Letter imports with variable within.

[wrenchmaster]

I have a project with 3 different letter. Each letter calls variables from a data file,

so each letter must be dynamic.

I seam to have been able to make 3 text resources with the variable embedded but I am having problems figuring out how to format the text. I set it up some what in the resource editor but it does preview correctly.

What am I missing, any tips?

 

Thank You

Charles Cabral

[tou]

I usually use word or some word processing tool to type my letters and copy and place into text box or formatted text rule. Add your variables afterwards. Make sure the "hard" returns are remove to have a natural line wrap.

[wrenchmaster]

I have to match the attributes of the letter as it was set up in InDesign.

Thats my problem, I can't have natural breaks, it needs to look exactly like the client created it.

Do you understand what I mean?

[tou]

I have to match the attributes of the letter as it was set up in InDesign.

Thats my problem, I can't have natural breaks, it needs to look exactly like the client created it.

Do you understand what I mean?

 

Can you provide a screen shot? A picture can mean 1000 words.

 

If you are to retain the exact position, then sometimes using the static text as a graphic (PDF) is a good option.

 

Again, without knowing what we're looking at. It's hard to suggest. When you mention letter with variables, I'm thinking a letter with variables in the middle of a paragraph and not form type, so I can't imagine no wrapping if its a formal/conventional letter.

 

Good luck and hope to see some screen shots, if you may.

 

Thanks

[wrenchmaster]

Can't use static elements. Within each letter are variable areas, so text must remain

dynamic.

 

I'll get some picts...

[wrenchmaster]

Here are the letters...UMD-Fall2016AnnualFund-CONTROL.pdf

 

UMD-Fall2016AnnualFund-FIXED.pdf

 

UMD-Fall2016AnnualFund-TEST.pdf

[dreimer]

I would build each page as its own in the Fusion Pro template and make them unused. Then have a OnRecordStart rule use a field in the data to call out which page to use for each record.

[tou]

You can do what @dreimer suggest. However while composing the job all pages will be processed, then not used. The advantage is you see all the pages and can manually make changes more directly.

 

Given that the ask amounts doesn't wrap your first paragraphs, I'd setup 3 PDFs less the variables portion of the letter and variably call the PDFs via Graphic Rule and setup the text box accordingly. In OnRecordStart rule, you can then suppress the text box you don't want to show.

 

2 page setup should do the trick.

 

here's a snippet of a setup I have that controls two different positions of address blocks and indicias due to design of the piece. You have to name your elements according. In your case you will possibly have 3 sets of objects.

 

var VariableName = FindTextFrame("addHigh")
var VariableName2 = FindTextFrame("addLow")
var VariableName3 = FindTextFrame("indiciaHigh")
var VariableName4 = FindTextFrame("indiciaLow")
var VariableName5 = FindTextFrame("addHigh2")
var VariableName6 = FindTextFrame("addLow2")

var VariableName7 = FindTextFrame("SAL1")
var VariableName8 = FindTextFrame("SAL2")

if (Field("user05")=="5") {
   VariableName.suppress = true
   VariableName2.suppress = false
   VariableName3.suppress = true
   VariableName4.suppress = false
   VariableName5.suppress = true
   VariableName6.suppress = false
} else {
   VariableName.suppress = false
   VariableName2.suppress = true
   VariableName3.suppress = false
   VariableName4.suppress = true
   VariableName5.suppress = false
   VariableName6.suppress = true
}

[wrenchmaster]

Can you elaborate a bit on this?

 

Where do I begin with something like this?

[tou]

Can you elaborate a bit on this?

 

Where do I begin with something like this?

 

Attached is what I download and quickly programmed. Looks like your letters lines up pretty well so didn't have to suppress multiple text boxes.

 

I've also include the modified PDF less the VDP stuff for you to put somewhere and update letterFront and letterBack rules to the right location. Calling PDFs directly from a network location means FusionPro needs to have access to it if you are compiling server wise...otherwise load them in as resources and change coding to call it.

 

Good luck.

 

p.s. I didn't do the address block part....

TEMPLATE-UMD.zip

TEST-DATA-Output.pdf

[wrenchmaster]

Attached is what I download and quickly programmed. Looks like your letters lines up pretty well so didn't have to suppress multiple text boxes.

 

I've also include the modified PDF less the VDP stuff for you to put somewhere and update letterFront and letterBack rules to the right location. Calling PDFs directly from a network location means FusionPro needs to have access to it if you are compiling server wise...otherwise load them in as resources and change coding to call it.

 

Good luck.

 

p.s. I didn't do the address block part....

