How On-Demand Print Variables Work

Variables represent a type of information that can appear in a letter. For example, the variable ODP_CMADISP_PROBATION_DATE represents a party’s probation date. When you create a letter based on an On-Demand Print (ODP) template, variables are replaced with the information that they represent.

ODP lets you add two types of variables to your letter templates: ACS Contexte variables, which are provided by default, and non-ACS Contexte variables, which you can create as necessary.

• ACS Contexte variables (whose names begin with ODP) represent information in the Contexte database. Some ACS Contexte variables are form-specific, meaning they are tied to a field on a specific form. The form name the variable is tied to appears in the variable name. (For example, the probation date variable mentioned above is tied to the Probation Date field on CMADISP.) Other ACS Contexte variables are general variables, in which case the word general appears in the variable name. A form-specific variable works only in letter templates called from or tied to that form. A general variable works in any ODP letter template.

• Non-ACS Contexte variables represent additional information you may want to add to a letter template. For example, you might want to create a variable called CLERKNAME or COURT PHONE. The values for any non-ACS Contexte variables you create must be entered by you--they do not come from the ACS Contexte database. You can either enter default text for the variables on Letter Variable Association Rule (CTRLRUL), or you can enter the desired text when you are about to run the letter on Letter Merge (CLALMRG).

If for some reason you need to define additional ACS Contexte variables, you can do so using Variable Rule Definition Maintenance (CTRANAM). For instructions, see the ACS Contexte Technical Reference Manual.