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Question

Can't prototype with design system variables & variant properties

  • August 29, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 27 views

Leticia_de_Souza

Hi everyone, I created a design system and one of the components is a notification center. In one of the files that I’m using it, I want to make an alert update based on a user interaction, but I haven’t been able to do it without creating multiple instances of the component for each alert. What I would like to do is to create a string variable that updates based on what the user is clicking, and that variable would directly change the description and alert title.

Now, here are some issues. I tried making the description and title as a property of the notification center component. That means I can edit it easily, but I can’t link a local variable to it → not helpful. I also tried creating a string variable in the design system itself and publishing it, in the hopes of editing it directly on the file using the design system, but somehow it doesn’t show up in my variables list. Am I doing something wrong or is this a limitation from Figma? It feels weird to have to either create multiple instances of the same component or detach it from the design system to get it to update.

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2 replies

Raphael_M
  • Power Member
  • 394 replies
  • August 30, 2024

You have to remove the text property you attached on the component so you can link a variable to it.



Raphael_M
  • Power Member
  • 394 replies
  • August 30, 2024

Yes, because it is attached to the variable on another file, you have to attach it to your local variable if you want to modify it on the same file.


If I’m not mistaken you did the alert component as 1 component set, and then you use it as a design pattern on another file where you modify the text. So since the modification of the text happens on the other file not the root file, then you should put the variable on that file.

You can freely attach a variable on an instance without the text property.


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