Variables established at book level?

[David Spreadbury]

Nancy,
At my last full-time position we developed our documents to a telecommunications spec. In the spec there is defined a DocID (Document Identifier) file. In this file, which is not published with the book, we had place holders for all of the book-wide variables; title, doc no., doc date, etc.

When we worked on a book, this file was usually the first file worked on by updating all of the variables that applied.

Then, with this file saved and minimized, all of the variables were imported to all of the other chapters of the book. Made for a very easy way to control the book-wide variables.

-----Original Message-----
From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Nancy Allison
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 10:53 AM
To: framers at lists.frameusers.com
Subject: Variables established at book level?

Hi, everyone.

Is there a way to establish variables in the first file in your book file and have them carry through all the remaining files?

The appeal is, I establish book title, part number, and rev date variables on the cover page of my book; I then use those variables in the headers and footers of all the following chapters. It would be great to only have to set them up once, without even using the "Import Formats" function, through which I have come to grief more than once.

Is there a way to change the variables in the Cover file (the first file in my book.fm) and have them carry over into all the remaining book files, without having to do anything more?

I know about the plug-in, "BookVars," but  I think someone mentioned a built-in capability in Frame along those lines.

Or did I dream that? 

Thanks.

--Nancy