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Connect spreadsheet data to a graphic layer

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Naomi
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Some Titler Live products can display data from XLSX and CSV files in graphics. This article describes how to create spreadsheet data files and connect spreadsheet data to variables in graphics.

Tip: See the following articles for details about displaying spreadsheet data in graphics.

Connect XLSX and CSV file data to a graphic layer

  1. In Titler Live's playout interface, open a project (if a project isn't already open) and select a Graphic Layer in the Layers Workspace.

Tips: Open the Graphics Library panel and drag a graphic from the library to the Layers Workspace. To customize a the graphic in the Designer, see Create variables in graphics.

 

2. Select the new Graphic Layer in the Layer Workspace(if it's not already selected), then choose Data Source  > General > Spreadsheet > New Input.

Tips: If you previously connected a spreadsheet to a graphic and want to use that spreadsheet, you can select it from the Data Controller > General > Spreadsheets menu. To remove a data controller from a graphic, navigate to the Preview panel and click the Link Data button. This will display a column with data controller names and their variables. Right click on a data controller name and select Remove Input to remove the data controller from the graphic. 

       3. When you're prompted to select an existing spreadsheet file or create a new file, complete the steps in one of the following sections

      • Select an existing XLSX or CSV file
          1. Ensure your XLSX or CSV file is formatted as described in the Create spreadsheet data files section of this article.
          2. Click Select file, then find and open the XLSX or CSV file. The data source appears in the Spreadsheet panel.

            TL5_Spreadsheet_1.png

      • Create a new spreadsheet file:
      1. Click New Input.
      2. Enter a descriptive file name, then save the file to a location you will remember. Titler Live saves the file as a CSV file. The new input and placeholder data appear in the Spreadsheet panel. (The placeholder data is based on the number of objects and variables in the graphic.)
      3. In Windows Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac), locate and open the new file in a CSV file editor such as Microsoft Excel or Notepad.
      4. Enter the names of variables on the top line of the file and enter values for each variable on the following lines. For steps to create spreadsheet files, including examples, please see the Create spreadsheet data files section in this article.
      5. Save the file to a destination in your machine. Titler Live displays the data in the Spreadsheet panel.

The Spreadsheet data appears on the third tab of the Layer Properties panel and in the Data Source column for that Graphic Layer in the Layers Workspace. In addition, the Spreadsheet data and its variables appear in the Preview panel.

input-csv-variables-in-preview.png

  1. Click the Link Data button in the Preview panel to view the Spreadsheet variables. (If the variables aren't visible, expand the Spreadsheet list.)
  2. Click and drag a Spreadsheet variable onto an object in the graphic. Repeat this step for each variable that you want to include in the graphic.

    Tip: To remove an input from a graphic layer navigate to the Preview panel. Click the link data button, then right click on the data source name and choose Remove input.

    The spreadsheet file's data is now visible in the graphic.

    input-csv-preview.png

  3. Click a line or block of data in the Spreadsheet panel to preview data in the graphic. For more details, see Select spreadsheet data in graphics.

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Create spreadsheet data files

There are a couple ways to structure data in XLSX and CSV files to accommodate a particular graphic and the amount of data that you need to display. You can create basic data files for designs that don't have many text objects, such as lower-third titles, which allows you to display one line of data at a time. Or you can create block data files for graphics that have many text objects, which allows you to display or hide groups and parts of data. For details, including examples, see the following sections.

Create basic data files

Create a basic spreadsheet file for graphics that don't have many text objects, such as lower-third titles, or when you need to display one line of data a time.

  1. Open an XLSX or CSV file in a spreadsheet editor or text editor.
  2. On the first line, enter names of variables. If you're working in text editor, enter a comma between consecutive variables (for example, Name,Role).
  3. On the second and subsequent lines, enter values for each variable. If you're working in text editor, enter a comma between consecutive values (for example, Juan,Producer).

    Important! Don't include blank lines in basic data files.

    Tips

    Example of data in a spreadsheet editor:

    input-csv-in-xls.png

    Example of data in a text editor:

    input-csv-in-text-editor.png

  4. Save the spreadsheet file as an XLSX or CSV file. If the file is already connected to a graphic, as described in the Connect XLSX and CSV file data to a graphic layer section, changes are automatically reflected in Titler Live's Spreadsheet panel.

