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.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • To create a new variable, make sure that no variable is selected in the Variables palette.
    • To bind the object to an existing variable, select that Visibility variable in the Variables palette.
  3. Click the Make Visibility Dynamic button Make Visibility Dynamic button in the Variables palette, or choose Make Visibility Dynamic from the Variables palette menu.
  4. The Visibility variable icon  Visibility variable icon 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:
    • To create a new variable that automatically corresponds to the type of the selected object, make sure that no variable is selected in the Variables palette.
    • 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 Make Object Dynamic button in the Variables palette, or choose Make Object Dynamic from the Variables palette menu.
  4. The Text String variable Text String variable , the Linked File variable Linked File variable , or the Graph Data variable icon  Graph Data variable icon appears in the Variables palette.

To unbind a variable:

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