This guide provides an overview of how to set up variables in your template.
*Please note, this feature is currently in Beta and requires activation by your Customer Success Manager before it can be used. To get started, please reach out to your CSM directly — you will not be able to access or test this feature without activation.
What are variables?
Variables bring greater flexibility and control to your multi-page design templates by allowing you to create links between content across multiple pages.
With support for text, image, and color variables, you can streamline your design workflow and ensure users have consistent branding across all pages.
Set up variables in your template
Follow these steps to use variables directly in Frontify:
Open a template from your template library
Navigate to the edit mode
Locate the 'variables' panel
To create a new variable:
Click on a layer in a page (image, text, or color property)
Navigate to the settings menu on the left and click on the link icon
Click the button to create a new property variable
Doing so will create a new variable in the Variables panel. From there you can click on any other (text, color, or image) property on the same or different pages and add it that variable.
To manage existing variables:
Head to the Variables panel to see all imported (or newly created) variables
You can edit those variables accordingly:
Rename the variable by hovering over the variable title and clicking to edit it
Delete the variable
Remove linked properties
How to use variables
When a template user makes a change to one of the editable properties the template has, the change will be applied instantaneously across all linked properties.
Best practices
Ensure to give each variable a meaningful and distinguishable name so that your end-users utilizing the template can easily recognize the layer being edited
Only linked variables will show up in the simple creation template block as editable form fields. You might have imported variables (e.g., from Figma variables) without any linked properties, so if you can remove them to help clean up and delete those from list of variables
When working with InDesign-based templates, split text boxes into separate boxes for static text and variable portions to ensure proper mapping and editability.
Known limitations
Simple creation template block only: Currently available exclusively for the simple creation template block; advanced editing support will come later.
Entire text boxes in InDesign: Variables apply to whole text frames rather than inline text selections. To make only a portion of a line editable, split static and variable text into separate text boxes.
Template modifications affect element IDs: Adding new elements, fields, or symbols in InDesign assigns new IDs, which can break existing mappings and linked content. Ensure template updates are planned and tested before replacing existing files.
Please note that this feature must be activated by your Customer Success Manager before use. If you have not yet done so, reach out to your CSM to get access. Once activated, please also contact your CSM with any issues you encounter.