# Blinded by variables in CMS Images **URL:** \ **Category:** RapidWeaver Elements\ **Created:** [August 8, 2026, 11:41am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252 "2026-08-08T11:41:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![upssjw](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/upssjw/32/26063_2.png) [@upssjw](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/upssjw)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 11:54am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252/21 "2026-08-10T11:54:12Z")
I don’t need the actual images or text just the layout and text placements it could just be any images and any text etc I can create md and custom component, you would need to adjust for your images and data etc. then do what what you want with it. Saves me work in the end ---
**Author:** ![upssjw](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/upssjw/32/26063_2.png) [@upssjw](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/upssjw)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 12:27pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252/22 "2026-08-10T12:27:18Z")
@PMUK this is a cutdown version I just wrote but exactly the same, on my iPhone though, so might not be aligned properly under unit idunit I am just using anchors (&) and aliases (\*) ```auto database: - &item1 {name: "Addon1", image: "/resources/addons/pick1.jpg", direction: "Left", size: "4"} - &item2 {name: "Addon2", image: "/resources/addons/pick2.jpg", direction: "Right", size: "6"} - &item3 {name: "Addon3", image: "/resources/addons/pick3.jpg", direction: "Center", size: "8"} unit: - idunit: "Unit 1" price: "£100" class: "One" data: [*item1, *item2] - idunit: "Unit 2" price: "£120" class: "Three" data: [*item2, *item3] - idunit: "Unit 3" price: "£150" class: "Five" data: [*item1, *item2, *item3] ``` ---
**Author:** ![upssjw](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/upssjw/32/26063_2.png) [@upssjw](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/upssjw)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 12:40pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252/23 "2026-08-10T12:40:21Z")
You can add to the anchors for more info to show on the page The custom component is the loop, I just placed custom component in the item component, not the collection component, I then pointed the item component at the the actual md file. Elements CMS online cannot work with this You can work with a md file outside of Elements edit and drop into the folder on your site just keep the original in the project. Just need to be precise on changing data in the md file, no adding other data fields ---
**Author:** ![PMUK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7993a0/32.png) [@PMUK](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/PMUK)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 12:41pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252/24 "2026-08-10T12:41:29Z")
Steve I am sorry but now I am lost, I am visual person and also a copier and pater. I have tried and I really appreciate your help, there is no hurry so when you get home if you dont mind can I have a copy of the robots one you had last night. APOLOGIES but THANKS! ---
**Author:** ![upssjw](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/upssjw/32/26063_2.png) [@upssjw](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/upssjw)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 12:43pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252/25 "2026-08-10T12:43:36Z")
Sure but it is the custom component that does all the work the md file is the basic bit, might be easier if I set this one up as it will be easier to read and understand. Still do the same, if you say how many different variables there are, still 4 robots?? I assume Then it will be just a copy paste setup images and data, you can tweak the layout as you need If you have a lot of variants might take you a while but ---
**Author:** ![upssjw](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/upssjw/32/26063_2.png) [@upssjw](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/upssjw)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 4:12pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252/26 "2026-08-10T16:12:24Z")
@PMUK This all custom component ok this didnt take long I just deleted from my current template and changed the twig. The &items, you can add info to these, just make sure format is right I added the image for each unit and price as fixed not in the database part, just to show different format ok see video on YouTube I just recorded this now, one go, no script just straight to point, I have a useless mic and may pick up tv, ok I talk as well link - [https://youtu.be/V2gKWyt2-Cw](https://youtu.be/V2gKWyt2-Cw) here is the cut down project - [elementsapp://downloadDocument/NRrJkyH2vKka](elementsapp://downloadDocument/NRrJkyH2vKka) ---
**Author:** ![PMUK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7993a0/32.png) [@PMUK](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/PMUK)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 4:16pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252/27 "2026-08-10T16:16:32Z")
Steve THANKS but this is not the Robot one you had on last night which was just what I wanted. I know you are very good at deleting things that you do, but sadly I was not at a computer un til this morning and you changed it to this. Do you still have Robot one from last night? TUA ---
**Author:** ![upssjw](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/upssjw/32/26063_2.png) [@upssjw](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/upssjw)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 4:24pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252/28 "2026-08-10T16:24:06Z")
this is exactly the same as the robot one, just different names and page layout, I just deleted the robot stuff and replaced with this, took out a few names and saved as this, so you would need to change the names anyway to suit what you are creating, the robot version is deleted ---
