variables are created in the Variable Definition panel, and can be either text or image based. Text variables are used to insert personal information into your document, such as the recipient s name and address. Figure 48. This figures shows text variables as they appear in the Schematic, and on the document page.

55 55 Chapter 4 - Using Variables Text variables can be Numeric (Float, Double, Boolean, Decimal), Data, Time, DateTime, or String. Date, Time, and DateTime fields must appear in your data in a certain format: Date: yyyy-mm-dd (for example: ) Time: hh:mm:ss (for example: 11:22:50) DateTime: yyyy-mm-ddthh:mm:ss (for example: T03:15:30) Note: If the data type for your variable is numeric, its value can t be null. If you try to apply data to your document that contains a null value for a numeric type variable, xpresso for Dreamweaver generates an error. Images used in graphic-rich s are typically stored in a location on a Web server. Image variables enable you to include an external image in your document, which can differ depending on the data. Your data contains the image name and path, the image variable pulls the image from the path defined in the data, and places it on the document page. Creating Variables You can create text and image variables in either of two ways. You can use a data field from your schema as your variable starting point, or your can create a variable from scratch: If you want to use a data field in your schema as a starting point, simply select the field in the Data Schema panel, click the Variable Definition menu and select Define Variable from Schema. If you are creating an image variable, ensure that the field you select contains the path information for the image. The variable appears in the Variable Definition panel with the same name of the data field. Note: If you select a data field in the Data Schema panel, and then select a blank area of the panel to clear your selection, the panel will still consider the field selected until you select a new field. Ensure that you have the correct field in the Data Schema panel selected before you create a variable in the Variable Definition panel.

56 56 Chapter 4 - Using Variables If you want to create a variable from scratch, click the Variable Definition menu and select Define Variable. A variable appears at the bottom of the Variable Definition panel named New Variable. You will define the content of the variable in the next step. Defining Variable Attributes After you create the text or image variable in the Variable Definition panel, you can use the variable properties area at the bottom of the panel to define the variable s attributes. To define your variable: 1. Select the variable in the Variable Definition panel. The variable s information appears in the variable properties area. 2. Type a name for the variable in the Name field, if necessary. Note: Once you use a variable in your document, or in criteria, you can t change the variable s name. 3. Select the value type for this variable from the drop-down list. Figure 49. Choose a value type from the list. 4. Select the mapping type for this variable: Schema Field, or Expression.

57 57 Chapter 4 - Using Variables 5. Click the browse button next to the Mapping field. If you selected Schema Field in Step 4, the Select Schema Field dialog box appears. Select the data schema that you want to use to populate this variable, and click OK. Skip to Step 7. Figure 50. The Select Schema field dialog box lists all the fields in your schema.

58 58 Chapter 4 - Using Variables If you selected Expression in Step 4, the Variable Expression dialog box appears. Figure 51. The Variable Expression dialog box contains tools and options to help you construct an expression for your variable. 6. Type your expression in the box at the top of the dialog box. To help you create your expression, you can: Select a function type to see the functions that are available. Click a function in the list to see a description of the function in the box at the bottom of the dialog box. Double-click a function in the list to have it appear in the expression box where you can edit it. Click Select Schema Field to select a field from your schema to use in your expression. Click Verify to verify that the expression is valid. 7. Click OK when you are done creating your expression. For more information, see Creating Variable Expressions.

59 59 Chapter 4 - Using Variables Placing Text Variables in Your Document To get a text variable from the Variable Definition panel to your document you ll be using the Insert Text Variable button on the xpresso insert bar. The variable appears on the page at the location of the cursor, and also appears in the Schematic. To place a text variable: 1. Place your cursor on the document page in the location where you want the variable to appear. 2. Click Insert Text Variable. 3. Select the appropriate variable from the Variable Definition panel and click OK. 4. The variable appears in the Schematic under the Global Variable Folder, and on the document page at the location of the cursor. Placing Image Variables in Your Document To get an image variable from the Variable Definition panel to your document you ll be using the Insert Image Variable button on the xpresso insert bar. To place an image variable: 1. Place your cursor on the document page in the location where you want the variable to appear. 2. Click Insert Image Variable. Figure 52. The Insert Image Variable dialog box enables you select the image variable that you want to place in the document.

