Data driven graphics in CS4?

Hi guys, i recently upgraded to CS4 (been on V.8!)
What is the equivalent to the old data driven graphics wizard by joseph lowery - this command was soooo useful!
I have a feeling that there's something much more complicated to learn to get the same effect - i.e. drawing data from an xml file and creating a set of images / pages / pdfs based upon the data set.
any tips much appreciated

It seems as if the output has an ASCII order. Perhaps a prefix on the template layers will help.

Similar Messages

  • Question on Data Driven Graphics (non-English)

    I am trying Data Driven Graphics with Illustrator CS4 on Win.
    The program works fine with English XML data, however when I try other non-English language, Illustrator cannot show characters like é,è,ë.
    The data is in XML UTF-8 encoding.
    Anyone could help?
    Thanks,
    Wallace428

    I am trying Data Driven Graphics with Illustrator CS4 on Win.
    The program works fine with English XML data, however when I try other non-English language, Illustrator cannot show characters like é,è,ë.
    The data is in XML UTF-8 encoding.
    Anyone could help?
    Thanks,
    Wallace428

  • (CS5-MAC) Data Merge and Data Driven Graphics

    Apologies in advance if this is slightly off topic, but I need some opinions and insight here.
    I've been using InDesign since its creation and have recently been pushing the Data Merge feature of ID to its limits. My colecandoo blog highlights some of what I have achieved.
    However, there are some things which the Data Merge cannot do, such as warping live text which can be done in Photoshop or Illustrator. But, I've recently learnt of the term "Data Driven Graphics" and that Photoshop and Illustrator handle both. Photoshop accepts txt/csv files and appears to be relatively workable, whereas Illustrator accepts XML which I can't get to work at all and it is frustrating me.
    So here are my questions. I know the answer to some of these will most likely be "no" but if i don't ask, i'll never find out.
    is there a way to integrate the Data Merge feature of InDesign with the data driven graphics feature of illustrator or photoshop WITHOUT scripting (e.g. something I may have missed)?
    If scripting is the only option, is anyone out there actually doing what i'm trying to do, or know of any resources out there that i can look at?
    is there a way to make the user unfriendly DDG feature in illustrator actually reference a txt/csv file rather than an XML file? Because I'm working on a Mac, making XML from excel is like putting marshmallows in a piggy bank (e.g. messy and ineffective).
    what kind of images can InDesign's Data Merge reference? does it extend to other indesign files or incopy files?
    I know there are third party products which can do the above (e.g. XMPie or DirectSmile), but i'm trying to get as much value as i can from the Creative Suite purely off-the-shelf.
    here's hoping
    colly

    >Because I'm working on a Mac, making XML from excel is like putting marshmallows in a piggy bank (e.g. messy and ineffective).
    It should be easy, shouldn't it? I found that running the Excel file through Filemaker made valid XML files easily. Import worksheet, export records as XML.
    Can't help you with the rest of it.

  • Data-driven graphics error

    I'm trying to use the data-driven graphics wizard for a card
    game some friends and I are creating. Each card has 9 text
    variables and 2 image variables. When I run the wizard, it finds
    all the variables just fine, but after properly processing one
    variable (actually, we've gotten both images to load, but it dies
    after one text), it stops, saves the file as is, and tells us:
    An error occurred.
    An error occurred.
    or
    An error occured.
    Incorrect parameter.
    ...Useful stuff huh? Here's the source if anyone wants to try
    this and investigate the mystery of the crashing graphics wizard:
    template:
    http://www.freewebtown.com/PhireNexus/ImpRome/template.png
    xml:
    http://www.freewebtown.com/PhireNexus/ImpRome/cards.xml
    We noticed that on the variable-pairing screen, there's an
    extra blank variable (it just is blank, no name, but it does exist)
    on the xml side. Otherwise, this whole thing is irregularity-free.
    Very frustrating stuff.
    -----edit-----
    Apparently having symbols in the template was causing the
    error. Who knows why...

    I'm trying to use the data-driven graphics wizard for a card
    game some friends and I are creating. Each card has 9 text
    variables and 2 image variables. When I run the wizard, it finds
    all the variables just fine, but after properly processing one
    variable (actually, we've gotten both images to load, but it dies
    after one text), it stops, saves the file as is, and tells us:
    An error occurred.
    An error occurred.
    or
    An error occured.
    Incorrect parameter.
    ...Useful stuff huh? Here's the source if anyone wants to try
    this and investigate the mystery of the crashing graphics wizard:
    template:
    http://www.freewebtown.com/PhireNexus/ImpRome/template.png
    xml:
    http://www.freewebtown.com/PhireNexus/ImpRome/cards.xml
    We noticed that on the variable-pairing screen, there's an
    extra blank variable (it just is blank, no name, but it does exist)
    on the xml side. Otherwise, this whole thing is irregularity-free.
    Very frustrating stuff.
    -----edit-----
    Apparently having symbols in the template was causing the
    error. Who knows why...

