I’m working on a project where I need to update text and images in a Figma design file automatically. I was thinking of using a JSON file to store the new text and image URLs.
Has anyone done something like this before? Is it possible to do this with the Figma API or by manipulating the Figma file directly?
I’m not sure where to start, so any advice or examples would be super helpful. Thanks!
I’ve actually experimented with this recently. It’s definitely possible to update Figma designs programmatically, but there are some quirks to be aware of.
The Figma API is pretty powerful, but I found it can be a bit finicky when it comes to batch updates. What worked well for me was creating a Node.js script that iterates through a JSON file containing the updates, then uses the API to apply them one by one.
One thing to watch out for is maintaining design consistency. Automated updates can sometimes break layouts or mess with text wrapping. I ended up building in some checks to ensure text fits within its bounds and doesn’t overflow.
Also, consider version control. I made the mistake of not keeping backups initially, and had to redo a bunch of work when some updates went wrong. Now I always create a duplicate of the file before running any automated changes.
It takes some trial and error, but once you get it working, it’s a huge time-saver for things like localization or content updates. Good luck with your project!
yep, its def possible. i’ve messed around with the figma API for similar stuff. u gotta get the node IDs for the bits u wanna change, then use setProperties to update em. just be careful with API limits if ur changing loads of stuff at once. might be worth checking out some github projects for ideas - theres tons of cool stuff out there that does this kinda thing.
yeah, it’s doable. i’ve used the figma API for similar stuff. you’ll need to get node IDs for the elements you wanna change, then use setProperties to update em. just watch out for API rate limits if ur updating lots of stuff. might wanna check out some github repos for examples - there’s a bunch of cool projects that do this kinda thing.
Absolutely, updating Figma designs programmatically is achievable. I’ve implemented this in a recent project using the Figma API. The process involves identifying the node IDs of the elements you want to modify, then utilizing the ‘setProperties’ method to update text or image fills.
For your JSON approach, structure it to mirror your Figma file hierarchy. This will streamline the update process. Remember to handle authentication properly and implement error handling for robustness.
One crucial tip: if you’re dealing with a large number of updates, implement a queuing system or rate limiting mechanism. This helps avoid hitting API rate limits and ensures smooth execution.
While it requires initial setup and familiarity with the API, the long-term time savings are substantial, especially for repetitive updates or localization tasks.
I’ve actually tackled a similar challenge recently. Yes, it’s definitely feasible to update Figma designs programmatically using the Figma API. We used it to automate our localization process, updating text and images across multiple artboards.
The key is to leverage the Figma API’s ‘setProperties’ method. You can target specific text layers or image fills by their node IDs and update their content. For text, it’s straightforward - you just pass the new string. For images, you’ll need to provide a file URL that Figma can access.
One gotcha we encountered was rate limiting. If you’re updating a large number of elements, you’ll need to implement some throttling to avoid hitting API limits. Also, make sure your JSON structure mirrors your Figma file hierarchy to make the updates smoother.
It takes some initial setup, but once you’ve got it working, it’s a huge time-saver. Good luck with your project!