What are functions?
Certain properties of elements within the document can be defined as a function or formula. This function can refer to other elements properties and variable values.
To turn a static frame property into a calculated value based on a function, you simply click the function button next to the property input field in the interface.
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Important to know, functions, tags and references are not Case Sensitive. E.g. The variable with name "AddWidth" can be used in a formula as "addwidth". E.g. The PageWidth can be used in a calculation as "pageWidth" |
A function field will appear below the property input field. The property input field is now no longer editable becuase because the value is calculated based on the function defined in the function input field.
If a function is not valid and cannot be calculated properly, the last calculated value is kept.
Errors
When a function does not work out, it will turn red, and you'll get a notification.
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What is supported within a function?
Arithmic operators
+ | adding |
- | substracting |
* | multiplying |
/ | deviding |
() | parentheses |
Parentheses will influence the order of calculation.
Referencing
In the functions, you can use absolute numbers, or you can reference other elements.
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- Page:
By typing “Page” followed by a dot, and the name of the property you want to reference. - Paragraph within a text frame:
A text paragraph can be tagged, and can also be referenced in a Dynamic Layout function. This is possible by first typing the name (tag) of the frame, followed by a dot, followed by the name of the paragraph (tag)
Bram Verniest (Unlicensed) new screenshot needed here
- Variable:
By typing the name of the variable, nothing more.
Properties (to reference of)
The following These properties can be referenced on frame and page level:used from the page, frame, inline frame or tagged paragraph which is referenced by the tag of the frame.
| X | The X position of the referenced rotated frame (note reference point) (or 0 for page) |
| Y | The Y position of the referenced rotated frame (note reference point) (or 0 for page) |
| Top | The Y value of the top of the referenced rotated frame (or 0 for page) |
| Bottom | The Y value of the bottom of the referenced rotated frame or page height |
| Left | The X value of the left of the referenced rotated frame (or 0 for page) |
| Right | The X value of the right of the referenced rotated frame or page widthCenterX |
| CenterY | The Y value of the center of the referenced rotated frame or page | CenterY
| CenterX | The X value of the center of the referenced rotated frame or page |
| Width | The width of the referenced frame or page (note value is scaled) |
| NonScaledWidth | The non scaled width of the referenced frame |
| Height | The height of the referenced frame or page (note value is scaled) |
| NonScaledHeight | The non scaled height of the referenced frame |
| Rotation | Rotation of the frame (note doesn't exist on inline frames) |
| ScaleX | X Scale of the frame |
| ScaleY | Y Scale of the frame |
Examples
- page.width
- frametag.height
- frametag.paragraphtag.centerX
Self
When using a formula in the location of a frame, you can use the tag of the frame, but you can also use "self".
E.g. self.height refers to the own height of the frame.
Below an example to align the frame to the bottom, by using a rather complex formula 
combined with a reference point at the top.
You can set the Y position, to the page height (would be bottom) minus the own (self) height.
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Variables
It is possible to use variables in the calculation, but only variables of type number or coordinate. For now, only the value of the variable can be referenced. No other meta information.
"variable.value" or "variable" will both resolve to the actual value of the variable.
In case a variable has the same name as a frame tag, this property being used will indicate if the user intends to use the variable value or the frame property. (there is no "value" property on frames and no width, height, etc on a variable)
If page.property is used in a calculated value, it will always refer to the page in the document, never to a frame with tag "page".
Functions within the calculation
Following additional functions are available for application in the calculations
MinMax(min, max, input) | Clamps a given value between a minimum and maximum value. E.g. MinMax(300,700, addwidth) When the width of the add is lower than 300, the function will return 300. |
ClampMin(min, input) | If the input value is less than the minimum, return the minimum value otherwise return the input value |
ClampMax(max, input) | If the input value is greater than the maximum, return the maximum value otherwise return the input value |
Use of units within a function
Units (millimeters, inches, points, pixels) can be used within a function.
If no unit is are specified the Dynamic layout engine will assume the value is in points. Multiple units can be used within a single function.
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frameA.width=50mm+10in+5pt
Anchoring
Achoring is a feature which existed before Dynamic Layout. It was a basic form of Dynamic Layout. With the introduction of Dynamic Layout we replaced the legacy anchoring module by Dynamic Layout. The anchoring settings interface can still be used. When an anchoring setting is configured, CHILI Publisher will automatically assign a Dynamic Layout function to the properties of the frame.
The link with the Dynamic Layout function and the anchoring setting is maintained. If the Dynamic Layout function is modified, the link with the anchoring setting is removed.
Alternate layouts
Dynamic layout functions can be different per alternate layout. This makes it possible to let frames behave completely different per document size aspect ratio.
For example:
A frame can be configured to always have a width which is 50% of the document width for a landscape aspect ratio. On a skyscraper aspect ratio we can configure the frame to be 100% of the width.
“Landscape” alternate layout
“skyscraper” alternate layout:
Snippets
Dynamic Layout functions can be used in snippets. Functions are executed within the scope of the snippet. So references to page or variables refer to the page and variables within the snippet.
If the snippet is converted to frames, the Dynamic Layout functions are removed and the calculated value for the properties are applied.
A snippet frame can be configured to select the best fitting alternate layout and to resize the snippet document. These options work in conjunction with Dynamic Layout functions.
Constraints
Dynamic Layout functions are a form of constraints which are baked into the document. They overrule the end-user constraints.
Frame reference points
The reference point of a frame is configurable on document and frame level (cascading: frame overrules document setting)
The frame’s reference point defines how the frame will behave if the width, height, scale, x or y values are modified through the frame location panel, actions or dynamic layout functions. Changing these properties inline by using the frame handles on the document canvas is not affected by this setting.