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Version: 4.1 (2026-H2)

Placeholder Mapping (PlaceholderMapping)

Purpose and use​

Placeholders are required so that dynamic data can be displayed in layouts.

The placeholder mapping is used to fill the placeholders in the content template or a PowerPoint template with the desired data, which were previously "promised" in a parent template - e.g. a layout or a master template - using the Placeholder Definition (PlaceholderDefinition) function.

The data can come from the Forms document function or via the Fields document function (user data, JavaScript functions).

The following example assigns the Field FooterGeneral from the Fields document function to the placeholder with the name Footer:
<Text Name="Footer" SourceField="FooterGeneral" />

note

Every placeholder that has been defined in the layout must be mapped, otherwise an error message appears.

Basic Structure​

<PlaceholderMappingConfiguration>
  <Mappings>
    <!-- Placeholders -->
  </Mappings>
</PlaceholderMappingConfiguration>

Attributes​

The following attributes must be set for all available element types (Text, Picture):

Attribute nameDescription
Name
(required)		Is required for identification, can be named the same as the field from Forms or Fields. Must not contain any spaces.
SourceField (required)Is required to map the field from Forms or Fields. Accordingly, the ID of the corresponding field is entered here.

There are three sources for placeholders that can be addressed in the SourceField attribute:

  • a user field: Profile.User.FirstName
  • a Forms field: Forms.MyTextfield / Forms.MainSigner.FirstName
  • a Field: MyField (Caution: the name of a Field must not contain a dot, because grouping is only possible via Objects and ObjectCollections).
info

In the vast majority of cases, a Field is created that dynamically combines and returns content - and is then assigned to a placeholder. User fields are practically never assigned without a detour via a Field.

Elements​

Text​

<Text Name="CreateDate" SourceField="Forms.Date" />

Picture​

<Picture Name="PartnerLogo" SourceField="PartnerLogo" />

GlobalMappings​

The GlobalMappings element can be used to retrieve a globally stored placeholder mapping.

<GlobalMappings Key="Placeholders.Map.Letter" />

More information about the global configurations can be found here: Global Configurations.

A concrete example for recognising the connection between the global entry and the reference to a global entry can be found here: Global Configurations.

Attributes for GlobalMappings​

The reference to a global entry is made using the Key attribute. If you select it, a list of all available global entries is automatically displayed.

Attribute nameDescription
Key
(required)		The ID of the global entry to be referenced.

Example XML configuration​

<PlaceholderMappingConfiguration>
  <Mappings>
    <!-- Data for header -->
    <Text Name="CreateDate"      SourceField="Forms.Date" /><!-- from Forms -->
    <Picture Name="PartnerLogo"  SourceField="PartnerLogo" /><!-- from Fields -->
    <!-- Data for footer -->
    <GlobalMappings Key="Placeholders.Map.Page" /><!-- globally stored -->
    <Text Name="Footer" SourceField="Profile.Org.Footer" /><!-- from user profile -->
  </Mappings>
</PlaceholderMappingConfiguration>