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An option on its own only collects an answer. A connection is what tells Customei to do something with it: write it onto a layer, swap a picture, change a colour. Every connection is the same three-part sentence:
This option  ·  does this  ·  to this layer
Get those three right and the shopper sees the design change as they type.

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Step 1. Check which design template you’re working against

An option set can only connect to layers in the design template it uses. That template is shown at the top of the preview panel, on the right of the editor.
The option set editor with the preview panel header highlighted, showing the word Template followed by the template name and three icon buttons.

The preview panel header names the design template this option set uses.

The three buttons beside the name are: If your option set was created from a template, the right one is already in place and you can skip to step 2. If the panel has no template, or you picked the wrong one, click Change template.
The Select a design template dialog showing a searchable grid of design template cards with their sizes and last-updated dates.

The template picker. Search by name, then click a card to use it.

Changing the template repoints the whole option set at different artwork. Connections that referred to layer numbers in the old design will now point at whatever happens to carry those numbers in the new one, so check every option afterwards.

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Step 2. Find the layer number

Open your design template and look at the Layers panel. Every layer has a number.
The Layers panel of a design template, with the row for layer #14 Kid's Name highlighted.

Layer #14 is the text layer named Kid's Name. That number is what you connect to.

Keep that number handy. It’s the third part of the sentence.

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Step 3. Add the connection

Select an option, scroll to Template connections, and click Add connection.
The Template connections card highlighted, showing a Text connection pointing at Kid's Name, layer #14.

Enter Year writes the customer's text onto layer #14.

Reading that card out loud: the option Enter Year puts its Text onto layer #14, which is called Kid’s Name. When a shopper types 2026, the words on that layer become 2026. Two boxes make up each connection:
  • The left box is what happens: Text, Dynamic image, Text colour, and so on.
  • The right box is which layer it happens to. Start typing a layer name or number and pick from the suggestions.
Click Add another connection if one answer should change more than one thing, for instance a colour swatch that recolours both the wording and the border.

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Swapping a picture instead of text

Selection options work the same way, but the thing that changes is usually an image.
The Template connections card for a swatch option, highlighted, showing a Dynamic image connection pointing at Choose Skin For 1st Woman, layer #3.

A swatch option connected to Dynamic image on layer #3.

Here the option Choose Skin For 1st Woman is a swatch with four choices. The connection says Dynamic image → #3, so picking a swatch swaps the picture on layer #3. The Wizard link at the top right of the card opens a grid where you map every choice to its picture in one pass, instead of one at a time. On an option with a dozen values, this is much faster.

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What a connection can do

Click the left box to see what’s available.
The connection type dropdown for a text option, listing Text, Dynamic image, QR Code, Crossword, Word Search and Word Cloud.

The connection list for a text option. Only the actions that make sense for typing are offered.

Customei only offers the actions that make sense for the option’s type. A colour picker can’t type words onto a layer, so it isn’t offered.

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Which option type offers which

The ? beside the connection type plays a short animation of exactly what that action does to a design. It’s the quickest way to decide between two that sound similar.

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Let the design template update your options for you

Connections point from an option to a layer. There’s also a link running the other way: a design template can keep this option set’s options up to date on its own. Click Settings in the header to see it.
The Option set settings dialog showing the set name and a Linked design templates section listing one template with the note Layers and library bindings drive fields here, and an Unlink action.

Settings shows which design template feeds this option set, and lets you cut the link.

While a template is linked here, its layers drive the options in this set. Rename a layer, add a new one, or change the graphics a layer can use, and the matching options update by themselves. You don’t have to rebuild anything by hand. That’s what “Layers and library bindings drive fields here” means. This link is set up for you when you create an option set from a design template.
Unlink keeps every option exactly as it is, but the design template stops feeding it. Future changes to the template no longer reach these options. Any live product using this option set is also marked as out of date until you publish again. Only unlink if you deliberately want the options to stop following the template.

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When nothing changes in the preview

Work down this list. It’s almost always one of these.
1

The option has no connection

A Connect to template empty state in the card means nothing is wired up yet. The option collects an answer and then throws it away.
2

The connection points at the wrong layer

Check the number in the right box against the Layers panel in your template. It’s easy to grab #4 when you meant #14.
3

Two layers share the same number

Layer numbers can repeat within one template. When they do, Customei asks which layer you meant as you pick it. If you chose the wrong one, delete the connection and add it again.
4

The layer is hidden

A layer switched off in the template won’t show your customer’s answer either. Look for the crossed-out eye beside it in the Layers panel.
5

You haven't saved

Changes only take effect once you hit Save on the save bar at the top.

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Where to next

Assign products and go live

Put the option set on a product page.

Create a design template

Add or rename the layers you want to connect to.