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By default, you are looking at the CHILI document in "Preview" mode. This means that you see the document with the actual Variable Data applied. In the previous walkthrough, we've added a FirstName variable to the text frame. Once we configured the text frame to hold variable data, however, we do see the display value, but are no longer able to edit the text in the frame. There are several ways to accomplish this, all available only for administrators in the document:
Toggle between source and preview mode
Edit the underlying story of the text frame
Toggling between source and preview mode can be done in a number of locations. While working in the "Variable Data" tab on the right, the "Common Variable Tools" Panel contains a "Preview Mode" pulldown. Next to that, an icon is available in the ViewPreferences toolbar item.
Without toggling the preview mode for the entire document, though, it is also possible to edit the source of a single Text Frame though the Story Editor. For Text Frames containing variables, this will always show the source (and because of that is only available for administrators).
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Linked Variables
Next to text variables, it is also possible to link variables to certain types of content from within the settings of that content.
Continuing on our blank document, create:
A blank image frame
A new page
A new layer (and add some content like a rectangle on it, as we'll be showing/hiding this layer automatically)
Three new Variables:
"MyImage", of datatype "image"
"MyShowPage", of datatype "checkbox"
"MyShowLayer", of datatype "checkbox"
You will see the relevant input items appear on the left:
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