Variable Prompt

Variable values can be assigned to objects while you are working with them, or as an alternative, using the Variable Prompt you can assign values at the time of publishing.

This is useful when you have a book, or group of topics, that you need to customize on a regular basis. An example is an employee contract. Each time you publish the contract you need to set values to cover a specific employee's details and conditions. By adding the prompt to the variable, Author-it requests a value from you at the time of publishing. Using the variable prompt you can ensure that all of the values are updated for each new contract.

To use the Variable Prompt:

1. Create the variable as normal, making sure you check the Prompt Before Publish option. Leave the value blank, you will assign this in the variable prompt window during publishing.

   

2. Assign the variable to the Publishing Profile object.
3. Create your content, adding the variables where needed (you do not need to assign values at topic or book level).
4. When you are ready, publish your book. The variable prompt window is opened when Author-it is ready to resolve the variables. Click inside the Value field for each variable and add the values for this publishing job (the values are discarded when publishing has completed, or is stopped).

   

5. Choose OK to continue publishing.