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Inserting automatic date - updating a date field automatically fields into an inDesign document.

Forum|Forum|13 years ago
August 28, 2012
4 replies
84400 views

I just fell over a silly lapse. I edited a document which has a "status date" and I missed out updating that status date. So I needed to return and edit a second time just to update the silly date.

I was wondering if there is not a possibility to set that date automatically. Looking in the help files, I only found automatic page numbers (but also there I was missing the "total numbers of pages" tag).

FYI: I'm using CS5.0 (ID 7.0.4).

Lucien.

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer Steve Werner

You should use a text variable. You can create one by choosing Type > Text Variables > Define. Use Type > Text Variables > Insert Variables to place the marker in a text frame.

N

Nunnas

Participant

I am also using text variables but with inconsistent results. I have set up a media bar. Consisting of various repeating copy. One of which is the file name and the modified date. This goes on all the work I produce.

I have the file name set to not include the file extension and the modified days to be dd/mm/yy

but if I copy my master text box onto a new or maybe a supplied Indesign file, the text reverts to the default text variable set up, i.e. date is long hand, 10 september 2015 rather than 10/09/15 and the file name has .indd extension on it.

There must be a way to set these variables up so that they do not revert.

Any ideas anyone?

Manythanks

Ian

MADink_Designs27

Inspiring

Close all documents and open any workspace other than Start > Go to Text Variables > Modify the default or create a custom variable (I prefer custom so you're not destroying default) > Set up the variable as desired > Open/create any document and insert the new variable.

Doing the above will set the variable at the preference level meaning it will be available for all documents. That way, you can set the variable and copy/paste and still keep your variable on any document.

With all documents closed, you can also set preferences for swatches, all styles including paragraph styles and character styles, etc. It's very handy to modify your preferences in this manner.

Marty Russell Woodkock

Participant

How do you create this using international standards? For example, 20/02/15 is 20 February 2015. The American way is not the international standards date form. BTW, I'm using InDesign CC 2015.

Peter Spier

Community Expert

When you define the variable you can edit the format to dd/MM/yyyy by typing directly in the field in the define dialog. Note that the MM must be uppercase....

Peter Spier

Community Expert

ID has three types of date variables, Creation date, modification date, and output date.

Steve Werner

Correct answer

Community Expert

You should use a text variable. You can create one by choosing Type > Text Variables > Define. Use Type > Text Variables > Insert Variables to place the marker in a text frame.

LucienSchillingAuthor

Known Participant

Thanks! I saw that "Text Variables" but didn't go further, because I thought of user defined variables. Helps even more, because the "last Page Number" is also present, and I missed it too.

One drawback: "Output date" does not include the PDF export! We export documents, and technically this is our "output". Used the "modification date" is quite the same or even better, as you may create a new output from an otherwise unmodified document.

kelleyeliz

Participant

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it.

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