  • Deleting extra layers generated by data-driven graphics?

    I have about 1600 PSD files that I generated using data-driven graphics. They each contain one pixel layer and eleven text layers.
    The number of text layers with actual content varies. My original set of data looked something like the following in Excel:
    001.jpg     A     B     C
    002.jpg     A     D     E     F
    003.jpg     B     G
    004.jpg     A     C     G     H     I     J     K
    005.jpg     F     L     M
    And so on. All files have content in at least two text layers, some have all eleven with content.
    I discovered right away that Photoshop would not import a data set with blank fields for some text layers, there must be actual text for each text variable. So my Excel VBA script (where I combined spreadsheets to create my data set file) added a period to each otherwise empty cell.
    This made my data set look like:
    001.jpg     A     B     C     .     .     .     .
    002.jpg     A     D     E     F     .     .     .
    003.jpg     B     G     .     .     .     .     .
    004.jpg     A     C     G     H     I     J     K
    005.jpg     F     L     M     .     .     .     .
    Photoshop was then happy, imported the data set, and created a folder full of graphics. However, I'm now left with a bunch of files that have a bunch of dots on them. I'm looking for a way (script or macro?) to delete these extra text layers.
    Ideally this script could batch process a folder full of files, parsing each text layer and deleting the ones with just a period character.
    I'm also fine with regenerating the files if there is a way to not create the unneeded text layers in the first place. I thought about using a visibility variable but the layers would still be there, just hidden. I'm not sure how much that helps me.
    I'm a Mac guy but stuck using Windows 7 Pro at work. I have the latest version of Photoshop CC, and some experience with C-like programming languages, so I can handle simple VB or JavaScript hacking if needed.
    Any ideas or suggestions or sample code? TIA for the help.

    Well since nobody had ideas, I spent some time with the PS scripting documentation. I was also able to find a sample script linked from John Nack's blog to start with. This is actually pretty simple, although switching back and forth from VB to JS is a pain (= in VB, == in JS as an example.)
    Presumably this could test for different conditions such as font, or could use a regular expression to find specific text.
    main();
    function main() {
        if ( app.documents.length > 0 )
        removeExtraTextLayers(app.activeDocument);
    //start at index (length-1) to avoid background layer, top layer is index 0
    function removeExtraTextLayers(obj){
            for( var i = obj.artLayers.length-1; 0 <= i; i--) {
            try {
            if (obj.artLayers[i].kind == LayerKind.TEXT && obj.artLayers[i].textItem.contents == ".")
                obj.artLayers[i].remove();
            catch (e) {

  • Fireworks CS6 Data Driven Graphics Wizard

    Does anyone have a solution for Data Driven Graphics Wizard not working in fireworks? It did work at one point in CS6 however after some updates it will no longer merge any text. Maybe I am doing something wrong but I don't believe so as I am using all of the same files that I had previously merged.

    Ask in the FW forum. I haven't used it since version 3 or so...
    Mylenium

  • CS5 - Can't find Data Driven Graphic Wizard

    I just move to CS5 from CS3, is that the DDGW function being cancelled? cause I can't find it from the menu bar and the offline help manual.
    Thanks

    Hello!,
    I just wanted to share with you all that today I needed that data-driven merge wizard. I'm using CS4. The Extension Manager showed it activated but it was not ( I didn't appear under the Commands menu). I unchecked the activation checkmark. Then I closed fireworks and the extension manager. I launched Extension Manager again, enabling the data-driven merge wizard, and now Fireworks shows it under the Command menu.

  • Data driven graphics - output not in layer order(with files added)

    Hi All
    I am using CS3 Fireworks, making numbers on small icon button with different text and graphics.
    xml table is prepared.
    I made a Fireworks template file with text/image variables in single layer, order as below:
    Top
    Text var.(button name)
    image var.(icon graphic)
    image var.(button background graphic)
    then run the wizard and the output becomes:
    Top
    image var.(button background  graphic)
    Text var.(button name)
    image var.(icon graphic)
    The swop image include auto shape vector graphics, bitmap(PNG),
    I tried using vectors with live filter but doesn't work, so flattened to bitmap(PNG)
    is there any method to keep the output as preferred orders? Please help.

