Inserting Running Head Variables Into Frames

If you want certain content to be inserted into a frame automatically (rather than typing the text manually), you can use a Running Head variable. For example, you might want to automatically include the first h1 heading of each chapter into the header for certain pages. By using a Running Head variable, you can use just one page layout for all of your chapters, rather than having to create a new page layout for each chapter. See Running Head Variables, Heading Variables, and Inserting Heading Variables Into Frames.

Heading variables are very similar to Running Head variables. The key appeal of Running Head variables is that they are supported in FrameMaker and help with the transition of authors from FrameMaker to Flare. So people who are familiar with FrameMaker might prefer to use Running Head variables because they are used to them. However, Heading variables are somewhat easier to use and therefore are recommended for people who do not have a FrameMaker background.

How to Insert a Running Head Variable Into a Page Layout Frame

  1. Add a variable set to the project, selecting the Running HF template. See Adding Variable Sets to Projects.
  2. Open a page in a page layout.

  3. Click on the frame to which you want to add text or other content.

    Note You can add text and content only to header, footer, and decoration frames. You cannot add text and content to a body frame (which automatically displays content from your topics).

  4. Do one of the following, depending on the part of the user interface you are using:
    • Local Toolbar Click .
    • Keyboard Shortcut Press F2 on your keyboard.
    • Right-Click Right-click the frame and select Edit Text.

    A message opens, asking if you want to pick content from a template (e.g., a page number).

  5. Click No.

    Note If you have already prepared content in the form of a snippet and added it to your template folder, you can click "Yes" instead in order to select the snippet. See Templates.

  6. Click in the Frame Contents window pane.
  7. Do one of the following, depending on the part of the user interface you are using:

    • Ribbon Select Insert > Variable.

    • Local Toolbar Click Insert Variable button.
    • Keyboard Shortcut Press CTRL+SHIFT+V.

    The Variables dialog opens, with the variable set(s) on the left and the variables associated with the selected set on the right.

  8. On the left side of the dialog, select the Running Head variable set that you created.
  9. On the right side of the dialog, select the variable that you want to insert. Unless you edit the variable definitions to change the style classes within them, each variable is associated with one of the six heading styles (h1 through h6).

    When you insert a Running Head variable into a page layout frame, Flare will insert the text from the first occurrence of the specified style on that page. If it doesn't find any text using that style, it will use the text from the previous occurrence of that style.

    Example If you want the header in chapters to display content that is using the h1 style (perhaps you are using this style to display the chapter title for your output), select the Running H/F 1 variable. The header will then display the first h1 content that it finds in the document (e.g., "My First Chapter Title"). When the next occurrence of the h1 style appears on another page, the heading changes to display that text (e.g., "My Second Chapter Title"), and so on.

  10. Click OK. The variable is added to the Frame Contents window pane.
  11. Click Save the active file. to save your work. The variable can now be seen in the frame.