Exstream StoryTeller an total number of pages

Hello!

It seems that it is not possible to obtain the total number of pages within StoryTeller scripts.

With Pageout it was possible to use page() and pages() function to handle scripts based of 'last page' and so on…. This functions are not available within StoryTeller. So it's possible to print the total amount of pages with 'Content Dependent Fragment' on pages but we can't see a possibility to get a variable filled with total amount of pages (without calling the process multiple times).

The requirement is just to print a footer fragment on the last printed page on a fixed y-position only.

Any help?

Thanks for your input and best regards,

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

Vyv

So you want to print something on the last page in StoryTeller.

There are several methods to do this - all of them involve some calculation.

The method I found most stable is: Imagine printing something twice. The first time in invisible mode (so that you know that it consumes its own space and, if necessary, triggers a new page), and then again, a second time in visible mode.

With this method I set a printed flag after the first invisible print within a frame. After the frame I call or skip an overlay/fragment with the contents of the layout you want printed (here it is in a text-box with content position set to bottom - for bottom-up). These are best saved in stories (best thing since sliced bread) and so can be referenced from within a StoryTeller process and within a StoryTeller document in the resource set.

If you do this with just links then you have a design pattern for any StoryTeller that needs this configuration. :-)

You may wish to tweak this if your objects should not be produced bottom-up.

…

When it comes to other methods then you may wish to calculate the current Y position…. there are a series of functions that can do that….. but they only work on 1 level and not on buried objects. So only for simple 1 level structures.

Good luck!

be_informed1

Thanks for your detailed reply.

I tried a lot but what do you mean with´Imagine printing something twice´. Callproc the hole process 2x?

My prefered solution would be to have 2 Frames (Main and Total with Stories) on First and following Pages. Then set invisible to the bottom Frame if it‘s not the last Page (and give more y to Mainframe). But this simple setup (easy with pageout) does not work…

A Table structure would be also fine but I can‘t set a fix y pos to a row. I can calculate the consumed total high and generate a pagebreak but this does not help in all constelations…

regards

Vyv

Try a frame where in the last footer row (only last instance) calls your Totals story in invisible mode. Then set a variable/flag that this is the last page on the after-script of the Totals.

Then put a text box with alignment = bottom on the page and reference your Totals story again - but this time visible. This is only active if the flag from the previous step has been completed.

This way StoryTeller takes care of ALL page overflow conditions and guarantees no text collisions.

The best part is that there are no calculations and that your Totals box can also be dynamic in height. (E.g. some totals have dynamic heights for “Amount in words” or alternative currency sections, or multiple VAT clauses. So it is a decent future-proof design.

Good luck!

be_informed1

Thanks - i will try that… and give feedback

be_informed1

Thank you Vyv!

Your tricky solution is working fine!

Best regards

Vyv

Great! Now if you make the story with your totals in it a shared story (a placeholder story in a SSD file in the resource set) linked by both your table footer (invisible print) and then again by your fragment (visible print) then you have the basis of a design pattern for other documents. :-)

You may need to add dynamics for A4/US Letter/Portait/Landscape, and then some selection code to identify which story you want to have within your placeholder before you feel completely confident of placing anything at the end of a document no matter its size or destination.

Jean_Marc

Hi,

the simplest way for me is to insert the predefined "New Fragment" → "Page of Pages" into the page. Nothing else to do but to place it where you need.

Tobi Schumann

That is the way to go, Jean Marc. At least if you simply want the Page of Pages to appear on your pages. But since the question was how to use the information to steer content, that would be tricky. :-)