Overview
Control variables allow you to give operators real-time control over graphic elements during live broadcasts. When you add control variables to a FUSE graphic, they appear as interactive controls in the Control Room — Boolean variables create toggle switches, String variables provide text entry fields, and Player variables generate dropdown menus showing the full team roster.
You'll use control variables when you want operators to:
* Toggle graphic elements on or off during a live match
* Enter custom text that displays in graphics
* Select specific players from team rosters for player-focused graphics
Types of Control Variables
FUSE supports three types of control variables:
Boolean: Creates an on/off toggle switch in the Control Room. Use for showing or hiding graphic elements, such as displaying or hiding stoppage time, match time, or sponsor logos.
String: Creates a text entry field in the Control Room. Operators can type custom text that displays in the graphic.
Player: Creates a dropdown menu listing all players from the team roster. Use for player statistics graphics, player of the match displays, or any graphic requiring player-specific information.
How to Add a Boolean Control Variable
1. Open your graphic in the FUSE editor.
2. Navigate to the Control Variables panel in the right-hand panel of the FUSE editor.
3. Click Add Variable.
4. Select Boolean as the type.
5. Name the variable descriptively, such as ShowTime or ShowScore.
6. Set the default value to True or False. True means the element shows by default when the graphic loads.
7. Link the variable to a graphic element by selecting the element you want to control and referencing the variable in its visibility expression settings.
When the variable is set to False, the linked element will be hidden. When True, the element appears.
How to Add a String Control Variable
1. Open your graphic in the FUSE editor.
2. Navigate to the Control Variables panel.
3. Click Add Variable.
4. Select String as the type.
5. Name the variable descriptively based on what text it will contain.
6. Link the variable to a text element in your graphic by binding the text field to the String variable expression.
Operators can then type custom text in the Control Room that displays in the linked text element.
How to Add a Player Control Variable
1. Open your graphic in the FUSE editor.
2. Navigate to the Control Variables panel.
3. Click Add Variable.
4. Select Player as the type.
5. Name the variable descriptively, such as selectedPlayer.
6. Link the variable to graphic elements using player data expressions such as player.data.first_name, player.data.last_name, or player.data.stats.goals.
In the Control Room, operators will see a dropdown menu listing all available players from the team roster. When they select a player, all linked expressions update to display that player's information.
Testing and Publishing
After adding control variables:
1. Use the FUSE preview to test each variable. Toggle Boolean variables on and off, enter test text in String variables, and select different players from Player variable dropdowns.
2. Verify that all linked graphic elements respond correctly to variable changes.
3. Publish the graphic when satisfied.
4. After publishing, the control variables will appear in the Control Room when the graphic is assigned to an event.
Tips
* Boolean variables are ideal for show/hide toggles during live broadcasts.
* Always set a sensible default value for Boolean variables — this determines the element's initial state when the graphic loads.
* Use descriptive naming conventions such as ShowTime, ShowScore, or AutoMode so operators immediately understand what each variable controls.
* Test all variables in FUSE preview before publishing to catch any binding issues early.
* Player variables automatically populate from team roster data — ensure rosters are up to date in the platform before the match.