Description

In Intuiface, Collections can be bound to a dynamic data source via an Interface Asset. Thankfully, it is not necessary to define the look and feel of each individual element in, say, a list of 50 catalog items. Intuiface Composer provides a Data Template mechanism just for this purpose.

The main concept is to create a stand-alone Asset - or Group of Assets - to represent one item derived from your content. Once you have performed your skinning and property selections for this reference asset/group, drag-and-drop it on the Data Feed of your dynamic collection in the Scene Structure panel. Each item in the data feed will automatically inherit its appearance from this template.

Note: You can have different visual representations of the same data feed, as demonstrated in our Real Estate sample. The horizontal Asset Grid and the Map collections use the same data feed coming from a custom Interface Asset, and each collection has its own data template:

• Asset Grid: a Group collection comprised of an Image asset, Text asset and a Button.
• Map: a collection using a classic point-of-interest icon

Usage

Here are the steps for creating a data template for items of a data source.

• Place your data feed into a collection. You can either:
  • Drag-and-drop an interface asset containing a data source onto the scene
    OR
  • Add a collection to the scene and then associate your data feed with that collection using the Scene Structure panel
• Create your data template
  • Bind assets to various values of the first item of the data source to make your design.
  • If using multiple assets (e.g. Image + Text) to represent your data, place all the assets into a Group collection.
  • In the Scene Structure, drag-and-drop your data template (either one asset or one group of assets) onto the data feed created in the first step.

Once you've placed your data template onto the data feed, you can directly edit the template in the scene by double-clicking the associated collection.

Demonstration: How to create a data template

Demonstration: In-scene editing of a data template

Examples

To see how Data Templates can be used in an Intuiface Experience, we recommend you have a look at the following samples found in the Intuiface Examples catalog. All can be downloaded for free using the Examples tab in the Experiences panel of both Composer and Player.

• DIY Shopping Catalog
• Restaurant Menu
• Real Estate Property Seach

Limitations

• During Composer Edit mode, pressing "Ctrl + g" key combination or using "mouse right-click" -> "add into group" contextual menu, will not add the assets intro Group while the elements are nested inside the Data Template.
• Actions will not be fired after filtering the asset executing them.