Is it possible to do smart text in InDesign? Dates, pages, etc?

Question

I have a cover page of a report I generate once or twice a month, and have to manually update the month (and year) every time. Sometimes I forget to, and the document has an error.

Is it possible for me to set dynamic text like you might do in TextExpander? It just says MONTH/YEAR and when I export to PDF, it's filled with JANUARY 2020?

Similarly, I know I can add a page number marker in the master page, but sometimes I need to take a page out and then remember to update the overall page count. Is there no entry for "total page count"?

Barb Binder · Accepted Answer

Hi Whiskeyfoxtrot: yes to both questions. Use text variables—Last Page Number for the document page count, and Modification Date (which can be customized to your format):

See https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/text-variables.html for more information.

~Barb

Barb Binder · Answer

We are always happy to help.

Two additional tips for others using variables that find this thread (the two you are using will automatically update):

I use a lot of variables in my work, and I find it clunky to update all of the values. Until Adobe makes it easier, you can install and run this free script, which means you just have to double click a variable on the page to update it.
http://www.indiscripts.com/post/2019/08/instantvariable-edit-quickly-your-indesign-variables
I have also forgotten to update variables, so I leave a reminder note on the pasteboard that I read before I start the job.

~Barb

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