Convert a text frame to a variable

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
September 25, 2018
3 replies
784 views

Hello!

This is the first step in a much larger want, but if I can't get passed this step, not sure the rest will be possible.

My question is:

Can you take copy in a one line text frame and convert it to variable text?

Thanks

Babs

This topic has been closed for replies.

iBabs2Author

Inspiring

Hello.

Sorry for the vagueness...trying to research this in steps.

Michael, Data Merge will not work in the long run, and I am a big fan of it, but this is outside the scope.

Barbara, here is what I am trying to accomplish.

I have images that have bogus names, until a real project number and name can be assigned to it.

The images are placed in Indesign, one on a page, with a few lines of copy. One of those lines is also a bogus name until the final stages.

My goal, if possible, would be to place in the final name once assigned, and then when I package the job for output, have that name rename the Image on that page, with that same text.

I know, it goes against so many things, but that is what the goal would be. This is why I was thinking it had to be a variable text box. Something a script maybe could talk to to change the name of the image on that page, once it collects in the final folder,

I guess the big question is, is this even remotely possible?

Thank you,

Babs

barbara_a7746676

Community Expert

If each image has the same final name then it would make sense to use variables. When you have the final name in hand, you could simply change the Text for the variable and all instances of that variable would automatically update.

If each image is going to have a different final name then it seems just as easy to use Find / Change.

iBabs2Author

Inspiring

Hi Barbara,

Thank you for this..... However, the name that needs to change is actually the linked image name, once the final copy is input.

in the Snapshot I attached, I placed the text "Oscar-007-Final", as an example, to show the new and final name. The image is currently named, "oscarinthewindow.psd".

What I would like to have happen, is take the final name ("Oscar-007-Final") and actually change the name of the Image on that page to have the same name and keep it's suffix. So, "oscarinthewindow.psd" would automatically change to Oscar-007-Final.psd.

This way the packaged files have the images named what they are actually going to be referenced as. This would help with searching older files, as the images would have the appropriate name.

Hope that makes sense??? And thank you for your help and guidance.

Babs