Running H/F Values - Can they be imported?

[ShoshF]

On the Master Pages of each file within a book, I am trying to find a way to insert a Running H/F variable that would import a value from the Title page.

In other words, when the value is updated and saved on the Title page, the variable value in every file within that book would update as well.

Does anyone know how to accomplish this?

[Bob_Niland]

What's the objection to doing it with a Variable, or via a Cross-Reference to that Title page?

Running H/F vars only pickup content from the current page body flow (or from the most recent page that set/changed the referenced element), or from a set of (System only) Variables and couple of special Markers.

For any such RH/F content to actually reflect content from some other page, you'd need to have a local Xref to that remote content, on every page (as in the hack I posted yesterday on thread: create variable for RunningH/F page no.)

[Arnis Gubins]

As Error says, create a user variable for the Title page and import that to all files in the book.

The x-ref approach will also work, but keep in mind that if you publish to PDF, you will have an unintended link from every page header to the Title page.

[ShoshF]

To further explain, several book files share the same set of body files. The only difference between the books is the Title page, plus whatever revisions have been made to one or more body files (updated ones saved as a copy w/ new filename, replaced in new book). This keeps each version of the manual intact by virtue of its dedicated book file, without having to make copies of the entire folder every time.

The problem w/ x-ref (what we do now) is that for whichever book we are using, we have to go into the running h/f of each file and manually redirect all the x-refs to the current Title page.

I thought to solve this problem by naming the book file appropriately and then using the running h/f of <$filename>, but it looks like this only works from within the current body file, not at book level.

[Arnis Gubins]

Create a file for each version of the book and include only the user variable for the Title information that you need. [You have to be careful with customizing any of the system variables - they should be the same for all books.]

When you need to generate any one of the books, then just import the respective variable file into all files at the book level first. This should take just a few seconds.

[Mike Wickham]

If I understand you correctly, it sounds like you would be better off

using variables. You can set a variable for title, author, etc., and use

it on both the title page, in running headers, and anywhere you want in

the book. Then, updating the variable definition changes the values

everywhere. The popular BookVars add-on makes this even easier. You can

set up a variable file for each book, then import it into your main file

as needed. Find it here:

http://leximation.com/tools/info/bookvars.php