Files for your reference
Side Options
Column Options
Repeat Options
Options
Options are a feature that allows a user to select between versions of artwork built into a template. There are 3 types of options: side, column, and repeat. They affect increasingly detailed sections of the sign. They are not a hierarchy so it is possible to use repeat options without having side or column options in place or any combination of options in use.
Side Options
Side options change the layout of the entire sign. This type of option is best employed for non-repeating fields or when the entire layout of the sign needs to shift.
Example
This is a single sided sign but there are two possible layouts. One with an arrow, is top justified and uses a smaller text. The other, is centred and uses a larger text size. It will be the same sign type, but can display either layout.
Templating
To template this, the sign will need a "Side" layer and a bounding box defining the side. Each side option is set up under the Side layer, with the top option being considered the default.
Within each option, all of the content is created normally. These options don't interact at all. It is essentially like drawing two different signs in one template.
Programming multiple options can quicky become visually complicated. Turn off the visibility for the options you aren't actively working on if your template becomes confusing.
SignAgent Interface
Using options, it is possible to toggle back and forth between these using the same sign type. The side section underneath non-repeating messages will have a dropdown for selecting which side option to use. This interface will only appear once you have uploaded a template that utilizes the options feature.
Column Options
Column options apply to repeating fields and can control content as well as secondary variations such as changes in message size or alignment of repeats and messages. Column options affect all messages contained within the column.
Example
In this example, there are two sizes of text that can be used depending on the number of destinations. The column option allows a user to choose which size will be used. If there were multiple columns of information, a different option could be selected for each one.
This examples show that not only can image and text size change, but the alignment between repeats does as well.
Templating
To set up this template, we will add options under the column in the same way we did under the side. In this example, we can see that the repeat alignment command has different spacing between "standard size" and "large size". This will change the spacing between repeats depending on which option is selection.
SignAgent Interface
Selecting the column option is done in the same place as the side options. In this case, we have repeating messages and so the repeating interface will show beneath and allow you to see the messaging that will be impacted by the column choice.
Repeat Options
The final type of option is a repeat and it offers the most granular control. These options affect individual lines within a repeat and are useful for changing font or justification of a single row.
Example
The first repeat is using the left justified repeat option and the next 3 use a right justified option.
Templating
To set up the template, add repeat options under the repeat line the same was as the side and column options above.
Note that two repeat options have been drawn for the two column options to give a total of 4 different ways the sign can be drawn.
You're not limited there and could have 2 side options, each with 3 column options, each with 4 repeat options however you'd have to draw elements of the sign 24 times in this case.
At a certain point, the number of options will impact artwork rendering speeds, but very complex templates with dozens of options will work.
More Complex Spacing
Each repeat option can have its own repeat alignment command to allow for more complex spacing. In this example, the "left alternate spacing" option has its own repeat alignment command that includes extra space when aligning an arrow to the row above.
SignAgent Interface
When selecting the messaging, each repeat will have a drop down arrow beside it. Hovering over the arrow will display what option is being used for each repeat. Clicking on the arrow will let you select the options.
Now It's Your Turn!
These options may seem intimidating at first but they allow for a much greater range of flexibility within your sign types.