Randomize Images in SmartStream

[Slappy]

Not sure this is possible using SmartStream, but one of our internal "geniuses" has promised a set of 1000 calendars to be produced where say Company A gets 12 calendars, and for every piece, the month's main pic is randomly assigned from a pool of images supplied. So all 12 calendars may use the same images, just placed differently within each month's spread.

And of course, the back page will need the 12 thumbnails to match that same random order. My head hurts.
I did a few Data Sets, here are the first 2, but when I output the 2nd data set, it doesn't follow the Rules (screenshot) and only uses the first "ImageName" pic - for ALL the image placeholders.

Placeholder	ImageName
Image1	TestImage1.jpg
Image2	TestImage2.jpg
Image3	TestImage3.jpg
Image4	TestImage4.jpg
Image5	TestImage5.jpg
Image6	TestImage6.jpg
Image7	TestImage7.jpg
Image8	TestImage8.jpg
Image9	TestImage9.jpg
Image10	TestImage10.jpg
Image11	TestImage11.jpg
Image12	TestImage12.jpg

  

Placeholder	ImageName
Image1	TestImage2.jpg
Image2	TestImage5.jpg
Image3	TestImage7.jpg
Image4	TestImage9.jpg
Image5	TestImage6.jpg
Image6	TestImage11.jpg
Image7	TestImage10.jpg
Image8	TestImage8.jpg
Image9	TestImage12.jpg
Image10	TestImage3.jpg
Image11	TestImage1.jpg
Image12	TestImage4.jpg

[Joe]

My head hurts.

When I read your first paragraph my first thought was "My head hurts". Great minds think alike!

[DCurry]

I think your data needs to have 12 columns - 1 for each image like the screenshot below. Also I don't think you'd need a rule - just tell each picture box what field to reference for its image.

[Slappy]

Ah, ok - I was starting to go down that path then just gave up for the day. The other "special" part of this is that each month has to have 2 potential images. I honestly think I'll make a Set A & Set B and that will have to do. This fucking thing is WAY over-promised - oh and it's a promo job so as usual there's NO money in it. 

[DigiCorn]

Fuck that guy


Just sayin'....

[scottrsimons]

I think DCurry was onto something here but I believe you need to take a step further by having the PlaceHolder field and the ImageName field for each month in there for each month. And if you need two, then you will need two columns for each month.

[DCurry]

I don't think you need 2 columns for each month. Assuming the Placeholder is the same image but just used in a smaller picture box, you just have SmartStream scale the photo to fit on that box.

If it's a different placeholder image  than the one used full size on the actual months, then yes you might need 2 fields. Even that can be gotten around with a properly-crafted rule. For instance, let's say your placeholder image is a different image completely. If you name the placeholder image consistently, like "TestImage1_placeholder.tif" you could make a rule in SS that concats the data called for in the image field and "_placeholder".

The only reason you'd need 2 columns for each month is if there's no rhyme/reason to the naming conventions. And even if that's the case, you can always rename your images to make the concat rule idea possible.

If I recall correctly it's a little tricky to concat the image name in a rule but it is definitely possible - I've done it many times. If you get that far with it I might have some notes on it somewhere that I can refer to.