I am trying to use <$paratext[ChapterTitle]> building block in a user created variable to grab the text of the first paragraph on the page with the paragraph tag 'ChapterTitle'. What I am expecting to see is the title of my chapter but what I get in my FrameMaker document when I insert this variable is <$paratext. From what I can tell, I should be able to use this building block in a variable and the syntax is correct. What I don't understand is why part of the building block is showing up in my document instead of the expected text from the document. Help!
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Building Blocks in Variables
- Thread starter stekki
- Start date
stekki,
You should use the cross reference feature for this instead of the user variable feature. The user variable feature is intended for hard-coded pieces of data like document name, author, dates (current, modified, creation, etc.) file name, etc. Stuff that applies to the entire document.
Start by creating a named cross reference format that points to <$paratext[ChapterTitle]>. This essentially creates a "virtual" cross reference marker at any point where the ChapterTitle paragraph tag is used, allowing you to insert a cross reference to any point in the document where that paragraph tag is used. Any time you want to show the chapter title, just insert a cross reference using that cross reference format. In the cross reference dialog box, select "Source Text" for your source type, and the paragraph tags should be listed on the left. Select the ChapterTitle paragraph tag, and all of the paragraphs in the document that have been formatted with that paragraph tag should appear in the Paragraphs: box on the right. Select the appropriate paragraph, select the cross reference format you created above (so that it will display correctly in the document) and click Insert.
I guess the bigger lesson here is this: In Framemaker, cross references aren't just for "See <topic> on <page>" situations.
Does that help?
You should use the cross reference feature for this instead of the user variable feature. The user variable feature is intended for hard-coded pieces of data like document name, author, dates (current, modified, creation, etc.) file name, etc. Stuff that applies to the entire document.
Start by creating a named cross reference format that points to <$paratext[ChapterTitle]>. This essentially creates a "virtual" cross reference marker at any point where the ChapterTitle paragraph tag is used, allowing you to insert a cross reference to any point in the document where that paragraph tag is used. Any time you want to show the chapter title, just insert a cross reference using that cross reference format. In the cross reference dialog box, select "Source Text" for your source type, and the paragraph tags should be listed on the left. Select the ChapterTitle paragraph tag, and all of the paragraphs in the document that have been formatted with that paragraph tag should appear in the Paragraphs: box on the right. Select the appropriate paragraph, select the cross reference format you created above (so that it will display correctly in the document) and click Insert.
I guess the bigger lesson here is this: In Framemaker, cross references aren't just for "See <topic> on <page>" situations.
Does that help?
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