    It seems as if the output has an ASCII order. Perhaps a prefix on the template layers will help.

  • Creating data-driven graphics

    This question was posted in response to the following article: http://help.adobe.com/en_US/photoshop/cs/using/WSfd1234e1c4b69f30ea53e41001031ab64-7417a.h tml

    I am not sure I can understand what exactly is going on. Maybe solution is to change Pixel Replacement Method to As Is if you have images you want to use for replacement at exact size. Another replacement method is Fill which will scale up or down image with constraining original proportions until both sides fills available space what can result that one side of image extends beyond boundaries of available space on layer to which is assigned variable. Fit method will scale images up or down with constrain original proportions until both sides of image fits into available space (in other words every part of image must be visible inside available space) what ussualy results with image for replacement to be smaller (this depend on difference in proportions of layer with variable and replacement image). Fourth method is Conform which can distort images, it will scale images to fill space without to constrain original proportions.
    See screenshots which points where to click to change pixel replacement method.
    Message was edited by: Bojan Živković
    Message was edited by: Bojan Živković
    Message was edited by: Bojan Živković

  • Rich Internet / Data driven Web App 's  -  Which sdk and Plugins Please???

    Hi, I am starting Bournemouth University in September and will be learning java, I have wanted to build rich internet applications for years and am really excited!!
    I would like help understanding all the different products and plugins relevant to building rich internet data driven web applications so I can install them all to my system and then follow all the online videos and tutorials.
    I have knowledge of html, css, some sql, some flash and can use photoshop and fireworks.
    So far, I love the look of the net beans console and the first thing I want to find out is how to make the screens/panels/components unique from a graphical point of view; like you can in adobe flash or Flex. I tried to install java FX but had errors (?64 bit system related)
    Also would like to know if anyone else new has the same goal as me so we can set up a group or a web site dedicated to forming a learning path, like making a list of url's of which tutorials to do in which order to best learn the basics before connecting to databases and then learning mvc frameworks for enterprise level multi user applications.
    In that respect actually, is Java SE ok for my goals or should I have installed Java EE; I think I tried to install EE version first but had options in the installer I didnt understand or errors; did it a couple of weeks ago and cant remember exactly what the issue was? Can you upgrade from one java sdk to another without effecting netbeans??
    Thanks all in advance, I hope some people will help me get started and in return I will dedicate part of my web site im about to build for uni to putting all the information gathered in one place for others.
    My system is windows 7, 64bit
    I have installed Java sdk - jdk-6u25-windows-x64
    Apache Tomcat 7.0.11
    GlassFish Server open source edition 3.1
    Netbeans IDE 7.0
    MySql Server 5.5
    MySql Workbench 5.2CE
    I also have mssql installed as I started learning this from an interactive dvd, but am assuming Oracle is the db of choice now oracle bought java. Or mySql which i installed but have never used before.
    Edited by: user13715216 on 16-Jun-2011 07:02

    First of all, stop treating this like its an Adobe product. There are no plugins okay? You have entered a very different world of development right now, one you may find you don't even like. But lets not be hasty.
    Secondly, remove everything you have installed right now.
    Okay, now you're ready to start. Now Install the Java 6 JDK AND NOTHING ELSE. It has no executable to start any fancy program, just a bunch of command line tools with which you are going to enter the wonderful and difficult world of Java programming. Pick a favorite text editor (preferably one that has syntax highlighting for Java sources) and get going. I suggest you start here:
    http://download.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/
    This will not tell you how to build web applications; this will tell you how to create Java programs using the tools that are part of the JDK. You should not be even thinking about doing any web development at all until you are intimately familiar with the language, the tools, the standard API and programming in general. That may take as little as three months, probably more given your limited experience in the realm of application programming.
    Only once you have found your way should you make an attempt to install Netbeans again and start to learn how to use that to make your life a little easier. Before Netbeans can help you help yourself, you really have to know what you are doing.
    I wish you good luck. Its good that you are excited, but I hope that excitement has not been built on top of bad assumptions and woefully inappropriate expectations. Programming is hard, application development is even harder.

  • How would I implement something similar to SSRS data driven subscriptions in CRM 2015 Online?

    Requirement: Generate Report and send specific pricing information to a list of contacts based on field value.
    I'm new to CRM, but am well versed in SSRS and I'm looking to understand:
    1. Is it possible to create something like a data driven subscription in CRM?
    Everything I've looked at is from years ago, and I'm just looking for some high level directions I can pursue in order to fulfill this requirement.
    Thanks!

