Customize a Date Variable

You can create variables that merge dates into your assembled document. When you create a Date variable, you can add a title or prompt to help the user know what information is required. You can also decide how answers will be formatted when they are merged into the assembled document. Finally, you can add a resource.

Once a variable is created, you can edit it at any time. See Edit a Variable.

To edit the properties of a Date variable

  1. Follow the instructions for inserting a variable, selecting Date as the variable type. (See Insert a Variable Field in a Text Template.)
  2. At the Variable Field dialog box, click the Edit Component button to open the Date Variable Editor.
  3. Make any changes, as described in the following table:
To Do This
Specify a default format that will be applied to all instances of the variable (except when a field-specific format has been assigned) Select a format from the Default format drop-down list. (See Format the Variable and How Example Formats are Interpreted.)

Optionally, to keep the answer from breaking across lines in the document, select Non-breaking.
Specify an alternate name for the variable Enter a title in the Title field.

See Understand How Component Titles and Prompts are Used for a description of how and when variable titles are used.
Provide users with additional information about the variable Enter a prompt in the Prompt field. This information replaces the Variable name and Variable title when the variable is presented during the interview. (See Create a Prompt for a Variable.)
Provide users with helpful information that can assist them in providing the correct answer Click the Resource tab and provide a resource option. (See Add Resource Information to a Variable or Dialog.)
Save changes to the variable without closing the variable editor Click Save.