The AI Layout Automation feature in Studio makes the process of placing articles on a layout more efficient by analyzing the available space on the pages of a layout and providing suggestions on how and where the available articles and their images can best be placed to fill the pages.
Changes to these suggestions can subsequently be made, and when satisfied with the result, the command can be given to have the articles automatically placed.
The area to fill on the page is based on a blueprint which needs to be set up as part of the Layout Automation configuration.
This article describes how to set up blueprints.
Before you start
It is assumed here that you are familiar with the concepts and the full configuration process of the Layout Automation feature.
Configuration basics
Blueprints are configured on the 'Blueprints' worksheet of the spreadsheet named 'Layout Automation config'.
It contains the following columns:
| Column | Remarks |
|---|---|
| name | The name of the blueprint. This should be unique. |
| sheet_type |
Defines if the blueprint is for a single page or for a spread. Enter one of the following:
|
| width |
The blueprint defines a grid of boxes for a page or spread. The width represents the horizontal box count of the grid. |
| height |
The blueprint defines a grid of boxes for a page or spread. The height represents the vertical box count of the grid. |
| definition | Defines how the blueprint can be filled. A special syntax is used for this which is explained below. |
| source_location | The name of the layout containing the layout structure such as dividing lines. For details, see Creating base layouts for the AI Layout Automation feature in Studio. |
| source_structure | The name of the article containing layout structure such as dividing lines. |
| sections |
The Categories that the blueprint should only be used for. When no configuration exists, the blueprint is automatically used. Example: A blueprint is configured for Categories 'News' and 'Sport'. When the Layout Automation dialog is opened for a layout that belongs to Category 'News' or 'Sport', the blueprint is used. If not, the blueprint is ignored. The use of this feature requires data format version 2 or higher, see the 'version' column below. Enter one of the following:
Note: Other quotes, such as curly double quotes or single quotes, should not be prefixed.
Example: "news","sport","national \"politics\"" Note: Make sure that the Categories that are referenced actually exist within the Brand. |
| version |
The version of the blueprint data format that is used by the Layout Automation service. Version 2 added support for blueprints per Category. Only add this column to the spreadsheet for data format version 2 or higher. When the column is missing, version 1 is assumed. |
How to fill out most of the columns is self explanatory, but those for setting up the definition and the layout structure need some explanation. This is done in the sections below.
Setting up the blueprint definition
The definition of the blueprint defines how the area that the blueprint takes up should be filled: which part of the area should be filled with a lead story, which part should be filled with a secondary or third story, and so on.
For fillers, specials, and advertisements, it can further be defined if the Layout Automation service is free to fill it in a certain way: by filling it using only one article, by using two articles in which one takes up 3/4 of the space and the other 1/4, or two articles that each take up the space equally, and so on.
Setting up partitions this way greatly reduces the number of blueprints that are needed.
A special syntax is used to describe this distribution within the blueprint area.
The Blueprint editor
Because this syntax is quite technical and not user friendly to read, a special tool is available to generate and visualize the syntax: the Blueprint editor.
It can be accessed by right-clicking a cell or row in the spreadsheet and choosing 'Open Blueprint editor' in the context menu. It opens in your default web browser.
Note: When right-clicking a row or cell of a blueprint that is already set up, the full definition of that blueprint is loaded into the Blueprint editor. Do this to see what the blueprint looks like, or as a starting point to configure a new blueprint.
In the following example, a blueprint has been set up for a single page, with a lead story (§1) at the top, a secondary story (§2) at the bottom left, and a filler (§4) at the bottom right of the page. The filler has been further configured to give the Layout Automation service the freedom to fill it in one of three different ways: by using 3 stories spanning 1, 2, and 1 row, by using 2 stories each spanning 2 rows, or by using one story spanning all 4 rows.
This results in the following syntax: (5x4[§1]-(3x4[§2]|2x4[§4-{1:2:1,2:2,4}])).
Note: There is no need to be able to understand or read the syntax; the Blueprint editor is used for visualizing it.
Blueprint editor components
The following table describes the components of the Blueprint editor.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
|
|
Preview. Shows a preview of the page grid to configure. A blueprint configuration consists of boxes that together entirely cover the page grid. To configure the blueprint box, click a tile and drag over the area until the desired surface is covered, then release the mouse button. Repeat this step until the page area is entirely filled with boxes. For each blueprint box, the configured compatible story types are shown (§1, §2, and so on, see below), and a sequential identifier (ⓐ, ⓑ, and so on), mainly used for referencing that story in the preview. This is especially handy for the exceptional case of two boxes having the exact same type (see Story types below).
|
| Copy preview button. Copies an image of the preview area and its configuration to the clipboard, for use as context or reference such as in the spreadsheet or in a layout on the pasteboard or a dedicated layer. | |
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Story types. Defines the story types that the selected blueprint boxes are compatible with:
Multiple selections are possible. The sequential identifiers (ⓐ, ⓑ, and so on) in front of each line are used for referencing that story in the preview (see above). This is especially handy for stories that are of the same type. |
| Edit button. Opens the Edit dialog for editing the partitioning of an area. See 'Setting up partitions' below. | |
| Add partitioning button. Opens a dialog for pasting in an existing partitioning definition. | |
| Delete button. Deletes the defined component. | |
| Partitions field. Shows the partitions that are defined for a story. | |
|
Definition field. Shows the blueprint definition (not editable). Copy definition button. Copies the definition to the clipboard. |
Quick steps
When familiar with the working and components of the Blueprint editor, setting up a blueprint can be done quickly:
- Click a tile and drag an area in the preview.
