Control variables let you create toggleable options that operators can adjust in the Control Room during a live broadcast. This guide walks through adding a new Boolean control variable to a FUSE graphic, setting its default value, and linking it to graphic elements so operators can show or hide content in real-time.
Prerequisites: Access to the FUSE graphics editor, an existing graphic project, and understanding of basic FUSE expressions and element visibility.
Step 1: Open your graphic in the FUSE editor. Navigate to your FUSE project and open the graphic you want to add a control variable to.
Step 2: Navigate to the Control Variables panel. In the right-hand panel of the FUSE editor, click on the Control Variables tab. This shows all existing variables with their names, types, and default values.
Step 3: Add a new Boolean control variable. Click 'Add Variable', select 'Boolean' as the type, and name it something descriptive like 'ShowTime'. Set the default value to True so the element shows by default.
Step 4: Link the variable to a graphic element. Select the element you want to control and reference the variable in its visibility expression settings. When the variable is False, the element will be hidden.
Step 5: Test in FUSE preview. Toggle the variable on and off to confirm the element appears and disappears as expected.
Step 6: Publish the graphic. After publishing, the new control variable will appear in the Control Room when this graphic is assigned to an event.
Tips: Boolean variables are ideal for show/hide toggles. Always set a sensible default value. Test all variables before publishing. Use descriptive naming conventions like ShowTime, ShowScore, AutoMode.