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Shared Cover pages for three books

Explorer ,
Jan 12, 2023 Jan 12, 2023

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Hi,

A previous writer created a Product Name variable, and three books share a cover page. When I edit the Product Name variable and change the name, it applies that name to the cover page throughout all the books. Is there a way to use the Product Name variable and make each book's cover page different?

 

Is there something I am doing wrong??

 

Thank you for any help.

 

Cheers,

Elizabeth 

 

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Community Expert ,
Jan 12, 2023 Jan 12, 2023

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Hi @Tina-Louise.Allaire:

 

When I edit the Product Name variable and change the name, it applies that name to the cover page throughout all the books

...because they are all using the same file.

 

It's a single page. Is there a compelling reason not to have one for each file? If there is a graphic on it, it will be linked so you can still change all three at one time.

 

~Barb

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Explorer ,
Jan 12, 2023 Jan 12, 2023

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Hi Barb,

I can't think of any reason why all three books need to share a cover page. 

What is the best (and easiest) way to fix this issue? 

 

Thank you.

 

Elizabeth 

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Community Expert ,
Jan 12, 2023 Jan 12, 2023

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Hi Elizabeth:

 

I would just open the current cover, and save it three times, giving each an book-specific name (i.e., Book1Cover. fm, Book2Cover.fm) and then add each cover to the appropriate book.

 

~Barb

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Explorer ,
Jan 12, 2023 Jan 12, 2023

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That is the path I chose.

Thanks for this!  

Elizabeth 

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Community Expert ,
Jan 12, 2023 Jan 12, 2023

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There are as many potential paths to choose from as there are people here who are happy to help, and to share the workflow that makes the most sense to them. Glad you have settled on one that will work for you. 

 

~Barb

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Community Expert ,
Jan 12, 2023 Jan 12, 2023

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If the covers for each book share common elements, it may be reasonable to have a single cover page. This would especially be true if changes to one cover would be desired for all three (a logo update, copyright info, etc.). In that case, just updating the Product Name variable value while you are working on a particular book would be the approach to use.

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Community Expert ,
Jan 12, 2023 Jan 12, 2023

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Depending on the book, there may of course be more than just a Title that needs changed. There might also be ISBN, UPC, SKU, date, QR code, etc.

Some of these could be handled by a book-specific template file from which Variables would be imported.

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Community Expert ,
Jan 12, 2023 Jan 12, 2023

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The components in a FrameMaker book are simply pointers to FrameMaker documents. So if you change a variable in a document that is shared by multiple books, that change will be seen in each book. Typically what you would do is open your current book and edit the variable for the cover for that particular book and produce output, etc.

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Community Expert ,
Jan 12, 2023 Jan 12, 2023

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In my books the product name is also in the book info (File menu). Possibly this must be changed as well.

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Enthusiast ,
Jan 17, 2023 Jan 17, 2023

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We use a 'Variables Template" document with a list of the common variables used in our manuals. When a new book is created, a copy of this "Variables Template" document is made, the variables updated and then imported into all the documents in the new book. It also standardises the common variables. Because Variables are case sensitive, there's nothing worse then having to deal with different itterations (ProductName/productname/Productname/PRODUCTNAME)  of the same variable in different documents in the same book.

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Community Expert ,
Jan 17, 2023 Jan 17, 2023

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Yes, Quintin, I do the same. Very important!

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Community Expert ,
Jan 12, 2023 Jan 12, 2023

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I like Barb's suggestion, but you might find it easier to create conditional text for the titles and keep the same single cover page file setup. As Barb mentioned, there are many paths available...here's another option that lets you keep the single file you already have (had?) in place.

Creating and applying 3 simple conditional text tags would make it easier to make formatting and common content changes to all three versions of your cover pages, instead of making the same changes to three different files. After applying the tags, you can use the 4th button in the Conditional Tags panel to show only the title you want, and to show (or hide) the conditional text indicators as needed.

 

-Matt

MattSTechCommTools_0-1673551292915.png

 

-Matt Sullivan
FrameMaker Course Creator, Author, Trainer, Consultant

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