Skip to main content
B
bruceengland2
Known Participant
June 23, 2017
Question

Sometimes not all variables in a document update as expected

  • June 23, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 1225 views

I think it might have to do with having conditional text with the variable hidden, the variable definition changed, and then the conditional text exposed. Even if I run Update References, the variables can remain unchanged. In such cases, I have to go through the document and manually update the problem variables. This runs counter to the usefulness of variables, of course, especially if you have a lot of them. Any ideas/suggestions?

FrameMaker 13.0.3.495

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

Barb Binder
Barb Binder
Community Expert
June 23, 2017

No, I haven't had that experience with variables and conditional text. When I update a variable with hidden condition tags, and then show those hidden tags, they show the updated definition.

On a separate note, I'm not sure what Update References has to do it. There's no variables command in there...

Can you document your process—maybe show two variables on the same page where one updates and the other doesn't? Let's see if we can figure it out.

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
B
bruceengland2Author
Known Participant
June 23, 2017

Unfortunately, I don't have any to show right now (all already manually corrected). I'm thinking about this as a workaround: Put the file in a book, have my variables in a separate empty file in the book, and import variables from the empty file as needed (e.g., prior to any publication). Ugly, but it just might work.

B
bruceengland2Author
Known Participant
June 27, 2017

HI Bruce, since you're working with AMM, do you have a structured or unstructured doc?

Also, do you have any "extras" in play to allow database access or easier editing of content?


Hi Matt:

Yes, I'm using Structured FrameMaker (to help define and manage Workspaces, one of the advantages of using Structured). FrameMaker specific extras: Paragraph Tools and Index Tools Pro. I also use Launch-n-Go for text macros (not just for FrameMaker). I should mention that this one document is where I encounter the issue (no others to date), and it is loaded with both variables and conditional text. I can't help wondering if I'm overdriving the Model T!

Thanks,

Bruce

Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices