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After building your template you will want to make it dynamic for your author users. There are two ways to make content dynamic. 

1. Inputs allow you to make parts of the template editable to authors.
2. Metadata allows you to update certain information in the template based on who the author is or what team(s) they are associated with. 

Both inputs and metadata can be assigned to various layer properties. These properties are what the author users will be manipulating and customizing with their own data.

For example on an image layer, the image itself is an editable property. Or on a text layer, the font size can be changed by the author based on how much content they have.

A layer has dynamic properties if you see the Command icon next to it in the attributes sidebar.

Creating an input

To create an input you can do the following: 

1. In the left-hand layers/inputs sidebar, choose the Inputs tab.
2. Select + New Input.
3. Define your new input: 
   • Name: how end users/authors will see it. 
   • Type: the type of content input (text, number, image). 
   • Options: how the input will be editable to an author. Details on options are outlined below. 
   • Placeholder value: the default value of the input when a user opens up the template for the first time. 
4. Once your input is created you can assign it to a property. 

Input options

Text

• Free Text: Allows an end user to add custom text, up to the height of the text box. This is ideal for editing lines/paragraphs of text. 
• Choice: Allows an end user to choose between a list of predefined text options. This is ideal for selecting pre-approved copy. 

Number

• Free number: Allows the user to define a custom number. This is ideal for adjusting the font size of a text box so a user can fit additional copy. 

Image 

• Free image: Allows the user to add a custom image from the Content Automation asset library into the image container. This is ideal for replacing imagery in the template. 
• Asset restriction
  • Restricted asset library tags: restricts the selection of images to a specific tag in the Content Automation asset library.
  • Brandfolder search query: Restricts the selection of images to the results from a Brandfolder search query.
  • Direct uploader: Allows a user to upload a custom image, without uploading into an asset library.
• Image cropping/repositioning: When enabled, an author can open the crop tool to reposition the image in the canvas.
  • Image must fill the container: When enabled, the image cannot be dragged or resized into the container. When disabled, the inverse can happen.

Assigning an input/metadata to a property

Option 1: the Command button

1. Select your desired layer for the input. 
2. In the right-hand attributes, sidebar select the Command Icon
3. Choose + Assign value next to the property and select the desired input or metadata value. 

Option 2: Right-click

1. Right-click on the layer from the layers panel or directly on the canvas. 
2. Hover over Assign X input and choose the desired input or metadata value. 

Reordering an input

Reordering inputs allows builders to create a logical order for how the template should be edited by authors. 

Similar to layers in the layers panel, inputs can also be re-ordered by clicking and dragging the input into its desired position. 

Deleting an input

1. Hover over the input
2. Select the kebab menu. 
3. Choose, delete input.

Managing your template

Once you have completed configuring the dynamic content there are a few items you will want to manage on your template before distributing to end users. 

From the Template Editor click the Close (X) button in the top right corner.

If you’re looking to manage an existing template,

1. Select Templating from the main navigation menu on the left-hand side. 
2. Locate the template you’d like to manage. 

The template variations screen

Template variations allow you to manage the data, access, and visibility of the layouts that you create in the template editor.

General variation actions

Rename

1. Hover over the variation name.
2. Select the pencil icon.
3. Type in the new name. 

Categorize

Categorizing a variation makes it easier for authors to find it in the Template Library. 

1. Select the checkbox for the variation you want to categorize.
2. Select the Assign category button in the action menu. 

Duplicate

Duplicating allows you to avoid having to start from scratch every time you want to make a small change. 

1. Select the checkbox for the variation you want to duplicate.
2. Select the Duplicate button in the action menu.

Delete

Deleting a variation will also delete all downstream documents/exports/data created by authors. This may skew reporting statistics.

1. Find the row for the variation you wish to delete
2. On the right-hand side of that row select the kebab menu.
3. Select delete variation. 

Presetting inputs

This feature allows you to override the default placeholder content or lock down inputs that shouldn’t be editable to authors. 

1. Click on the single template variations row or for multiple variations select the check box next to the variations and choose the Preset Inputs button in the top left-hand corner. 
2. Once in the editor, update the values of the inputs or select the Eye icon next to each input to lock their editing ability from authors. 

Permissions

To add/update team permissions to a single variation you can do the following

1. Find the row of the variation you would like to add/update permissions.
2. Select the cell that shows the current level of permissions.
3. This will open the Permissions modal.
4. In the modal you can determine who can use the template by selecting everyone, or only specific teams. 
5. Select save. 

Publishing

Publishing a template variation makes it accessible to your permitted author users.

1. In the row for the relevant variation, toggle on Published or select the checkbox next to each of the variations and select the Publish variation button next to the Preset Inputs button. 

Unpublishing a variation will hide it from the author's view, without deleting any associated data.

Variation settings

By selecting the kebab menu at the end of the specific variations row you can adjust the following:

1. Basic settings
   
   
   • Change the name of the variation. 
   • Add the variation to a template library category to promote easier searching. 
2. Permission settings
   • Template access: shared to all teams, or restrict to some teams
   • Set export restrictions. This enables an Admin user to control the export of documents that use this template. 
   • Asset library permissions: you can restrict the asset library to account images only. 
3. Details
   • Give it a custom description to provide further information and context to your authors. For example, linking to a help center article or resource.  

Creating a document with your template

1. On the project page select + Create new document. 
2. Search for your desired template in the template library.
3. Select + Create document.
4. Follow the prompts to create a project, or add the document to an existing project. 
5. Select the document and choose Edit. 

Learn more about creating a document from a Content Automation template. 

Learn more about the end users' editing process.