Using Different Variables Values

Variables used in objects can have different values assigned. This enables you to use a single variable in multiple objects, but assign different values to objects depending on how they are used.

As an example, the variable <Contact_Name> is created with the default value set as Joe Bloggs. Objects using this variable are published with Joe Bloggs shown as the contact, unless a different value has been assigned.

• Book A uses the default value for the <Contact_Name> variable.
• The <Contact_Name> variable is assigned to Book B, and the value is changed to Fred Smith.
• The <Contact_Name> variable is assigned to Book C, and the value is changed to Jane Brown.

When the books are published, Book A has Joe Bloggs as the contact, Book B has Fred Smith as the contact, and Book C has Jane Brown as the contact.

Alternatively, you can nominate specific topics to be assigned a new variable value, while the rest of the book uses the default variable value.

When documents are published the variable strings are substituted for the assigned values. The substitution priority order is: 1. Topic 2. Book 3. Default. If a variable value is not assigned at the Topic or Book level, the default value is used.

Note: Blank variable values can be assigned at Topic or Book level. When the document is published the variable is substituted with no content.