RSS Feed

DonD 2012© No Rights Reserved

Page last updated 25/01/2012 10:24:02

Produced with

Site Feedback

Search

Database

Database function

Introduced into X2 is the ability to produce a Database(db) which you can use to populate pages, by merging to a new site, using text, hyperlinks,anchors, email links, photos and e-commerce.

Note:- The db function is only to populate pages for your site and is not used when pages have been produced and uploaded.

Serif db tutorial

If you look through the tutorials that are available, via the start up wizard, you will find there is one named “Adding an Image Catalogue” . Download the PDF Here(1.5mb). This tutorial is aimed at using the db to set up an image catalogue. This will give you a good guiding hand in how to set up the db and in using the repeating areas with text & photo fields, hyperlinks and anchors.

Note:- There is a mistake in the tutorial, and resource guide tutorial, @ section 2:8 where the “Merge list” dialogue will not open and you will have to continue with section 3 putting onto your page a repeating area then, keeping the repeating area selected, select the “Edit Database” button on the “Database merge” toolbar, which I would keep open all the time, and selecting your newly created database to view/edit.

When setting up a new db from scratch the “Merge List” does open at the correct point so it seems only when your creating a photo db this is a problem.

Simple db

1. Select the “Create New Database” button on the merge db toolbar, you will be asked to name the db and save it to a location.
   
   
2. Once saved the “Customize Database” dialogue will allow you to insert named fields to your db. i.e. Name fields, age, address fields, tel. No.
   
   
3. When you have added your fields to your db you may find that you may wish to add, rename or reposition the fields which you can do in this “Customize Database” dialogue. OK out once done.
   
   
4. The next window to open will be the “Edit Database” dialogue. In this dialogue you will fill in all the records for your db selecting “Add” after you have finished filling in one record with your information. If you need to add/edit the fields at this point select the customize button, middle bottom, to get the “Customize Database” dialogue where you can insert, rename or reposition the fields.
   
   

After finishing and OK out of the “Edit Database” dialogue the “Merge List” will open where you can quickly check the records info you have just input and edit if needed. When finished - OK out.

That is your db set up

Repeating Area

A repeating area arranges placeholder fields, generating a new document with as many pages as needed and populating the fields with text or images from your db.

The layout starts with a repeating area—basically a single cell whose size determines how many database records can tile across and down on a page, you can have the page length increase automatically to accommodate the number of records.

Within the repeating area, you can place any elements, i.e. - text field, photo field, text frame, single photo or artistic text.

Basically - Anything you put onto the repeating area will get repeated.

1. Select the “Insert Repeating Area” button from the db merge toolbar.
   
   

2. Select your db source.
   
   
3. Adjust the settings to get the layout you require for your page within the “Repeating Area Tile” dialogue. You can if you wish when this dialogue appears just OK out and then you can drag the repeating area to the size/position required on your page.
   There is an indicator, bottom right, of the repeating area to show how many will fit onto your page.
   This may be preferable if you have other items on your page such as page header/banners.
   
   
4. Once you have sized the repeating area to the size you need for your items select the “Insert Text field” button in the db merge toolbar, select the field from the “Insert Text field” dialogue and position/resize the text field. Repeat the process for all the text fields as required.
   
   

Database Merge

Once you are happy with the placement of your elements on the repeating area it is now time to merge. When you have merged, WPX2 will produce a new site with the addition of the new pages produced by the merging.

Select the “Merge to New site” button on the db merge toolbar.

Once the merge has been completed, inspect the new pages to see how they look. If your not happy with the results close this new site without saving, rearrange the repeating area and merge again, do this until your happy with the results.

Filter your db? See this page for more >>>

1/2

1/2