John, If I understand your production cycle correctly, there may be an easier way than moving files around and tweaking your .book structure. I do something similar where I generate 2 books (call them A and B) from a set of common chapter files. I use a combination of two .book files (including corresponding separate TOC, LOF, LOT files) and conditional text to extract what I want for each book. This method minimizes duplicate files (e.g. two Introduction files) and minimizes what needs to be tagged as conditional.
A given chapter file may contain context for: - only book A - only book B - both A and B Each .book file determines which chapter files are used in that book. Files that contain only A-specific content are included only the A.book file. Files that contain only B specific content are only in the B.book file. Files that contain content for both books are included in both .book files. Conditional text is only required in the files that are used in both books A and B. Content that is specific for only one book is must be marked with the appropriate conditional tag. This includes using conditional tags on my master pages for the book title. Content that is common to both books does not have to be tagged. When I want to update/print book A, I select all files in the A.book window, show A-conditional text, and hide all B-conditional text. Flip the conditional settings when building book B. If I did not use the two .book files, I would have a lot more conditional tagging to do. It really saves a ton of work. I have not tried this with four books, but I assume it works. I also don't use Structured Frame, so I can't comment on that. HTH ------------------------------------------ Jeff Schweiner Hardware Engineering Writer Cray Inc. (715) 726-4801 John wrote: <FrameMaker 8 unstructured> After years and years of working with FrameMaker, I am finally venturing into (for me) uncharted territory: the wild world of conditional text. I am not completely sure I understand what I am getting into, so I hope for some advice from this august body. I produce three types of deliverables from a single source, and am adding a fourth deliverable: Printed, OnlineDoc, OnlineHelp, and now Training. So far I have managed it all without conditions. The Training materials will have some content that is not in the others, so conditional text seems the way to go. My normal routine is to finish the writing phase and then to movine into production of each deliverable one at a time, moving the source files into a series of output folders for each deliverable. I go to Online Doc folder and generate the color PDF. Then I go to Print Doc folder and generate the hi-res B/W PDF. Then I go to Online Help, change the book structure around a bit, and generate help with Mif2Go. Now I am adding a fourth output, Training Materials, which will be PDF workbooks with another different book structure. Does it make sense to have four conditions (listed above), each of which is shown throughout the writing phase of the project, and then shown/hidden as I produce each of the deliverables? I hope to move into Structured FrameMaker soon - am I making that project more complex by introducing conditions now? A Lucky Strike! Extra question: the trainer wants x-refs to books in the printed doc set. I know how to keep live x-refs within the training materials, but I really can't imagine a way to keep good references to external books. John Sgammato Principal Technical Writer Imprivata, Inc. [v] (781) 674-2441 _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to Framers as [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send list messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
