Add BOOK TITLE (indb file name) to running headers/variable data?

[zeldabee_the_2nd]

I have a book with about 250 pages in 5 chapters (the chapters have signage in different languages), not including front matter. I update it at least quarterly, and then it goes up a version (and the name of the book reflects that). We're doing a re-design, so I'm rebuilding the book from scratch. The client would like to have the book's title in a running header, and that would include the version number, which seems like it ought to be simple, but it's not obvious, and Google isn't helping. If there was a master page/pages for the body of the book, I'd just update and then synchronize the master pages, but each chapter has a different color running header, and  6 different master pages. So having that as a text variable would be super helpful.

[Barb Binder]

You can certainly define a text variable with the book title, and then add that to the running heads of all the chapters in the book. Next quarter, edit the definition in one file, and then sync the other chapters in the book file so that they all pick up the update. This is will be very easy to maintain. Note that when you sync the book, you can disable everything except the variable definition, so that nothing else (i.e., color) is disrupted. 

For help defining a text variable, see https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/text-variables.html

For help syncing a book, see https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/creating-book-files.html

~Barb

Edit: 

[zeldabee_the_2nd]

Thanks for replying. I'm looking for the title of the book, though (that is, the name of the .indb file, e.g., Master Signage Deck v2 for Master Signage Deck v2.indb). I could manually put the title including the version number, say, from the cover, and then I guess make a cross-reference or something for the master pages? But I still have to remember to do it (I'm forever exporting the book and realizing that I didn't update the version number on the front page, and it takes 50 minutes to export this one), whereas if I could just pick up the file name of the book it would just happen. The file name variable puts in the name of the chapter's file (and I'm using that for the other running header). I need the name of the book. It might be easy, but if so I'm missing it. 

[Barb Binder]

There is a file name variable for the .indd file, but there is not currently a book name variable in InDesign. You can request the option for potential inclusion in a future version here : https://indesign.uservoice.com/.

For now, I would define a text variable with the book name as the definition, and then insert that variable into the running head of each file in the book. (You will need a second one for the version number.) You don't need to define a cross-reference. As explained above, you can change both definitions in one file and sync the definitions to the rest of the book files each quarter. 

~Barb

[Laubender]

Hi zeldabee,

I think there cannot be a variable for a InDesign book file name.

One single InDesign document could be part of many book files.

There is only a one-way relationship:

InDesign book file --> InDesign document

It's not bidirectional: Book file <--> InDesign document

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[Laubender]

Without testing anything:

It could be that one could script a text variable that could issue the book files' name, if the document is opened by a book file.

That would require a startup script with an eventlistening mechanism.

Question: How often do you rename a book file?

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )