Selecting content within a document dynamically

You can select content, either a Story or the local content in a Text area, dynamically depending on the input data by adding a Switch. The Switch is related to a Message field or variable. The value of the field or variable determines which Story is used during runtime.

By default, the Switch has local content, but you can share this local content as a Story.

By adding a Case to the Switch, you add a condition to fulfill for either a specific Story or the local content to be used.

You can add a Case that acts as the default, that is, if no other Case matches the input value this default is used.

If you do not add a default Case, and no Case is matched, the StreamServer will fail to create output.

When you create a Case, the local content of the Text area is used for the Case by default. You can select to use an existing Story for the Case, or you can create a Story from local content. If you want to edit the content of a Story that is used by a Case, you can mark the Story content as local content, and then share the new content as a new Story. The original Story is not changed, which is important if it is used in other places in the document.

In design-time, you can select the Story to used as a sample.

You can also select to create empty content for a specific Case that previously had a Story connected to it

For a Case that has the local content of the switch, you can specify if the content is inline or in a separate paragraph.

To allow a Story that is used by a Case to flow between Story frames, you must add a Switch inside a Story frame.

Example 65

Switching Stories during runtime

You want the value of the Message age_category field to determine what Story to use. You add two Cases to a Switch:

•	a Case that specifies that if the language field value is young, the Story_young is used. The Case key is in this case young.

•	a Case that specifies if the language field value is mature, the Story_mature is used. The Case key is in this case mature.

You want a neutral story to be used if the language field is anything else but young or mature, so you add a default Case where you specify that Story_generic is used.

Figure 55

A Switch in Document tree

 

To add a Switch

1	Right-click in the Document, Page, or Story view and select Insert > Switch. The Data Selection dialog opens.

2	Select the field or variable to base the Switch on and click OK. A text area with a Switch and a Case is added to the document.

To add a Case

1	Right-click the Switch and select Switch > Add Case. The Key dialog opens.

2	Enter a key for the Case and click OK.

Note:

By default the Case uses the local content of the text area containing the Switch. To use a Story for the Case you must select it in the Properties panel.

To select a Story for a Case

1	Select the Case.

2	In the Properties panel Switch Case category, select the Story option.

3	In the drop-down list, select the Story to use for the Case.

To add a Default Case

Right-click the Switch and select Switch > Add Default Case. A default Case is added to the Switch.

To create local content from a Story used by a Case

1	Select a Case that has a Story specified for it.

2	Right-click and select Switch > Use local content. The Story content is copied as local content for the Case.

To edit local content in the Story view

1	Select a Case with local content.

2	Right-click and select Switch > Edit in Story View.

To share local content of a Case as a new Story

1	Select the Case you want to connect to the Story.

2	Right-click and select Switch > Share Story. A new Story is created with the local content.

To create empty content in a Case

1	Select a Case that has a Story specified for it.

2	Right-click and select Switch > Use Empty Local Content.

To select which Case key to use as the Switch sample

1	Select a Case.

2	Right-click and select Switch > Use Key as Sample.

Note:

If you want to edit the local content for another Case, see To edit local content in the Story view.

To make a Case the default Case

1	If you have no default Case, select a Case.

2	Right-click and select Switch > Make Case as Default.

You can drag and drop the Cases, except for the default Case, to list them in the order you want. However, the order does not affect the output.