[Framers] Importing a single variable. WAS: Preventing 2-word product name from line breaks

[Shmuel Wolfson]

Or you could simply delete all the variables from one file except for 
the variable that you want to import, and use that as a template for 
importing to other docs.

--
Shmuel Wolfson
Technical Writer
058-763-7133


On 07-Apr-16 1:43 PM, Heiko Haida wrote:
>   
>
> Hi Roger,
>
> one objection:
>
> Although the mif-file contains only a single variable, FM will add a set
> of default system variables to it.
> By importing the variables into another file, all changes in the
> definition of system variables (like added character formats e.g.) will
> be discarded there.
>
> Best regards -- Tino H. Haida
>
> Roger Shuttleworth:
>
>> This discussion seems to have morphed into one about importing variable definitions in a situation where your work environment doesn't allow you to install plugins. Here's my two pennorth:
>>
>> Monique Semp said:
>> "Yes, but that presupposes that you want *all* the variables from the sourcefile. But in my case, I have different variables in different FrameMakertemplates (for frontmatter, ToC, chapters), with only some variables, suchas the doc's part number, in all the templates. So by using BookVars, I caneasily change/add only the desired variable, to all files in the book,without affecting any other variables."
>>
>> There is a way to import a single variable into your doc. This method may be familiar to those as long in the tooth as I am, but new to the younger generation. I append an answer that was given by Framers years ago, with my acknowledgments to the original author, whoever he/she was.
>>
>> Importing a single variable into a template
>>
>> Create a small text file with the variable and save it with a .mif extension. If you then open that file in FrameMaker, it will appear to be a regular blank FrameMaker document, but you'll know for sure that the only thing it actually contains is the one variable definition you want to import.
>>
>> There are two ways that you can use the variable created in the .mif file: Use that .mif file the same as you would any file from which you are importing formats; or from the File menu, choose Import > File, and then select the Copy into the document radio button.
>>
>> If you need to change the variable definition, edit the text file. See the following example for more information.
>>
>> Example:
>>
>> <MIFFile 6.00>
>> <VariableFormats
>> <VariableFormat
>> <VariableName `CompanyName'>
>> <VariableDef `Your definition here'>>
>> # end of VariableFormat >
>> # end of VariableFormats
>>
>> Note that the opening quote symbol for the variable name and its definition is actually the left slanting character below the tilde on your keyboard. The closing quote is a straight single quote/apostrophe. Note also that if you want to include more variables, you just need the whole group of four lines for each variable. For example, if you added a CompanyShortName variable, the MIF snippet file might look like this:
>>
>> <MIFFile 6.00>
>> <VariableFormats
>> <VariableFormat
>> <VariableName `CompanyName'>
>> <VariableDef `The Fish Dance Slapstick Ballet Company, Ltd.'>>
>> # end of VariableFormat
>> <VariableFormat
>> <VariableName `CompanyShortName'>
>> <VariableDef `Fish Dance'>>
>> # end of VariableFormat>
>> # end of VariableFormats
>>
>> Caveats:
>> I'm not sure whether you would need to change "MIFFile 6.00" into something a bit more up-to-date, but I doubt it. Also, I've not tested this on recent FM versions, but see no reason why it wouldn't work.
>>
>> Hope this helps.
>> Roger
>   
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