Variables are placeholders that Think Crew fills in for you, such as {board_name} or {sunrise}. Type a variable into a banner or a print header, and Think Crew replaces it with the current value. When the value changes, everything that uses it updates automatically, so your boards and printouts are always up to date.
Where You Can Use Variables
You can use variables in:
- Banners: In the Banner Text field. See Creating Banners.
- Day breaks: In the Day Name Text field. See Adding Day Breaks.
- Strip text: In any text field that’s shown on your strips, such as Description or Comments
- Print headers: In the header for boards, the Day Out of Days and reports. See Printing Schedules.
Variables are filled in wherever that text is displayed, including the Strips and Duration views and all of your printouts.
Adding a Variable
The easiest way to add a variable is to copy it from the variables list:
- Click the info icon next to the Banner Text field, or next to a header field in the print panel
- The list shows every available variable along with its current value
- Click the copy icon next to the variable you want
- Paste it into your text
You can also type a variable yourself. Put the variable’s name inside curly braces, such as {schedule_name}. Upper and lower case don’t matter, and spaces inside the braces are ignored, so {Schedule_Name} and { schedule_name } work too.
You can mix variables with your own text. For example:
- “{project_name} – {scenario_revision_name} Revision” might print as “The Long Road – Blue Revision”
- “Sunrise {sunrise} / Sunset {sunset}” might show as “Sunrise 6:42 AM / Sunset 7:18 PM”
- “{board_total_days} Days – Wrap {board_wrap_date}” might show as “32 Days – Wrap 11/21/2026”
If a variable doesn’t have a value yet, it shows as [none]. Fill in the matching setting to replace it. Sun times show as [?] if they can’t be worked out for that location and date.
All Variables
You
| Variable | Shows | Where it’s set |
|---|---|---|
| {me} | The full name of the person viewing or printing | Your user profile |
| {date} | Today’s date, in your date format | Automatic |
| {time} | The current time, in your time format | Automatic |
Project
| Variable | Shows | Where it’s set |
|---|---|---|
| {project_name} | The project’s name | Project manager |
| {project_initials} | The project’s initials | Project manager |
| {project_description} | The project’s description | Project manager |
| {project_season} | The project’s season | Project manager |
| {project_episodes} | All of the project’s episodes, separated by commas | Episode manager |
Schedule
| Variable | Shows | Where it’s set |
|---|---|---|
| {schedule_name} | The schedule’s name | Schedule manager |
| {schedule_description} | The schedule’s description | Schedule manager |
| {schedule_misc_1} | Your custom value Misc 1 | Schedule Settings, Variables tab |
| {schedule_misc_2} | Your custom value Misc 2 | Schedule Settings, Variables tab |
| {schedule_misc_3} | Your custom value Misc 3 | Schedule Settings, Variables tab |
| {schedule_misc_4} | Your custom value Misc 4 | Schedule Settings, Variables tab |
Scenario
| Variable | Shows | Where it’s set |
|---|---|---|
| {scenario_name} | The current scenario’s name | Scenario Manager |
| {scenario_revision_name} | The schedule revision name, such as “Blue” | Scenario Manager, Revisions |
| {scenario_revision_date} | The schedule revision date | Scenario Manager, Revisions |
| {scenario_revision_script_name} | The name of the script revision the scenario is based on | Scenario Manager, Revisions |
| {scenario_revision_script_date} | The date of that script revision | Scenario Manager, Revisions |
Board
| Variable | Shows | Where it’s set |
|---|---|---|
| {board_name} | The board’s name | Scenario Manager, Boards |
| {board_date} | The shoot date of the day the banner or strip falls on | Automatic, from the board’s dates and day breaks |
| {board_start_date} | The board’s first shoot date | Scenario Manager, Boards |
| {board_wrap_date} | The board’s last shoot date | Automatic |
| {board_total_days} | The total number of shooting days on the board | Automatic, from your day breaks |
| {board_total_pages} | The total page count on the board | Automatic, from your breakdowns |
| {calendar_name} | The name of the calendar the board uses | Calendar Manager |
Breakdown
| Variable | Shows | Where it’s set |
|---|---|---|
| {breakdown_episodes} | The episodes assigned to the strip or banner, separated by commas | Episode field in the breakdown pane |
Sun Times
| Variable | Shows | Where it’s set |
|---|---|---|
| {dawn} | The time of dawn | Automatic, from the shoot date and the banner’s City Name |
| {sunrise} | The time of sunrise | |
| {sunset} | The time of sunset | |
| {dusk} | The time of dusk |
Printing
| Variable | Shows | Where it’s set |
|---|---|---|
| {print_dood_category_name} | The category being printed on the Dood tab | Print panel, Dood tab |
| {print_report_category_name} | The category being printed on the Reports tab | Print panel, Reports tab |
How Some Variables Work
Board Variables
Board variables use the board the text appears on. In a banner, that’s the board the banner is on. In a print header, it’s the board being printed.
{board_date} shows the shoot date of the day the banner or strip falls on, so it’s most useful in banners and strip text. Move the banner to a different day and the date updates. See Managing Schedule Scenarios for setting board names and start dates.
Sun Times
{dawn}, {sunrise}, {sunset} and {dusk} are worked out for the shoot date of the day the banner falls on, at the location in the banner’s City Name field. Times are shown in that location’s time zone. If the City Name is empty, Think Crew uses your own location instead. This is the same location used for the weather on your dashboard.
For example, add a banner at the start of each day with the text “Sunrise {sunrise} – Sunset {sunset}” to give your crew the sun times for every shooting day.
Date and Time
{date} and {time} show the date and time at the moment the page is displayed or printed. Add them to a print header to show when a printout was made. They use the date and time formats in your user settings. See Date and Time Format Customization.
Custom Values
If you need a value that isn’t in the list, such as your production company or a producer’s name, enter it in one of the four Misc fields in your schedule settings and use {schedule_misc_1} to {schedule_misc_4}. See Schedule Settings.
Variables let you set up your banners and headers once and never worry about them again. Your names, dates, revisions and sun times always stay current, everywhere they appear.
