Operation Manual

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USING ILLUSTRATOR

Automating tasks

Last updated 11/8/2011

Install a script

❖ Copy the script to your computer’s hard disk.

If you place the script in the Adobe Illustrator CS5 Scripts folder, the script will appear in the File > Scripts

submenu.

If you place the script in another location on the hard disk, you can run the script in Illustrator by choosing File >

Scripts

> Other Script.

Note: If you place a script in the Adobe Illustrator CS5 Scripts folder while Illustrator is running, you must restart

Illustrator for the script to appear in the Scripts submenu.

Data-driven graphics

About data-driven graphics

Data-driven graphics make it possible to produce multiple versions of artwork quickly and accurately. Let’s say, for

example, that you need to produce 500 different web banners based on the same template. Instead of manually

populating the template with data (images, text, and so on), data-driven graphics let you use a script referencing a

database to generate the web banners for you.

In Illustrator, you can turn any piece of artwork into a template for data-driven graphics. All you need to do is define

which objects on the artboard are dynamic (changeable) using variables. You use variables to change text strings,

linked images, graph data, and the visibility setting of objects in your artwork. In addition, you can create different sets

of variable data in order to easily view what your template will look like when it is rendered.

Data-driven graphics are designed for use in collaborative work environments. Following are some examples of how

data-driven graphics fit into different job roles:

• If you’re a designer, creating a template gives you control over the dynamic elements of your design. When you

hand your template over for production, you can be sure that only the variable data will change.

• If you’re a developer, you can code variables and data sets directly into an XML file. The designer can then import

the variables and data sets into an Illustrator file to create a design based on your specifications.

• If you’re responsible for production, you can use scripts within Illustrator or the Batch command. You can also use

a dynamic imaging server such as Adobe® Scene7 to further automate the rendering process.