How to insert document metadata into the contents?

Question

I can set up the metadata of an output PDF via File → File info, but when using Type → Text variables → Define (as hinted here), something like Metadata → Title yields a "no intersecting link" - apparently this option is used for image captions and not for metadata of the InDesign document itself.

So, how to keep some text in the InDesign document and one of its metadata fields in sync?

Answer 1

InDesign doesn't have the ability to do what you are asking out of the box unfortunately (I too consider this to be essential).

Below is a quick and dirty way to sync up a text variable named Document Title with the "Document Title" in the File Info metadata. (hint: define and use the text variable in a template)

var doc = app.activeDocument;
if (doc.textVariables.item('Document Title').isValid){
    doc.textVariables.item('Document Title').variableOptions.contents = doc.metadataPreferences.documentTitle;
}
else {
    // there's no variable named 'Document Title'
}

There are other metadataPreferences you can use as well. A more determined person than be could probably write a script to check all the metadata and fine a corresponding text variable.