How to Define a Custom Text Variable in Adobe InDesign
See Adobe InDesign: Tips and Tricks for similar articles.Text variables are dynamic text content that can change with context. There are some standard text variables in InDesign that can be used for job-tracking, such as File Name and Modification Date. Custom variables can also be created by users. In this example, I'll create a variable based on a paragraph style to be used as a running footer.
- In the Type menu, go to Text Variables and choose Define.
- The dialog box shows the standard variables listed on the left. Click Running Header and then click New.
- Running Header is a variable that's already set up to be based on a paragraph style. In the next dialog box, it's simply a matter of naming the variable, selecting the paragraph style, and setting the options. Once you have done so, click OK.
- The new variable is now listed in the Text Variables dialog box. Click Done.
- To use the variable, I've created a text frame on a master page with the text cursor inserted. Go to the Type menu, scroll down to Text Variables, then to Insert Variable, and choose the custom variable.
- In the text frame on the master, only the variable name will appear.
- On document pages that have text with that paragraph style applied, that text content appears.
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