- Select the check box to indicate the story types it is compatible with.
- (For fillers, specials, and advertisements only) Click the Edit button to set up a partitioning.
- Repeat this for all stories until the whole area is covered.
- Click Copy definition and paste the definition in the spreadsheet.
- When done setting up all blueprints, upload the new definitions to the Layout Automation service (see the steps in Setting up and configuring the AI Layout Automation feature in Studio).
More detailed information about all the steps is given below.
Setting up partitionings
For fillers, specials, and advertisements, the defined area can be partitioned to give the Layout Automation service the freedom to fill it in different ways.
These partitionings can be set up by using different methods:
- Manually from scratch
- Based on an existing partitioning
- Generated automatically
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Method 1. Setting up partitionings manually from scratch In this scenario, partitionings are created by starting with no partitionings and adding each one manually. Step 1. Click the Edit button for the story of type filler, special, or advert. The Partitioning dialog appears. It is initially empty apart from the buttons to set up the partitioning with. Step 2. (Optional) Click the Orientation toggle to switch between a horizontal or a vertical orientation of the grid. The icon in the toggle indicates its current setting. Step 3. Click Add. A row appears showing the available grid. Step 4. Click one or more dividers between the rows to set up a partition. Here, a 2-by-3 partitioning is defined: Step 5. Repeat this process until all required partitionings have been created. Step 6. Click Add to add one more row without dividers. This is required to make it possible for the Layout Automation service to fully fill the area. Step 7. Click Done to close the dialog. Note: The Done button is grayed out when there is no partitioning with no dividers set up, or when partitioning has been set up for stories other than a filler, special, or advert. The partitioning definition is shown in the Blueprint editor. |
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Method 2. Creating a partitioning based on an existing partitioning In this scenario, the definition of an existing partitioning is used as a starting point. This definition can be taken from an existing blueprint definition in the spreadsheet, a list of often used partitioning definitions that is kept track of, and so on. Step 1. Copy the partitioning definition that you want to use. Example: 5,3:2,2:3,4:1,1:4 Step 2. Click the Add partitioning button for a story of type filler, special, or advertisement. Step 3. In the dialog that appears, paste the definition and click OK. The partitionings are added. For the example given above, the following partitionings are shown: Step 4. (Optional) Click Add to add additional partitionings. Note: Make sure that one row without dividers is added. This is required to make it possible for the Layout Automation service to fully fill the area. Step 5. Click Done to close the dialog. Note: The Done button is grayed out when there is no partitioning with no dividers set up, or when partitioning has been set up for stories other than a filler, special, or advert. The partitioning definition is shown in the Blueprint editor. |
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Method 3. Automatically generating partitionings In this scenario, all possible partitioning combinations for the available area are automatically generated. Use this for example as a starting point. Step 1. Click the Edit button for the story of type filler, special, or advert. The Partitioning dialog appears. It is initially empty apart from the buttons to set up the partitioning with. Step 2. (Optional) Click the Orientation toggle to switch between a horizontal or a vertical orientation of the grid. The icon in the toggle indicates its current setting. Step 3. Click Generate. A message appears stating that all possible partitionings for the available area will be generated and that it will replace any existing definition. Step 4. Confirm that you want to continue by clicking OK. All possible partitionings are displayed. Figure: An example of automatically generating all possible partitioning combinations for a given area. Step 5. Make any necessary changes, such as deleting unwanted partitionings. Note: A partitioning with no dividers is always required to make it possible for the Layout Automation service to fully fill the area. Step 6. Click Done to close the dialog. Note: The Done button is grayed out when there is no partitioning with no dividers set up or when partitioning has been set up for stories other than a filler, special, or advert. The partitioning definition is shown in the Blueprint editor. |
Setting up the layout structure
Apart from the articles and their images and quotes, the area that is covered by the blueprint typically also contains dividing lines. This is referred to as the layout structure (also known as 'page constants' or 'page ornaments') and also needs to be defined so that the Layout Automation service is aware of these and can correctly place them.
The layout structure can exist as part of an article or as separate objects on a layout. The name of the layout or article that contains the layout structure that the Layout Automation service can use is referenced on the Blueprints worksheet in the following columns:
- source_location for the layout
- source_structure for the article
Prepare these layouts and/or articles. They should exist in the same Brand as the layout for which the blueprint is used.
Tip: Use a naming convention to easily identify layouts and articles that are used for this purpose.
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Example: Here, a layout named 'Structure_BrandA_BP1' is created containing lines dividing 3 areas. By adding the name 'Structure_BrandA_BP1' to the source_location column in the spreadsheet for a given blueprint, the Layout Automation service then uses the objects from that layout. |
Revisions
- 17 December 2025: Updated the name of the example layout in section 'Setting up the layout structure' to reflect the recommended naming convention.
- 16 December 2025: Updated the table in section 'Configuration basics' by adding a link for source_location.
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