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barrydowell
Participant
October 6, 2011
Question

FM9 - Updating information that comes from user variables

  • October 6, 2011
  • 2 replies
  • 671 views

Greetings all -

I'm substituting for the former tech writer/documentation specialist at my place of employ.  The former tech writer/doc specialist resigned and then didn't stick around for the last week that he was supposed to be working for us, so we got literally zero transition assistance from him 😞

I've used Adobe products in the past and come from a publishing/printing background, so I understand a good bit of how FrameMaker works and/or what it is intended to be used for, but I'm stuck in a couple of areas.

It would appear that the person I'm filling in for used manual variables to set a Document revision number and/or Document date in.  I found those and udpated the information in the definitions but I don't see the places where those variables were used updating (headers, cover page, etc.)

What do I need to do to make those changes throughout the book.

If it makes any difference, this is in structured FrameMaker (I got the warning that the book was created in structured mode when I opened it), and as best I can see these were manual variables, not system variables as the dates from the system variables never seemed to be used.

Thanks in advance for your guidance here.  I promise I learn quickly and take instruction well, but I really don't seem to be making progress in FM9 as quickly as I thought I would 😞

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

    Michael_Müller-Hillebrand
    Michael_Müller-Hillebrand
    Legend
    October 6, 2011

    Barry,

    You wrote:

    If it makes any difference, this is in structured FrameMaker (I got the warning that the book was created in structured mode when I opened it),

    If you received such a warning your FrameMaker instance is not running in structured mode and if you clicked Yes you removed all the structure information. In this case you have to switch your FrameMaker using File > Preferences > General and restart from backup files.

    - Michael

    Bob_Niland
    Community Expert
    Bob_NilandCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 6, 2011

    It would appear that the person I'm filling in for used manual variables to set a Document revision number and/or Document date in.

    Do you mean "User Variables"?

    And Document date may or may not be a User Variable. It is often a System Variable, although it may be modified.

    I found those and udpated the information in the definitions but I don't see the places where those variables were used updating (headers, cover page, etc.)

    Well, the whole point of variables is that you don't need to find all the instances of use. They are instantly updated when you edit the  Definition.

    Commonly, one book component contains a superset of variables. You edit them there, then use Import Formats to update the other book files.

    If you really need to find instances, use Find/Change > Variable of Name: [____]

    Be sure to search on Body,  Master and Reference pages.

    B
    barrydowellAuthor
    Participant
    October 6, 2011

    It would appear that the person I'm filling in for (possibly replacing) used "Markers" for the information that I needed to get updated in the header/footer areas.  I somehow stumbled upon those and was able to update them and have the changes reflected throughout the document as expected.

    I'm running into another question now, but I may understand the results I'm getting there... I'm trying to save as .pdf or export/print the document to .pdf and it seems to try to do it, but doesn't actually create the new .pdf file for me.  I'm suspecting that is happening because I'm working with a trial version of the FM9 product on my computer.  I'm going to try to do the same thing from where the licensed product was installed at and see if I get the same behavior and if so, will update or open a new discussion on what needs to be done to fix same.

    If I can figure out the product a bit better I'll be less fearful of making mistakes with it, and more apt to use the licensed product full time.  For now, since I'm in a bit of a learning mode, I'm working with copies of documents rather than originals, and working with the trial mode version of the product on my (current) regular system.  Of course the fact that I'm learning this on the fly and the other person that should be working in the same area would be doing the same doesn't stop the world from turning and doesn't stop the need to update documents that already existed ;-)

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