[Framers] "Visible" Variables

[Jeff Coatsworth]

Hi Alison,

Use the Tracker - (https://tracker.adobe.com/) - to get suggestions on Adobe's radar. Post back & others can join in to vote up your suggestion.

Jeff

________________________________
From: Framers <framers-bounces+jeff.coatsworth=jonasclub.com at lists.frameusers.com> on behalf of A Craig <acraig at shaw.ca>
Sent: May 28, 2021 1:16 PM
To: 'An email list for people using Adobe FrameMaker software.'
Subject: Re: [Framers] "Visible" Variables

Thanks Lynne and Peter.

I'll probably go with a non-printing colour, but Adobe, if you're listening, this would be a great addition to the next revision of Frame! ;-))))

Alison



-----Original Message-----
From: Framers [mailto:framers-bounces+acraig=shaw.ca at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Lynne A. Price
Sent: May 27, 2021 5:44 PM
To: framers at lists.frameusers.com
Subject: Re: [Framers] "Visible" Variables

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

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