Adobe Community: CP6 and variables

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1. Lilybiri,

Jun 27, 2012 5:33 AM in reply to MarionJD

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Marion,

I do not understand what you mean by 'to use variables to update these captions...'? Themes are all about layout, styles, not about content.

You will need a custom theme, in which you have your customized master slides, object styles (for the captions) and TOC (at least if you use it). But my personal work flow is not to only on a theme, but to create a template (that can have content contrary to a theme) with that theme as default theme. Reason is that I also will insert variables (like cpInfoAuthor, cpInfoProjectName...) and often have some reusable advanced actions. And moreover, since I have a lot to localize, I can localize a lot (like Quiz button labels...). It is of course also possible to add Placeholders, but that is certainly not my first reason.

A not so well known new feature is the fact that you can save a file as a template now.

Lilybiri

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2. MarionJD,

Jun 27, 2012 5:49 AM in reply to Lilybiri

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Hi Lilybiri,

I figured you'd answer! Thanks!

Yes, I have a custom theme, based on the templates we use for each client.

I am trying to simplify the rebranding process as much as possible.

Each master slide contains text captions for items like the name of the

overall course, and of the individual project. I was hoping to use

variables in some way so I could update them all at once instead of

copying/pasting them to each master slide. I guess I simply need to know

how to insert a variable in a text caption - it's not explained in the help

files, that I could find.

Marion

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3. Lilybiri,

Jun 27, 2012 6:02 AM in reply to Lilybiri

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Did see you answer by mail, but not yet in the Forum.

Can you have a look at this (old) article, it explains how to start with variables, and also how to insert a variable in a text caption:

Use Power of variables, without advanced actions

The system variables I mentioned, can be introduced in the Project Info panel - sorry in the Project Info Dialog (File menu). Other information to update, you could store them in user variables that you create. You can use those variables in Text Captions on the master slides.

Lilybiri

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4. MarionJD,

Jun 27, 2012 7:14 AM in reply to Lilybiri

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The forums are messed up.

Thanks so much, Lilybiri. I'll check this out.

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5. Harpreet seehra,

Jun 28, 2012 4:58 PM in reply to MarionJD

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I hope you have cp5.5 and you want to use cp 6 and templates from older captivate.

open the template and save it as .cptl(template)

open Captivate 6 and import the template,everything would be imported.

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6. MarionJD,

Jun 28, 2012 5:10 PM in reply to Harpreet seehra

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Yes, thanks, Harpreet, I have no problems with using my templates. It's a matter of making them more efficient by introducing variables.

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7. MarionJD,

Jun 28, 2012 6:36 PM in reply to Lilybiri

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I've made lots of progress here. The variable in the theme isn't picking up its content from the course yet, but I'm sure I'll figure it out. Thanks so much, Lilybiri!

Edit: The variables are working great now, except that they are truncated. Per the article, I increased them to 60 characters, but they are still truncated at 15. What am I missing?

Mairon

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8. Lilybiri,

Jun 29, 2012 2:19 AM in reply to MarionJD

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Oh, sorry, forgot about that. Another of my long list of feature requests that never made it to be a priority: it is not possible to have a variable wrapping in a text caption at all. So I think it is truncated at what is possible withing one line of the text caption, if you increase the width of the caption you'll see more.

My workaround for CP5/5.5 was to use either the TEB with variables (from Jim Leichliter) or the Enhanced TextArea widget (from Jim as well), both can wrap and show the value of a variable which is not possible with the default TEB's or the provided TextArea widget. But in CP6 I'm not sure at all that those widgets will still be functional, have to check it out but I know that the enhanced radiobuttons/checkboxes do not work any more, so I'm afraid for the others as well.

Lilybiri

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9. MarionJD,

Jun 29, 2012 6:26 AM in reply to Lilybiri

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I'll check again, but one of the text boxes was just one line. I'll check

the width - maybe that's it.

I'll let you know if I have any luck with the widgets.

Thanks again.

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CP6 and variables

Jun 27, 2012 5:10 AM

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