    Did you notice the difference between your image and theirs. Their image has a coordinate grid. This coordinate grid can be used to determine size, location of pixels, etc...
    If you add a grid, when you process the image, find the grid, then find the coordinate markings, then find the pixels in relation to these coordinate marking creating an internal buffer of the image.
    ie: have 0=white 1=black 2=grid 3=coordinate marking and make an internall representation of your image
    011002300000
    001002201000
    011102300010
    323232232323
    222222222222
    001002310000
    000102200100
    010002301000
    Just an idea, but look into the coordinate grid it may be the key to why they can process their image.
    DeltaCoder

  • Data driven subscription query returns no data

    We have a data driven subscription on SSRS 2008 R2. The columns in the query are tied to one or more parameters of the report. When we run the subscription and if the query does not return any rows, I was hoping that the subscription will not start; however,
    instead, to my surprise, I got error stating..."Parameter XYZ value can't be null". How to avoid this error and keep subscription from running in this situation? 
    Example: I have a report that required employeeID as a parameter. I have a query (step 3: data driven subscription) that fetches employee ID based on some criteria. If there is no row returned by the query; It throws error on report stating "Parameter
    EmployeeID can't be null."
    Nehal Jain

    Hello Nehal -
    Try adding a UNION ALL to your parameter dataset query like
    UNION ALL SELECT NULL AS EmployeeID , ..
    Just check accordingly. I ll revert again based on this , got a priority now.
    Happy to help! Thanks. Regards and good Wishes, Deepak. http://deepaksqlmsbusinessintelligence.blogspot.com/

  • How to pass the multiplevalue parameter into SSRS by data driven subscription

    Hi All,
    I create a table and show it in the SSRS by table
    EmID Name
    AA1, A
    BB1, C
    CC1, E
    And set one parameter EmID for the user to filter the record and that Parameter Accept multiple values and the type is text.
    And I create a another table for the data-driven subscription to send the report to user by email.
    EmailTitle EmID  EmailComment
    TestEmail  AA1,BB1,CC1    TestComment
    And I set the subscription and set the EmID parameter is from EmID column, then test the subscription, it failed...
    However, when I only put AA1 into the table, then the subscription works well
    EmailTitle EmID  EmailComment
    TestEmail  AA1    TestComment
    So How I can config the above table to support subscription?
    Thanks.

    Hi Bimaster,
    When specify a column for the parameter value in a data-driven subscription, it will be regarded as a single value. So when specify the value "AA1,BB1,CC1" as the parameter value, the subscription will fail.
    The work around for this issue clear the "Allow multiple values" for the report parameter, and then change the filter
    From
    Expression:[ParameterName]
    Operator   :In
    Value         :[@ParameterName]
    To
    Expression:[ParameterName]
    Operator   :In
    Value         :Split(Parameters!ParameterName.Value,",")
    In this case, we can specify a value like "AA1,BB1,CC1" from database to the data-driven subscription. I have tested it on my local host environment, it works fine.
    Regards
    Charlie Liao
    TechNet Community Support

  • [Forum FAQ] How to configure a Data Driven Subscription which get multi-value parameters from one column of a database table?

    Introduction
    In SQL Server Reporting Services, we can define a mapping between the fields that are returned in the query to specific delivery options and to report parameters in a data-driven subscription.
    For a report with a parameter (such as YEAR) that allow multiple values, when creating a data-driven subscription, how can we pass a record like below to show correct data (data for year 2012, 2013 and 2014).
    EmailAddress                             Parameter                      
    Comment
    [email protected]              2012,2013,2014               NULL
    In this article, I will demonstrate how to configure a Data Driven Subscription which get multi-value parameters from one column of a database table
    Workaround
    Generally, if we pass the “Parameter” column to report directly in the step 5 when creating data-driven subscription.
    The value “2012,2013,2014” will be regarded as a single value, Reporting Services will use “2012,2013,2014” to filter data. However, there are no any records that YEAR filed equal to “2012,2013,2014”, and we will get an error when the subscription executed
    on the log. (C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSRS10_50.MSSQLSERVER\Reporting Services\LogFiles)
    Microsoft.ReportingServices.Diagnostics.Utilities.InvalidReportParameterException: Default value or value provided for the report parameter 'Name' is not a valid value.
    This means that there is no such a value on parameter’s available value list, this is an invalid parameter value. If we change the parameter records like below.
    EmailAddress                        Parameter             Comment
    [email protected]         2012                     NULL
    [email protected]         2013                     NULL
    [email protected]         2014                     NULL
    In this case, Reporting Services will generate 3 reports for one data-driven subscription. Each report for only one year which cannot fit the requirement obviously.
    Currently, there is no a solution to solve this issue. The workaround for it is that create two report, one is used for view report for end users, another one is used for create data-driven subscription.
    On the report that used create data-driven subscription, uncheck “Allow multiple values” option for the parameter, do not specify and available values and default values for this parameter. Then change the Filter
    From
    Expression:[ParameterName]
    Operator   :In
    Value         :[@ParameterName]
    To
    Expression:[ParameterName]
    Operator   :In
    Value         :Split(Parameters!ParameterName.Value,",")
    In this case, we can specify a value like "2012,2013,2014" from database to the data-driven subscription.
    Applies to
    Microsoft SQL Server 2005
    Microsoft SQL Server 2008
    Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2
    Microsoft SQL Server 2012
    Please click to vote if the post helps you. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