60 60 Chapter 4 - Using Variables 3. Click the browse button, then select the variable you want associated with the image variable. Figure 53. Ensure that you select the variable that contains the path to the image. 4. Click OK. The variable appears in the Link field. Figure 54. An example of a selected image variable. 5. Click OK. 6. An image placeholder icon appears on the page, and code similar to what s shown here is placed in the HTML. Figure 55. An example of image variable code.

61 61 Chapter 4 - Using Variables Defining a Variable as a Document Property You can associate an existing variable to a document property within your document, which you can then define later as an output variable on the xprs Server. Ensure that any variables you associate with a document property resolve to values that will be unique for each record in the data file. If a value is not unique, and you use it in an output file naming convention, you risk creating duplicate file names, which will generate an error. Also make sure that the value doesn t include any of these characters: \, /, :, *,?,, <, >,. To define a variable as a document property: 1. On the xpresso Insert bar, click Document Property. The Document Property dialog box appears. Figure 56. If you need to remove an existing property, select it and click Remove. 2. In the Name field, type the name of the document property you are defining. Tip: You ll need to remember this name for publishing, or communicate it to the person doing the publishing. There is no list in xdashboard to choose the document property from. To use the property in the xdashboard file naming template, you must type {$PropertyName}. For more information, see the xprs xdashboard User Guide.

62 62 Chapter 4 - Using Variables 3. Click the browse button next to Value to open the xpresso Variable Definition dialog box. Figure 57. This dialog box displays the variables contained in the document. 4. Select the variable that you want to associate with your document property and click OK. 5. The variable appears in the Document Property Value box. Click Insert. Figure 58. Once you click Insert, the new document property appears in the list. 6. Click Save. The document property will now be available to you on the xprs Server.

63 63 Chapter 4 - Using Variables Working With Variable Hyperlinks xpresso for Dreamweaver enables you to create hyperlinks that contain variables. You can add variables to create links to such things as dynamically generated Web sites or PDF files. Placing Variable Hyperlinks in Your Document To place a variable hyperlink in your document you ll be using the Insert Hyperlink Variable button on the xpresso insert bar. To place a variable hyperlink: 1. Place your cursor on the document page in the location where you want the hyperlink to appear. 2. Click Insert Hyperlink Variable. Figure 59. The Insert HyperLink Variable dialog box enables you to define the link for the variable, and the text that you want to appear on the document page for the link. 3. Type the link text for the hyperlink. This could be the URL to a web site. You can also add variables in the link text, such as a customer number that would complete the link to a customized web site. To add a variable, click the browse button next to the Link field, then select the variable you want added to the link. For example, this link opens a customized web page identified by the UniqueID variable in the data:

64 64 Chapter 4 - Using Variables 4. In the Title field, type the text that you want to appear as a hyperlink in the document. Figure 60. This shows a completed hyperlink variable definition. 5. Click OK. The text you typed in the Title field appears on the page like this,, and code similar to what s shown here is placed in the HTML. Figure 61. An example of a hyperlink variable in code view.

65 65 Chapter 4 - Using Variables Arrays An array is a parent data field that contains child fields (called array items). You can create an array directly from a parent field in your data schema, or you can create one from scratch, and include fields that appear any where in the schema to be array items of the array. This enables you to create an array using fields that appear in different areas of the schema. Arrays can be used as table variables, and to drive content loops. When you place an array on the page, xpresso for Dreamweaver always creates a table in the document with the information contained in the array s child fields. Figure 62. Here is a table variable as it appears in the Schematic, and on the document page. Once you place a table variable, you can format the table for better visual appeal using Dreamweaver s table formatting options.