**Author:** ![upssjw](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/upssjw/32/26063_2.png) [@upssjw](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/upssjw)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 4:49pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252/29 "2026-08-10T16:49:44Z")
I just added bg colors for each item in the card You can add what you want, the database is just 3 instead of 8 from the robot version, just add 5 10 etc more &items, call everything what you want as I said this is custom component driven, not Elements, just using item to get the php and cms ---
**Author:** ![upssjw](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/upssjw/32/26063_2.png) [@upssjw](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/upssjw)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 5:26pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252/30 "2026-08-10T17:26:24Z")
can add search ---
**Author:** ![PMUK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7993a0/32.png) [@PMUK](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/PMUK)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 6:03pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252/31 "2026-08-10T18:03:30Z")
Steve not at a computer until tomorrow morning. Can you kindly leave on until then and I will look tomorrow morning. THANKS! ---
**Author:** ![upssjw](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/upssjw/32/26063_2.png) [@upssjw](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/upssjw)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 6:09pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252/32 "2026-08-10T18:09:24Z")
I’ll leave until 19:00tomorrow ---
**Author:** ![upssjw](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/upssjw/32/26063_2.png) [@upssjw](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/upssjw)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2026, 3:58am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252/33 "2026-08-11T03:58:33Z")
Checked it works online [https://sjwjaw.co.uk/](https://sjwjaw.co.uk/) ---
**Author:** ![upssjw](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/upssjw/32/26063_2.png) [@upssjw](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/upssjw)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2026, 5:13am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252/34 "2026-08-11T05:13:51Z")
ok because twig has math I added base price and add-on prices ---
**Author:** ![PMUK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7993a0/32.png) [@PMUK](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/PMUK)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2026, 4:44pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252/35 "2026-08-11T16:44:48Z")
Steve Had a fun day - got things working a bit but now adding all my databases, stopped for day as had to clean up one database before loading it. I am making brilliant progress so I let you know where I am up to and if I get stuck. THANKS again! Have agreta evening! ---
**Author:** ![upssjw](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/upssjw/32/26063_2.png) [@upssjw](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/upssjw)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2026, 4:50pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252/36 "2026-08-11T16:50:07Z")
Cool, would be good see your progress, I removed the printing by the way, better add closer to you closing your layout ---
**Author:** ![upssjw](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/upssjw/32/26063_2.png) [@upssjw](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/upssjw)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 6:42am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252/37 "2026-08-12T06:42:31Z")
changed to list not finished, I still haven’t added the colors I highlighted in the front matter you can see I adjusted frontmatter to list rather than line doesnt matter, I will use this layout for something else I am doing, it is better responsive wise, all flex as per the previous version ---
**Author:** ![upssjw](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/upssjw/32/26063_2.png) [@upssjw](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/upssjw)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 6:53am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252/38 "2026-08-12T06:53:56Z")
Would it work better if the user selected the addons to build it against the specific unit ( in my example), not really sure what you are trying to get to Or do you have a really large number of addons Did you try Thom’s solution as well ---
**Author:** ![PMUK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7993a0/32.png) [@PMUK](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/PMUK)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 9:23am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252/39 "2026-08-12T09:23:31Z")
Steve I am just starting todays session but need to finish cleaning database first. To recap I have a “robot” there are nearly 20K of them and as the say “the possibilities are endless” 🙂 Basically there are subsections (characters) and I’m just doing one to get it cvorrect and then the others will be “easy”. They have a head, a body with arms and legs. So 1 basic robot can come in around hundreds of combinations. Take head for example there are numerous facial expressions, colours etc. they may have hair - different styles and colours - a hat - once again different styles and colours etc etc. One might have two arms same colour with one coloured hand, some may have different coloured arms or hand combinations then when you add that to head you then have multiple combinations again. So I have a catalogue of pictures, all parts have a unique number and each finished “robot” has a unique SKU. So it is a rather large relational database of pictures (parts) to make a whole. I am cracking on with yesterdays offering for now and will let you know as soon as I run into any problems but getting there. THANKS ---
**Author:** ![upssjw](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/upssjw/32/26063_2.png) [@upssjw](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/upssjw)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 9:44am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252/40 "2026-08-12T09:44:11Z")
not sure I would use this approach for that many [Previous page](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/blinded-by-variables-in-cms-images/57252.md?page=3)