Trying to differentiate between two variables

[Barb Binder]

Hi Everyone:

I had a question in an intro class today that I couldn't answer. 😬

What is the difference between Chapter Title Name and Filename (Short)? Both work on body pages and master pages. Both produce the filename with extension at the insertion point.

For example, if the file is saved as "formats.fm", both add formats.fm at the insertion point. What does Chapter Title Name do that Filename (Short) does not and bonus points if you remember when it showed up!

TIA,
~Barb

[K.Daube · Accepted solution]

Barb, the only notion of $chaptertitlename can be found in this Help text, which exists already for FM-12 - and have myself not used it (yet):

[Barb Binder]

I knew you were going to be the one to respond to this, even as I posted the question, @K.Daube! 😊 

And thank you. But I've read the help entry repeatedly and I'm still completely unclear how to use it. I understand the words—and keystroked it—but I don't see what the practical application is. Do you?

I made a folder, dragged in a few files. Used properties to add a file to the folder that was not in my book. When I open all files in book, or save as pdf the associated file is included as if it were directly in the book list. Ok. I'm unclear why I would do that. But even after, when I add the variable, it still behaves exactly like the Filename (short) variable. 

~Barb

[K.Daube]

«I understand the words—and keystroked it—but I don't see what the practical application is»

That is the reason, why I just copied the help text. I would need to make experiments with folders containing chapters to get a glimpse what this is all about. We have a number of questions concerning folders in the forum. And yes, many new features were not described with a use case...

There is an Adobe video: https://www.daube.ch/docu/files/BookFolderTemplateUse.mp4, but I'm still lost. 

Two years ago I tried to understand thr subject: see https://www.daube.ch/docu/files/compendium.pdf page 289.

[LinSims]

OK, @pulkitn, I'm going to try roping you in since you're the developer who most often pops into this forum. Just what does the <$chaptertitlename> system variable do, how, and why is it included? Someone apparently left that out of the documentation.

[Barb Binder]

Lin—we were typing at the same time. Thanks for taking the intiative to pull in @pulkitn. 

~Barb

[LinSims]

I'm curious now, too.

I can confirm that Adobe added the <$chaptertitlename> system variable for FrameMaker 9, as that's when it makes its first appearance in the User Manual. Unfortunately, there's no explanation of what it's used for. It's just ... there.

[pulkitn]

Hey Lin and Barb ,

Even I didn't realized while working on FrameMaker for years , Now I am curious too .
Let me see if I can get something more informative about it 

-Pulkit Nagpal

[Barb Binder]

@pulkitn: 😂

[Barb Binder]

OK! You are making me feel better, @K.Daube. I'll work through your links and will report back if I make a break-through. Perhaps you were the only one in the world who knew it existed, until my student asked about it? LOL 

As always, thank you!

~Barb