66 66 Chapter 4 - Using Variables Creating Arrays You can create an array in either of two ways. You can use a parent data field from your schema as your variable starting point, or your can create the array from scratch: If you want to use a parent data field in your schema as an array, simply select the field in the Data Schema panel, click the Variable Definition menu and select Define Array from Schema. The variable appears in the Variable Definition panel with the same name as the parent data field. If you want to add a child field to your array, select the child field in the Data Schema panel, and then select the array in the Variable Definition panel. Click the Variable Definition menu, and select Define Array Item from Schema. A new item appears under the array with the same name as the selected child field. If you want to create an array from scratch, click the Variable Definition menu and select Define Array. An array appears at the bottom of the Variable Definition panel named New Variable. If you want to add a child field to your array, select the array in the Variable Definition panel, click the Variable Definition menu, and select Define Array Item. A new item appears under the array named New Item. Defining Your Array Attributes After you create an array in the Variable Definition panel, you can use the variable properties area at the bottom of the panel to define the attributes of the array. To define your array: 1. Select the array in the Variable Definition panel. The information appears in the variable properties area. 2. Type a name for the array in the Name field, if necessary. 3. Click the browse button next to the Mapping field. The Select Schema Field dialog box appears. Select the parent data field that you want to use to populate this variable, and click OK.

67 67 Chapter 4 - Using Variables Defining Your Array Item Attributes After you create an array item in the Variable Definition panel, you can use the variable properties area at the bottom of the panel to define the attributes of the item. To define your array item: 1. Select the array item in the Variable Definition panel. The information appears in the variable properties area. 2. Type a name for the array item in the Name field, if necessary. 3. Select the value type for this variable from the drop-down list. Figure 63. Choose a value type from the list. 4. Select the mapping type for this array item: Schema Field, or Expression. Figure 64. Choose Schema Field or Expression.

68 68 Chapter 4 - Using Variables 5. Click the browse button next to the Mapping field. If you selected Schema Field in the previous step, the xpresso Schema Field dialog box appears. Figure 65. Select the data schema that you want to use to populate this array item, and click OK. If you selected Expression in the previous step, the Variable Expression dialog box appears. Figure 66. The Variable Expression dialog box contains tools and options to help you construct an expression for your array item.

69 69 Chapter 4 - Using Variables 6. Type your expression in the box at the top of the dialog box. To help you create your expression, you can: Select a function type to see the functions that are available. Click a function in the list to see a description of the function in the box at the bottom of the dialog box. Click Select Schema Field to select a field from your schema to use in your expression. Click Verify to verify that the expression is valid. Click OK when you are done creating your expression. For more information, see Creating Variable Expressions. Placing Table Variables in Your Document Now that you have created and defined an array, you can place it in your document and create a table variable. To place an array as a table variable: 1. Place your cursor on the page in the location where you want the table to appear. 2. Click Add Content Table. 3. Select an array from the Variable Definition panel and click OK. 4. The variable appears in the Schematic, and the table appears on the document page at the location of the cursor. Figure 67. A table variable as it appears on the document page.

70 70 Chapter 4 - Using Variables 5. You can use Dreamweaver s full array of HTML table formatting tools to modify the table to meet your requirements. 6. Switch to Code View and note how xpresso has added a loop tag inside the HTML table tag. Figure 68. An xpresso loop tag in place. Creating Variable Expressions When you create a variable or an array item, you have the option of selecting an existing data field, or defining an expression to be associated with it. Having the option to define an expression means you can have your variable represent much more than just a data field. You can compare data fields, you can do calculations, and you can use functions and have the result appear in your document output. This gives you a lot of flexibility. All expressions are created in the Variable Expression dialog box (shown in Figure 69 on page 71), which you can access by selecting Expression for the Mapping Type of the variable, and then clicking the browse button next to Mapping in the variable attributes area.

71 71 Chapter 4 - Using Variables Figure 69. The Variable Expression dialog box contains tools and options to help you construct an expression for your variable. The box at the top is where you construct your expression. You can include schema fields and functions in your expression, and use the following Boolean operators: > (greater than), < (less than), >= (greater than or equal to), <= (less than or equal to), and!= (not equal to). Expressions should be defined in one of the following formats: if((3-2)!=(5-8)) return true; else return false; if(xpath("/root/campaign/fullname")=="abc") return false; else return true; Or, you can input true or false as a Boolean value. The following example is not valid: (3-2)!=(5-8)

72 72 Chapter 4 - Using Variables Note: If your expression is longer than what fits on the first line of the variable expression box, the expression will not break to the next line, and you will only be able to see the part of the expression that fits on the first line. The entire expression will be processed. You can also perform the following calculations in your expression: integer + integer, float, or double integer - integer, float, or double integer * integer, float or double integer / float or double integer % float or double float + float or double float - float or double float * float or double float / float or double float % float or double double + double double - double double * double double % double string + string Note: You must type an f along with any float value you are using in a calculation. For example: Xpath( /Power/Pay/Price )*0.15f-(1.0f/3.0f)*1600 Schema Fields To include a schema field in your expression, click Select Schema Field and select the field from the Select Schema Field dialog box. The selected field appears in the box with this format: Xpath("/DataPath/FieldName") You can then add an operator if you wish. For example, to create a variable called TotalAmountDue, we might specify: Xpath("/Power/Pay/BalanceForward")+Xpath("/Power/Pay/AmtDue")

73 73 Chapter 4 - Using Variables Functions To include a function in your expression, first click a radio button to see the functions that are available: Number Functions, Logic Functions, Group Functions, String Functions, or Datetime Functions. You can click on a function in the list to see a description of the function at the bottom of the dialog box. Double-click a function in the list and it appears in the expression box where you can edit it. For example: addday( datetime_or_date_value, numeric_value ) Select each argument and replace it by selecting a schema field or by typing a value. For example, to create a variable called DatePastDue, we might specify: addday(xpath("/power/genlinfo/datedue"), 7) For more information on the individual functions available, see Expression Functions. Verifying Your Expression Once you complete your expression, you should verify it to ensure that it will work, and that it is a valid expression. To verify your expression, click Verify. A message appears on the dialog box under the expression box to let you know the verification results.

74 74 Chapter 4 - Using Variables Viewing Variable Data in Your Document You can apply variable data to your document so that you can see how your document works and looks using real data. The variable data will not only populate your variables, but will also satisfy criteria that controls the inclusion of your dynamic content. This enables you to test the dynamic and variable parts of your document. Applying data to your entire document is done through the Variable Definition panel. To load a variable data file: 1. Click the Variable Definition menu and select Apply Variable Data. 2. Browse and select the variable data file and click Open. Figure 70. Use the scrolling arrows to move through the records in the data file.

75 75 Chapter 4 - Using Variables 3. Use the scrolling arrows to choose a record and click Load. The variables shown in the image below will be replaced as shown in Figure 72. Figure 71. The highlighted variables will be replaced with customer data. 4. xpresso for Dreamweaver applies the selected variable data file to your document and displays it in a new tab in your work space. Figure 72. The same document after data application. Note how the Flight Recommendation table has expanded. Note: When applying variable data to a document, Dreamweaver closes all of the xpresso panels. When you re finished, you ll need to reopen them from the xpresso menu.

76 76 Chapter 4 - Using Variables Using the Send Utility xpresso for Dreamweaver enables you to further test your prototype documents to use your system to send test messages. Figure 73. The Send configuration dialog box. The Send dialog box contains these settings. Field From Address To Address Reply to Subject Definition Your address, or the address of the entity sending the message. The address of your intended recipient. If you want the recipient to reply to a different address than the one given in the From Address field, enter it here. The title of the message. This text will appear in the Subject column of most programs.