What variable text does
A text can contain placeholders, for example No. {nr} or {Name}. When the outlines are set, the placeholders are replaced by the values of the current row: a running number, today's date, the time, the project name or a column of a pasted list. After each job the row advances and the next sign is ready. All texts of a project share the row.
Typical uses: name tags from a staff list, serial numbers on type plates, place cards, price and shelf labels, batch numbers with date.
Insert placeholders
Select a text. On the right in Properties, below the text, the section Variable text shows chips: one click puts the placeholder at the cursor. You can also simply type them. In the text bar above the text, the curly-brace icon opens the window with all settings.
| Placeholder | Result |
|---|---|
{nr} | running number, for example 01003 |
{nr:5} | number with exactly five digits, regardless of the setting |
{datum} | today's date, 15.10.2026 |
{datum:JJJJ-MM-TT} | own format with TT (day), MM, JJJJ, JJ and KW (ISO week); DD, YYYY, YY, WW work as well |
{zeit} | time, 09:05 |
{zeit:HH:MM:SS} | with seconds |
{projekt} | name of the project |
{zeile} | number of the current row from 1 |
{spalte:Name} or {Name} | column Name of the list in the current row; {spalte:2} takes the second column |
Unknown braces stay as text. Columns that do not exist in the list stay empty and are listed in the properties.
Running number
In the Variable text window (Draw menu or “Set up number and list”) you set Start, Step and Digits. The number of a row is start + row × step; digits pad it with leading zeros. A preview shows the first three numbers.
List from a table or CSV
Copy cells from Excel, Calc or Numbers and paste them in the window, or choose a CSV file. The first row holds the column names; the delimiter (tab, semicolon, comma) is detected, quotes and line breaks inside cells are respected. Each column is then available as a chip.
The table in the window can be edited directly: change names and values, add or remove rows and columns. Clicking a row number selects the row that is cut next. Copy as CSV outputs the list again.
Before the job: next row
The status Row 3 of 20 · No. 01003 appears in the Cut tab, in the text properties and in the job assistant in the “Job” step, each with Previous row, Next row and Back to row 1. Every change sets the outlines of all texts with placeholders anew and is one undo step.
With Advance one row after each job (on by default) the row moves on by itself after the finished job; the next part is ready right away. At the end of the list the row stays, with a note. Without a list the number runs without end.
Date and time are set when the row changes. If the date should be current for a part, step forward and back once before the job or let the automation run.
Sign assistant
In the sign assistant the text lines accept the same placeholders; the chips below the lines insert {nr}, {datum} and {zeit}. The preview shows row 1. The finished project already has variable text set up; list and number are then configured in the window.
Saving
Row, number, automation and list belong to the project and travel with it into the account. Older projects without variable text stay unchanged.