    Tip: To display data in the graphic, click a line of data in the Spreadsheet panel. For complete details, see the following articles:

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Create block data files (Broadcast only)

If you have Titler Live Broadcast, you can create a block spreadsheet file for graphics that have many text objects or when you need to display or hide multiple lines (that is, blocks) or parts of a line.

Note:  Please note that block mode is not supported within Google Sheets at this time.

  1. Open an XLSX or CSV file in a spreadsheet editor or text editor.
  2. On the first line, enter the word index, then enter names of variables. If you're working in text editor, enter a comma between consecutive variables (for example, Index,Name,Role). The index variable allows you to name blocks of data in the file, which you can select while using Instant Search, and will not appear in the rendered graphic.
  3. On the next line, leave the line blank if you're working in a spreadsheet editor, or enter three commas (,,,) if you're working in a text editor.

    Example of data variables in a spreadsheet editor:

    input-csv-block-variables-in-xlsx.png

    Example of data variables in a text editor:

    input-csv-block-variables-in-txt.png

  4. To enter values for one block of data, complete the following steps:

    1. On the first line after a blank line, enter a short name for the index variable, then enter values for each variable. If you're working in a text editor, enter a comma between consecutive values (for example, nb,Todor,CEO).
    2. On subsequent lines, enter a comma, then enter values for each variable. If you're working in a text editor, enter a comma between consecutive variables (for example, ,Travis,VP).

      Tips

      Example of data variables and values in a spreadsheet editor:

      input-csv-block-one-in-xlsx.png

      Example of data variables and values in a text editor:

      input-csv-block-one-in-txt.png

  5. To add another block of data, leave the next line blank if you're working in a spreadsheet editor, or enter three commas (,,,) if you're working in a text editor, then repeat the previous step to enter values for each variable.

    Example of data blocks in a spreadsheet editor:

    input-csv-blocks-in-xlsx.png

    Example of data blocks in a text editor:

    input-csv-blocks-in-txt.png

  6. Save the spreadsheet file as an XLSX or CSV file. If the file is already connected to a graphic, as described in the Connect XLSX and CSV file data to a graphic layer section of this article, changes are automatically reflected in Titler Live's Spreadsheet panel.

    Tip: To display a block of data in the graphic, click anywhere in a block of data in the Spreadsheet panel. You can also hide blocks, lines, and parts of lines. For complete details, see the following articles:


    input-csv-block-preview.png

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Tip: Add image variables to spreadsheet files

Enter the image's file name, or enter the image's full path and file name in the spreadsheet file.

file path + the name of the image(i.e. Headshot).jpeg

For example:

On Windows, enter C:\Documents and Settings\company\images\logo.jpeg,

On Mac, enter Macintosh HD/Users/abc/Documents/Images/logo.jpeg.

See the follow notes for details.

  • Images in a Textures folder: Titler Live adds a Textures folder to a project's directory when you save a project with assets. When you enter an image's file name, such as logo.png, and don't include the image's path in the spreadsheet file, Titler Live automatically looks for the image in the Textures folder in Titler Live's installation directory and the project's directory.
  • Images not in a Textures folder: Enter an image's full path and file name when an image is not in Titler Live's installation directory or the project's directory. For example, on Windows, enter C:\Documents and Settings\company\images\logo.png, or on Mac, enter Macintosh HD/Users/abc/Documents/Images/logo.png.

Note: You must ensure to add the image name.jpeg to the end of the file path or Titler will not be able to recognize the image.  Also, it has been found that JPEG has been the most reliable format.

Troubleshooting:  If your image is displaying as a white box or shape:

  1. Check the formatting of the file path. (Simply copying and pasting the file path will not include the name of your image on Mac.)
  2. Place images in the textures folder and check formatting of file path.

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Tip: Add color variables to spreadsheet files

Enter a hexadecimal value (for example, #2F3BE4) for each color that you want to include as a variable in the spreadsheet file. Later, when you use a graphic that includes an object with a color variable, you can connect the color variable in the spreadsheet to that object.

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