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Binding variables to object attributes


    Binding a variable to an object attribute makes the object dynamic. The type of object and type of variable determines what attributes of the object can change. You can bind a Visibility variable to any object to make the object's state of visibility dynamic. If the object is text, a linked image, or a graph, you can also make the object's content dynamic. (See About variables.)

To make the visibility of objects dynamic:

  1. Select one or more objects. Use the Layers palette to select all the objects in a layer or group. (See Selecting artwork in layers.)
  2. Do one of the following:
    • If you want to create a new variable, make sure that no variable is selected in the Variables palette.
    • If you want to bind the object to an existing variable, select that Visibility variable in the Variables palette.
  3. Click the Make Visibility Dynamic button  the Make Visibility Dynamic button in the Variables palette, or choose Make Visibility Dynamic from the Variables palette menu.
  4. The Visibility variable the Visibility variable appears in the Variables palette.

To make an object's content dynamic:

  1. Select a linked image, text, or a graph.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • If you want to create a new variable that matches the type of the selected object, make sure that no variable is selected in the Variables palette.
    • If you want to bind the object to an existing variable, select that variable in the Variables palette. The variable type must either be unbound, or match that of the selected object.
  3. Click the Make Object Dynamic button  the Make Object Dynamic button in the Variables palette, or choose Make Object Dynamic from the Variables palette menu.
  4. The Text String variable the Text String variable , the Linked File variable  the Linked File variable , or the Graph Data variable  the Graph Data variable appears in the Variables palette.

To unbind a variable:

  1. Select a variable in the Variables palette.
  2. Click the Unbind Variable button  the Break Link button in the Variables palette, or choose Unbind Variable from the Variables palette menu.