Calculated Dates

Question

I want to use a date in my FM (2022) document - it will be a user-entered date - in a process document. The user would specify how many days it takes to complete a specific process. The aim is to say that if you start Process A on the 1st of July, and the process takes 2 days to complete, you should start on Process B on the 3rd of July. Process B takes 1 day to complete, so Process C should start on the 4th of July, and so on...

The aim is that the content writer would specify the duration (in days) of each process. When producing the final document, they would update the start date for the first process and the start date of all subsequent processes would be updated accordingly.

Without using an scripts, is this possible through the use of Variables? I am using Structured FrameMaker, so could do something with Attributes in the EDD, though I'm not sure how practical that would be - if it's even possible.

Suggestions for the experts?

frameexpert · Answer

It would have to be scripted via ExtendScript. ExtendScript (Javascript) has a Date object that would allow date math like this. The script would also need to update the appropriate content areas with the calculated dates. If you want to explore a scripting solution, please contact me offlist. rick at frameexpert dot com

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