[Framers] "Visible" Variables

[Lynne A. Price]

Alison,

    You can use Peter's approach. To apply a character format in the 
definition of a variable, put the character tag in angle brackets before 
the text; to go back to the previous character format use <Default ¶ 
Font> or </>. The Add/Edit Variable dialog includes a list of 
backet-enclosed character formats and <Default ¶ Font> so you don't have 
to type them.

    If you don't want to bother defining a new color, you can maintain 
two files, each with a single entry in the character catalog, called 
something like VariableFormat. In one define VariableFormat to have the 
properties you want, in the other define VariableFormat to be AsIs for 
all properties; in the other define VariableFormat to have the 
properties you want while editing. Include <VariableFormat>  in the 
definition of every variable. To switch between the two views, import 
formats, selecting only character formats, from the appropriate file. By 
the way, to define a character format that doesn't change any 
properties, in the Character Designer, type Shift-F8.

   You could also use conditional text and apply a Variable condition to 
all variables with a global Find/Change. As needed, you can either 
change the condition indicator for the Variable condition, or show or 
hide condition indicators.

    The special color is the only one of these methods that doesn't 
require you to make an appropriate setting before printing.

     --Lynne

On 5/27/2021 5:01 PM, Peter Gold wrote:
> I can't remember if variables can be defined with a character format. If
> so, define a format with a color that you define as a non-printing color in
> a color-definition set. If not, use Find to apply a format with a
> non-printing color to the variables.
>
> On Thu, May 27, 2021 at 6:52 PM A Craig<acraig at shaw.ca>  wrote:
>
>> FrameMaker 2020
>> Win 10, 64 bit
>> Unstructured
>>
>> Word has the option to "Show Bookmarks" so they're always highlighted
>> within
>> the text (but of course they don't print).
>>
>> Does Frame have anything similar for variables?
>>
>> It would be great if I could look at a page of Frame text and immediately
>> see which items were inserted as variables.
>>
>> Alison

-- 
Lynne A. Price
Text Structure Consulting, Inc.
Specializing in structured FrameMaker consulting, application development, and training
lprice at txstruct.com            http://www.txstruct.com
voice/fax: (510) 583-1505      cell phone: (510) 421-2284