> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pads4.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Image content properties

These properties define the **image displayed** on the button surface of an interactive button element.

***

### **Image Source Options**

To specify the **origin** or **type of picture**, choose one of the following options:

| **Option**                         | **Description**                                                                                                                                                              |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Content Library**                | Reference an existing picture file from the **PADS4 Content Library** (recommended). Content Library items are **auto-synced across all PCs**, with **relative references**. |
| **File Name**                      | Reference an existing picture file located **outside the Content Library**. Files must be manually distributed and referenced with **absolute file paths**.                  |
| **External Data from Data Source** | Connect the element to a **Data Provider** and specify which data row and column will provide the image dynamically.                                                         |

***

### **Data Provider Settings** (When using external data)

| **Property**      | **Description**                                                                                                                                                             |
| ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Data Provider** | Connect to a source such as a table, query, stored procedure, XML file, RSS feed, etc. You can create new providers on the fly. See *Working with Data Providers* for more. |
| **Column**        | Select the column containing the image reference.                                                                                                                           |
| **Content Type**  | Specify how the content should be interpreted (e.g., image file path, URL, etc.).                                                                                           |
| **Row**           | Specify which row of the data source to bind to the element.                                                                                                                |

***

### **Image Display Options**

| **Property**              | **Description**                                                                          |
| ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Stretch**               | If enabled, the image will automatically resize to **fit the element boundaries**.       |
| **Maintain Aspect Ratio** | If enabled, the image will **retain its original width-to-height ratio** when stretched. |

***

### **Remarks**

* Only **references** to image files are stored in the presentation, **not the images themselves**. If the image file is updated, **the new version will be used automatically** during playback.
* If the specified **row** does not exist in the data source, **no image** will be displayed.
* **TIP**: For best visual quality, try to display images at their **original size** when possible.