Images

An image is a component that contains a GIF, JPEG, or some other graphic file. You can place image components within other components (like tables, lists, and repeaters, for example), or directly on the report body.

Creating an Image

To create an image component:

1. Click the canvas where you want to insert the image component.

2. Select Report > Insert > Image from the menu.

Alternative: Right-click and select Insert image from the short-cut menu.

3. Specify the location of the image file(s). See Specifying an Image Source for more information.


Note		The location of all image files must be specified relative to the target destination of the HTML+CSS or XSL-FO. For example, do not specify c:\myFiles\images as a source directory unless that directory is accessible to the finished report.

Graphical Representation

In the XML Publisher canvas, an image is represented as a small square with a cross-hatched pattern. Figure 539 shows an image component that includes some text to its right - (photo of the author).

Figure 539. Image (with text)

Images are resolved when you preview the report only if the image files are accessible to Stylus Studio using the source information you have specified. Unresolved images are rendered as red Xs, as shown in Figure 540:

Figure 540. Symbol for Unresolved Image in Preview Window

Specifying an Image Source

You can use static and dynamic images in a report. A static image is one that never changes. An example of a static image is a corporate logo that appears in a fixed place on a report. To specify a static image, just the complete file URL in the image's Source property - file://c:\MyProjects\StylusLogo.gif, as shown in Figure 541.

Figure 541. Example of a Static Image

A dynamic image is one whose source changes based on the context defined for it. An example of a dynamic image is the cover art for the movies in the videos.xml document - the image varies based on the video id as determined by the current context.

To specify a dynamic image, you need to define the image component's Source property's Context and XPath sub-properties:

l Context - defines the document context for the evaluation of the Source property's XPath sub-property. This can be a source document URL, or a variable.

l XPath - an XPath expression used to evaluate the source document; the context for the XPath expression is determined by the Context sub-property. This can be any XPath expression.

When you specify these properties, Stylus Studio displays <dynamic> in the Source property field.