    For every Auftrag, there are multiple Position entries.
    Rest of the blocks don't seems to have any relation.
    So you can check this code to see how internal table lt_str is built whose first 3 fields have data contained in Auftrag, and next 3 fields have Position data. The structure is flat, assuming that every Position record is related to preceding Auftrag.
    Try out this snippet.
    DATA lt_data TYPE TABLE OF string.
    DATA lv_data TYPE string.
    CALL METHOD cl_gui_frontend_services=>gui_upload
      EXPORTING
        filename = 'C:\temp\test.txt'
      CHANGING
        data_tab = lt_data
      EXCEPTIONS
        OTHERS   = 19.
    CHECK sy-subrc EQ 0.
    TYPES:
    BEGIN OF ty_str,
      a1 TYPE string,
      a2 TYPE string,
      a3 TYPE string,
      p1 TYPE string,
      p2 TYPE string,
      p3 TYPE string,
    END OF ty_str.
    DATA: lt_str TYPE TABLE OF ty_str,
          ls_str TYPE ty_str,
          lv_block TYPE string,
          lv_flag TYPE boolean.
    LOOP AT lt_data INTO lv_data.
      CASE lv_data.
        WHEN '[Version]' OR '[StdSatz]' OR '[Arbeitstag]' OR '[Pecunia]'
             OR '[Mita]' OR '[Kunde]' OR '[Auftrag]' OR '[Position]'.
          lv_block = lv_data.
          lv_flag = abap_false.
        WHEN OTHERS.
          lv_flag = abap_true.
      ENDCASE.
      CHECK lv_flag EQ abap_true.
      CASE lv_block.
        WHEN '[Auftrag]'.
          SPLIT lv_data AT ';' INTO ls_str-a1 ls_str-a2 ls_str-a3.
        WHEN '[Position]'.
          SPLIT lv_data AT ';' INTO ls_str-p1 ls_str-p2 ls_str-p3.
          APPEND ls_str TO lt_str.
      ENDCASE.
    ENDLOOP.

  • Special Characters in the file name in Data Driven Subscription via File Share

    Hi,
    I am trying to create a Data Driven Subscription with option to delivery as  windows file share in SQL server 2005. I need to save the report as a pdf with the following file name  '[City] City_Name', but it errors out and it is because of the
    Square Brackets. Is there any way i can save the file using the Square brackets as i mentioned above.
    I am using a query to get the filename and filepath. It works fine as long as i do not have [], but i need to save the file as i mentioned along with the Square Brackets.
    Please help.

    Hello,
    I can reproduce the issue on my test environment: When I create a Data Driven Subscription and specify the report name by get from a subscription delivery table, and the value of the "report name" column contains square brackets. The subscription failed
    with following error in the error log:
    ERROR: Error occurred processing subscription ab9523a6-0256-4607-b818-a7666204d018:
    The file name is not valid. Avoid using special characters such as /\?*:<>|+,[]"& in the file name.
    notification!WindowsService_1!1f24!05/30/2014-15:31:02:: i INFO: Notification 0cf5a356-3172-4108-9d8c-58ea81a0b80a completed.  Success: False, Status: The file name is not valid. Avoid using special characters such as /\?*:<>|+,[]"& in the
    file name., DeliveryExtension: Report Server FileShare, Report: Report6, Attempt 0
    It seems that the behavior is by design. please avoid using square brackets as file name. Maybe you can try to use parentheses () instead.
    Regards,
    Fanny Liu
    Fanny Liu
    TechNet Community Support

Maybe you are looking for