FrameMaker 3 files
I've tried using FrameMaker v7.1 and its "heroic open" (Esc o H) to open five different FrameMaker files. It hasn't worked. The only real progress is that it tries... it begins with a dialog box that says "Opening a FrameMaker 3 document. OK to continue?" But then a second dialog box appears that says "There was a problem reading this file. Please check your file system, disk, and network." Anyone have any ideas?
FrameMaker 3 files
Just for those who might someday have to tread this path: I tried opening the v3 files in FM5.1.1, and no joy. That far back, the "heroic open" doesn't even exist. I tried opening the v3 files in FM5.5.6, and the "heroic open" fails just as it does for FM7.1. Since Scott Prentice of Leximation has very decently offered to see if FM4 will do the job, I still have hope. (Also glad I bought his BookVars plugin.)
FrameMaker 3 files
Scott, I really appreciate that you tried! I've been able to resurrect some of the text using text editors, but the ideal scenario would have recovered the diagrams as well. My heartfelt thanks, Doug - Original Message - From: Scott Prentice Cc: framers at lists.frameusers.com Subject: Re: FrameMaker 3 files Hi Doug... Got your files, but unfortunately I've been unable to open them in FM4. When I try I'm told that they are damaged. I tried using a heroic open, but that doesn't seem to have existed in FM4 (when I use it I end up with a "H" in the current document, which indicates that the Esc o H key sequence isn't defined). I suppose that it *is* possible that these files are in fact corrupt. When I open them in a text editor, they have the basic chunks of stuff that you'd expect, but there could be some extra binary bits at the end that may be causing the problem. FM4 doesn't have a "SaveAs FM3" option so I can't compare a "good" file against yours. You can open them in a text editor and pick out some of the words in plain text, but that's probably not terribly useful. Perhaps someone else actually has a copy of FM3 .. or if you're lucky you could find one for sale on eBay. Sorry I wasn't able to help! ...scott Scott Prentice Leximation, Inc. www.leximation.com +1.415.485.1892
FrameMaker 3 files
Thanks to everyone for their help. You've all been generous with it! =-= to: Jeremy H. Griffith Thanks for the tip about file length. As it happens, all five files have sizes evenly divisible by 1024 bytes. I also examined a couple of files to see if they ended (or even began) with a spurious "0D 0A" (or either, singly), and that's not the case either. Good thought, though. I'm going to add this tip to my toolbox. =-= to: Frank Stearns I'm betting you're right; the files are corrupt. At least I have been able to resurrect some of the information, even if I haven't been able to fully recover the files. I asked the developer who supplied the files how the files were stored, and he told me that the files were stored on hard drives (no further information; see next paragraph), in a CVS repository. There's more--the CVS repository was imported from an older revision history system. The history for the older system notes that the files were added to the system in 1993, but doesn't have information on modifications. (Which could mean either no modifications or no tracking.) The files were checked in to the older system by someone other than the original authors. The files have not been modified since they were added to CVS. Given all that, our developer notes that it is perfectly possible that the files were corrupted before they were introduced to the older system, with the usual caveat about CVS's habit of messing with CRs and LFs. (I did try altering the files to compensate for this, with no result.) One additional complicating factor is that several of our file servers used to be on-site, and that quite a lot of them are now networked drives in distant cities. Sorry if this isn't quite the information you were hoping for. =-= to: Shlomo Perets Thanks for the FM3 file. It opened easily enough without my having even to resort to "heroic open." As far as I'm concerned, this is the final nail in the coffin--the files are corrupted. The good news is that the preliminary work I put into resurrecting data from the files hasn't been wasted. In the end, only the diagrams have been lost, and some of the context of the largest file is a little tricky to reconstruct. That's not too hard to bear at all. =-= to: all those who wrote me off-list Thanks! I will reply soon if I haven't already. (I'm temporarily separated from my mail client, and am relying on webmail.) Doug
FrameMaker 3 files--SOLVED
With the help of Simon BUCH, I have recovered all the files. Mr Buch successfully converted the first of the files. With his sample, and the knowledge that it was possible, I converted the remaining files. The core of the problem is to replace CR/LF (0D 0A) with LF (0A). That much I had already tried. But apparently it's crucial to reinstate the CR/LF after the line at the start of the line. That much I missed! Thanks to you all for your help, plus an extra doff of my cap to Simon Buch. Final score: all 5 files recovered, including diagrams Doug
FrameMaker 11 and referenced graphics pointing to wrong drive: nightmare alley
Could you save all the chapters in the book as MIF and do a couple of search and replace runs? Once to correct ImportObFileDI and once to correct ImportObFile. I used to have a TextPipe script that automated this for me, although in my case I was trying to solve the problem of relative pathnames that had become absolute. If that's as clear a concrete, let me know and I'll provide actual help.
