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Why not removing the text variable from the cover itself and place it at the end with the script ? Hence, you can place the cover files (as pdf or indd) rather than copy/pasting. In any case, you will have to add pages on top of your chapter.
Loic

I'm afraid that placing the text variable on the page, in the correct position, might be beyond my scripting knowledge. I think that using scripting to move pages from one document to another would be a useful avenue to explore; if that does not pan out, I will probably insert two blank pages, then copy/paste.

I like scripting the text variable option, too. Perhaps I will play with that for a while and see what I can discover.

Thanks for replying Loic.

copy/paste is easy but...You may have page items on a locked layer, master spreads applied, items overriden,etc. At the end a lot things to deal with.
I can't imagine placing a text variable is that complex. I will have a look and tell you.
Loic

ok here we are
I get a raw skeleton that you will have to adjust but it's functional.
Use a PDF for placement as you can specify the page that you want to place.
I don't know if you can do the same for indesign files.

So basically, it starts adding 2 pages and placeing the pdf in the same time.
After that, it creates the textVariable and the frame that will receive it.

Here you are:

//If a document is open
if(app.documents.length!=0)
{
	var ad = app.activeDocument;

	//Pages placement

	for(i=0; i<2; i++) 	{ 		//Add 2 pages on top of the document; 		var tmpPg = ad.pages.add(LocationOptions.BEFORE, ad.pages[0]); 		//Here you place your pdf 		app.pdfPlacePreferences.pageNumber = i; 		tmpPg.place(File(cover.pdf), false) 		//You should specify page x and page y but ain't found yet the way to go. 	}

	//Text variable creation
	//Check if the textVariable named "txtVar" does not already exist...
	if(ad.textVariables.item("txtVar")==null)
	{
		//if not found, create the text variable named "txtVar"
		var txtVar = ad.textVariables.add();
		txtVar.variableType =VariableTypes.CUSTOM_TEXT_TYPE;
		txtVar.name = "txtVar";
		//Set the contents of the text variables to the string "test"
		ad.textVariables.item("txtVar").variableOptions.contents = "test";
	}

	//these coordinates don't care aboutyour units but you may adjust them to your needs
	var y1 = ad.marginPreferences.left;
	var x1 = ad.marginPreferences.top;
	var y2 = y1+5;
	var x2 = x1+25;
	var myFrame = ad.pages[0].textFrames.add({geometricBounds:[y1,x1,y2,x2]});

	//Set the contents of the frame to the text variables "txtVar"
	myFrame.contents=ad.textVariables.item("txtVar").variableOptions.contents;

	//You may want to stylize the txtVar
	//In this case, either you use a existing characterStyle or you create one in the script
}



Bye Loic

Thanks so much for taking the time to work this through, Loic! I really appreciate it. I will give the script a test drive tomorrow.

Thanks,
Matt

I know it's quite an old topic, but I'd like share, that you actually can move pages using scripting, and of course using the Page.move() function.

its syntax goes like this:
Page.move(to, reference, binding)

where 'to' stands for a LocationOption, to specify where you want to place the page relative to the reference object.
'reference' is the key part, because it can also be a page in any open document, you just need to refer to it.
'binding' defines the location of the binding spine.

And an example, to see this in action:
// Script from here
var coverDoc = app.documents.item('cover_document');
var pagesToMove = coverDoc.pages.itemByRange(0, 1);
var chapterDoc = app.documents.item('chapter_document');
pagesToMove.move(LocationOptions.BEFORE, chapterDoc.pages.item(0));
// Script until here

You may also use duplicate() the same way, if you want to keep the original pages. (however, it doesn't have the 'binding' parameter)

I hope it can help you!
Bali