 

Tou,

 

Thank you very much for your time here on this. I never expected this level of help here on the forum.

I am going to dig into this and see if I can understand what is actually going on. What a great building block for me.

 

Thanks, I'll let you know how I make out.

[wrenchmaster]

Tou,

 

Thank you very much for your time here on this. I never expected this level of help here on the forum.

I am going to dig into this and see if I can understand what is actually going on. What a great building block for me.

 

Thanks, I'll let you know how I make out.

 

Can you explain the "formatted text"?

How is this performed and what does it all mean?

[tou]

It's another way of programming resources, then calling it in a rule without the font tags in a rule. Formatting in the resources layout physically and directly. What you see is what will print. See resources, then see ask amount rule.

[wrenchmaster]

It's another way of programming resources, then calling it in a rule without the font tags in a rule. Formatting in the resources layout physically and directly. What you see is what will print. See resources, then see ask amount rule.

 

This stuff is pretty amazing.

 

I have another project I would really like your input on.

 

It's a bit more of a puzzle and will require specific text behavior.

 

I can try to get some info together for you to take a look at if you don't mind.

 

Thanks again for your help with this.

[tou]

This stuff is pretty amazing.

 

I have another project I would really like your input on.

 

It's a bit more of a puzzle and will require specific text behavior.

 

I can try to get some info together for you to take a look at if you don't mind.

 

Thanks again for your help with this.

I'm not a FusionPro pro, but I'm sure Dan and Step will respond if it's beyond everyone else's experience.

[wrenchmaster]

I'm not a FusionPro pro, but I'm sure Dan and Step will respond if it's beyond everyone else's experience.

 

Here are two images of the variable that is causing me pain..

[tou]

Here are two images of the variable that is causing me pain..

What is the pain?

[wrenchmaster]

As you can see I attached two images, one has five descriptions and one has eleven. There are multiple quantity versions between these two.

Also both have four coupons on the bottom. They could have as many as six and as few as 3.

It goes further in that the dotted lines have to center to the amount of coupons etc...

 

Make sense so far?

[tou]

Without knowing the full scale of this setup...the visual way would be to setup as many textbox as you need and use coding in OnRecordStart to suppress unneeded textbox...refer to how to suppress elements in previous chats here.

 

You can also try table programming too, but I'm not that well verse in scripting tables.

 

Same logic would apply for the coupons also.

 

Are you call look-up information or are they in the data already?

 

Casino business is good, but complex and sometimes messy....QC buddy....

[wrenchmaster]

Without knowing the full scale of this setup...the visual way would be to setup as many textbox as you need and use coding in OnRecordStart to suppress unneeded textbox...refer to how to suppress elements in previous chats here.

 

You can also try table programming too, but I'm not that well verse in scripting tables.

 

Same logic would apply for the coupons also.

 

Are you call look-up information or are they in the data already?

 

Casino business is good, but complex and sometimes messy....QC buddy....

 

OK, I'm going to figure out a way to configure an explanation on this project.

But, let me see if I understand something you said.

So, lets say I have a text dos for 3 up 4up 5up etc, I could include the dotted line layout and coupon layout and trigger to call the different text boxes?

[tou]

OK, I'm going to figure out a way to configure an explanation on this project.

But, let me see if I understand something you said.

So, lets say I have a text dos for 3 up 4up 5up etc, I could include the dotted line layout and coupon layout and trigger to call the different text boxes?

 

something like the attached sample might work.....I'm sure there is a simpler way of doing things.

 

happy findings....

coupons_template.zip

coupons-test-data-Output.pdf

coupons.pdf

[wrenchmaster]

something like the attached sample might work.....I'm sure there is a simpler way of doing things.

 

happy findings....

 

I have another question on the letter project.

How would you handle the project if there was a variable within the letter text.

Let say the in the letter there was a name that varied in length causing the paragraph to change size and flow.

[tou]

I have another question on the letter project.

How would you handle the project if there was a variable within the letter text.

Let say the in the letter there was a name that varied in length causing the paragraph to change size and flow.

it depends...maybe like the UMD sample we were looking at, or compose the entire letter.

 

what have you got programmed so far?

[wrenchmaster]

Tou,

 

Trying to get the wingdings to work, we are on a mac. They are not appearing.

They appear in InDesign, but within the FP template.

Were you on a PC?

[tou]

Tou,

 

Trying to get the wingdings to work, we are on a mac. They are not appearing.

They appear in InDesign, but within the FP template.

Were you on a PC?

Yes, I was. You may have to load new fonts too. That might fix it.