How do you automate layer visibility

[stevenb42329505]

Greetings all,

I work in the sports jersey production field and create files that contain each player's number and name on the jersey art. I have been racking my brain trying to figure out how to automate the process of changing each number and name within the given jersey file. I recently found actions and have been very successful in finding ways for it to ease my work flow except for changing out numbers...

My files usually have 3 layers to them:

Layer 1: Template- this contains the template fabric is to be cut to

Layer 2:Artwork

Layer 3: Jersey roster-This layer contains all of the names and numbers copied from a spreadsheet so that everything remains in order. Sometimes there can be up to 4 numbers and 1 name on each jersey.

Layer 4: Jocktag (if required) this is a size indicator that gets printed directly to the jersey

I start with the first name and number by turning off the visibility to all groups in Layer 3 except the first, save, and then go down the line one by one turning off each name and number and turning on the name and number directly below the first and saving all the way down until the roster is complete. This can be incredibly time consuming when you have 400, 500, 600 pieces to an order.

In actions, I am able to get it to turn off the initial number and name, by simply selecting the visible objects and turning off the visibility icon while recording the action but I cannot get it to record the next group being turned on. Is there any way to do this without getting into scripting?

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

Variables may help you:

Merge data to create data-driven graphics through templates and variables in Illustrator

[stevenb42329505]

Thank you for your help and response, I feel like this is exactly what I need to get the job done!

[Ton Frederiks]

You may also have a look at this:

Prepression: Illustrator – Introducing the VariableImporter Script

[stevenb42329505]

Thank you again for the info. I have been very successful using this method and my workflow has sped up tremendously. I was wondering if there is anyway to automatically change the names of the data sets to the name and number on the data set. This is in order to name the files as it automatically saves to the data set names and numbers.

For instance, Data Set 12 has the WADE in the Name Field and 27 in the number field. With the data set named Data Set 12, the file saves as XTeam_BLUEJSY_AL Data Set 12. I would like the result to be more like this: XTEAM_BLUEJSY_AL 27 WADE.

I understand you can manually change the name of each data set in order to achieve this, but that takes away from the speed of the process in a larger order.

[stevenb42329505]

Hi again. I used the VariableImporter script to get the desired effect with its Data Set Naming feature.

[Ton Frederiks]

Maybe  Silly-V can help you?

[stevenb42329505]

I was able to get it with his Variable Importer script. Which I am still going through its features now. This is yet another piece in the puzzle figured out! I will post here if I have any more questions with this project. Thanks for the help!