How to get headers to display the first word and last word on a page in CS6

[lekkerder]

This is for a dictionary. We’d like the first and last word (first and last dictionary entry) of each page to display in the header, with the two words separated by “space hyphen space”.  For example, if the first word on the page is “crossing” and the last word on the same page is “crumple”, this should display as “crossing - crumple”.

If a dictionary entry consists of more than one word, we only want the first word of the entry to display (rather than multiple words).

How can we set this up in CS6?

[jmlevy]

See help here: https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/numbering-pages-chapters-sections.html#create_variables_for_r...

[lekkerder]

Thanks for the link. It appears to only be able to use the first line and last line on a page for headers, rather than just the first and last word on a page. We'll stick with using one letter (A-A, etc.) at the top.

[Robert at ID-Tasker · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the link. It appears to only be able to use the first line and last line on a page for headers, rather than just the first and last word on a page. We'll stick with using one letter (A-A, etc.) at the top.

By @lekkerder

You can use Nested Styles:

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

My screenshots are form CC - but in CS6 it works exactly the same.

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

Yup, This is the Way (as the Mandalorian would say).

One caveat, the First Word Character Style likes to bring the space following the word along for the ride, so you may need to delete the space before the hyphen.

This is an example from one of my projects where it's using the first name of each company name, and I had to delete the space before the bullet character that I am using for a spacer, otherwise there's be a double-space.

 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Yup, This is the Way (as the Mandalorian would say).

One caveat, the First Word Character Style likes to bring the space following the word along for the ride, so you may need to delete the space before the hyphen.

[...]

By Brad @ Roaring Mouse

But you don't have to delete anything - I've used "THROUGH" 1st word as a "shortcut" - but you can use "UP TO" and list of characters as end stops.

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

Missed that. thanks! (This was a project from 2014 so it's been awhile)