Blank variable definition?

[awells12]

I apologize if this has been answered before, but I couldn't find anything while searching the forums...

I have created a variable for version number and have added it to my page layout so it appears on the title page in the PDF target. However, not every document we create will use a version number so I just added a blank definition to the Version variable and selected it in the PDF target. Even though the blank definition is selected, the output is using the first definition listed. Is there another way I can leave the version number out without creating a whole new page layout?

[techwriter31]

Can you use a snippet instead? We use a snippet file for this purpose and it has worked great so far.

[s909]

try adding a space character in the definition. It might be ignoring it because it's empty

[MattyQ]

You could also apply a conditional tag to the version number so that it can be excluded for certain outputs. Like, maybe a "unversioned" tag that excludes version numbers throughout a system.

[Jeong]

In case anyone else ends up searching for this...
Yes, it is possible, but it only works if the blank variable definition is the first definition for that variable.
- Change the first variable definition to <hit the space bar a couple times> then in the Comments section, I've written "blank" so I can verify I'm selecting the correct row later on.

[peter_ring]

If you edit target files in a text editor (internal or external), you can add a variable redefinition with an empty value, and it'll work.
But it'll disappear if it isn't the first definition in the flvar file and you subsequently use the target editor to change anything in the target file.

There's an unfortunate side effect of putting the blank value definition first in the flvar file: it's then also the default value, forcing you to redefine the value in all targets where it shouldn't be blank. Kind of lousy for variables that you use for cross-publication purposes, such as product release labels.

I experimented a bit with using invisible non-spacing characters such as Unicode U+2060 or Unicode U+2063, and they seem to work. That way, I can keep the most useful variable definition as the first in flvar file, and keep the 'blank' one down the list.