Formatting/markup in variables?

[Ed Hawco]

Is there some way to add formatting or markup tags inside a variable?

Use case: I have two topics that use a snippet, but the second one has a extra phrase that could use some formatting. Example:

(In topic 1)
Trees in the garden bear fruit every year, such as red apples.

(In topic 2)
Trees in the garden bear fruit every year, such as red apples and yellow pears.

The snippet is:
Trees in the garden bear fruit every year, such as red apples<%CUSTOM-FRUIT-VARIABLE%>.

In topic 1, the <%CUSTOM-FRUIT-VARIABLE%> has no definition. In topic 2, the <%CUSTOM-FRUIT-VARIABLE%> is:
and yellow pears

THUS: is there a way to put the word "pears" in the topic variable definition for <%CUSTOM-FRUIT-VARIABLE%> in bold? I tried straight-up HTML tags, but that didn't work...

[Martin Wynne]

Hi Ed,

At first sight, the easiest solution would be to use 2 custom variables.

<%CUSTOM-FRUIT-COLOUR-VARIABLE%> = and yellow
<%CUSTOM-FRUIT-TYPE-VARIABLE%> = pears

If you make <%CUSTOM-FRUIT-TYPE-VARIABLE%> bold in the snippet text, it will appear bold when replaced.

regards,

Martin.

[Tim Green]

I tried straight-up HTML tags, but that didn't work...

No, because even HTML variables will not use the HTML code in topics. They will only insert HTML code in templates, or if they are enclosed in HTML code objects. There are two ways to do this:

1) HTML variable enclosed in an HTML code object:

This method only works for HTML output and it's really more complicated than it's worth: Define the variables as HTML variables, and define them like this:

Code: Select all

Trees in the garden bear fruit every year, such as red <strong>apples</strong>.

Then, instead of inserting them directly, insert them in an HTML code object with the Code Object tool in Write > Insert Object, and remember to check the box for not enclosing the object in a block element.

2) Define a snippet instead of a variable

This method works everywhere, but it isn't variable like variables. So if you want to have different versions in different builds you need to combine it with conditional tags. Instead of defining a variable, define a snippet in an external file, making sure to choose the option that the snippet doesn't start a new paragraph. Then you can have any kind of formatting you like in the snippet:

http://www.helpandmanual.com/help/index ... ippets.htm