Tag-compare tool?
Hi, Nancy: I don't know if there's a utility that compares format properties (BTW, don't forget x-ref formats and variable formats.) However, I believe that the properties are listed in MIF in the same order; i.e., first comes, say, default font, then the font properties - weight, variation, point size, etc. So, you might get somewhere by saving empty documents as MIF, then editing the MIF in a text editor, cutting out all the non-format stuff and saving as text. Then open the text files and compare the files. You might even cut it down further and make the comparison utility less likely to be confused, by creating separate files for each format catalog - paragraph, character, table, cross-reference, variable, etc, so you're only comparing likes with likes. HTH Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Wed, Dec 17, 2008 at 11:13 AM, Nancy Allison wrote: > Peter, I can easily generate a list of tags, and sort it any which way. That > is not the issue. > My question is, how do I see if there are any similar or dissimilar settings > between two tags? > In other words, all settings for Anchor and AnchorTable may be identical, > except that the tabs for AnchorTable have been set with painstaking > accuracy, while the tabs for Anchor are not useful. > Let's say that I don't know that, and let's say that there are a couple of > other subtle differences between the two tags that I am not aware of. (Why > am I not aware? Because I've inherited a document previously worked on by > two tech writers, the first of whom knew a lot more about Frame than the > second. The second created sloppy tags, imported tags, didn't sort out > discrepancies, and so on and so forth. Now I'm trying to clean it up a bit. > There aren't enough problems to justify creating a new template from > scratch, however.) > The only way I know to identify the differences between two paragraph or > character tags is to: > 1. Generate a list of all tags and their characteristics > 2. Find the listings for Anchor and AnchorTable (in this example) > 3. Place them side-by-side on my screen or desk > 4. Scan the many, many properties that are listed for those tags > 5. Visually identify the discrepancies among settings > I suppose I could also put the tags through every conceivable possible usage > in a template and see how they behave, and figure out which properties are > more desirable that way, but I don't have the time or patience. > If you have any thoughts about how to automate the comparison of tag > properties, I will be glad to hear them. > --Nancy
Tag-compare tool?
Hi, Nancy: On Wed, Dec 17, 2008 at 9:52 AM, Nancy Allison wrote: > While I'm drawing on your endless font of wisdom, O Frame Gurus, I have > another question: I see a document-compare function in Framemaker, but > my web search has not turned up a tag-compare function within (or > between) documents. > > My document has an Anchor paragraph tag and an AnchorTable paragraph > tag. In my zeal to reduce the number of tags, I'd like to know the > difference between these tags. > > I know how to print out an exhaustive list of tags (I think it's from > that lovely CleanImport plugin), so I can go cross-eyed comparing the > tag properties in print. BUT . . . is there a way within Frame, or with > a plugin, to compare two tags using the astonishing powers of the > computer, which doesn't even go crosseyed with effort? * Select the text of each file's list of tags and convert it to a table. Sort the tables. OR * Tag the text of each file's list of tags with a unique tag and generate an alphabetic paragraph list. HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: Tag-compare tool?
Hi, Nancy: I don't know if there's a utility that compares format properties (BTW, don't forget x-ref formats and variable formats.) However, I believe that the properties are listed in MIF in the same order; i.e., first comes, say, default font, then the font properties - weight, variation, point size, etc. So, you might get somewhere by saving empty documents as MIF, then editing the MIF in a text editor, cutting out all the non-format stuff and saving as text. Then open the text files and compare the files. You might even cut it down further and make the comparison utility less likely to be confused, by creating separate files for each format catalog - paragraph, character, table, cross-reference, variable, etc, so you're only comparing likes with likes. HTH Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Wed, Dec 17, 2008 at 11:13 AM, Nancy Allison wrote: > Peter, I can easily generate a list of tags, and sort it any which way. That > is not the issue. > My question is, how do I see if there are any similar or dissimilar settings > between two tags? > In other words, all settings for Anchor and AnchorTable may be identical, > except that the tabs for AnchorTable have been set with painstaking > accuracy, while the tabs for Anchor are not useful. > Let's say that I don't know that, and let's say that there are a couple of > other subtle differences between the two tags that I am not aware of. (Why > am I not aware? Because I've inherited a document previously worked on by > two tech writers, the first of whom knew a lot more about Frame than the > second. The second created sloppy tags, imported tags, didn't sort out > discrepancies, and so on and so forth. Now I'm trying to clean it up a bit. > There aren't enough problems to justify creating a new template from > scratch, however.) > The only way I know to identify the differences between two paragraph or > character tags is to: > 1. Generate a list of all tags and their characteristics > 2. Find the listings for Anchor and AnchorTable (in this example) > 3. Place them side-by-side on my screen or desk > 4. Scan the many, many properties that are listed for those tags > 5. Visually identify the discrepancies among settings > I suppose I could also put the tags through every conceivable possible usage > in a template and see how they behave, and figure out which properties are > more desirable that way, but I don't have the time or patience. > If you have any thoughts about how to automate the comparison of tag > properties, I will be glad to hear them. > --Nancy ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as arch...@mail-archive.com. Send list messages to fram...@lists.frameusers.com. To unsubscribe send a blank email to framers-unsubscr...@lists.frameusers.com or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to listad...@frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
Re: Tag-compare tool?
Hi, Nancy: On Wed, Dec 17, 2008 at 9:52 AM, Nancy Allison wrote: > While I'm drawing on your endless font of wisdom, O Frame Gurus, I have > another question: I see a document-compare function in Framemaker, but > my web search has not turned up a tag-compare function within (or > between) documents. > > My document has an Anchor paragraph tag and an AnchorTable paragraph > tag. In my zeal to reduce the number of tags, I'd like to know the > difference between these tags. > > I know how to print out an exhaustive list of tags (I think it's from > that lovely CleanImport plugin), so I can go cross-eyed comparing the > tag properties in print. BUT . . . is there a way within Frame, or with > a plugin, to compare two tags using the astonishing powers of the > computer, which doesn't even go crosseyed with effort? * Select the text of each file's list of tags and convert it to a table. Sort the tables. OR * Tag the text of each file's list of tags with a unique tag and generate an alphabetic paragraph list. HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as arch...@mail-archive.com. Send list messages to fram...@lists.frameusers.com. To unsubscribe send a blank email to framers-unsubscr...@lists.frameusers.com or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to listad...@frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
Tab issue with FrameMaker 8
Hi, Brian: On Tue, Dec 16, 2008 at 9:21 AM, wrote: > Peter, > > Thanks for the info. I went back to double check what was going on. The > tabs were not there. I manually inserted them. The tabs/leaders work for > Paragraph Designs (auto generated by Frame) Heading2TOC through Heading 5TOC. > They do not work for Heading1TOC (the top level). > > The tab mark is there, and I checked to make sure that all of the definitions > in the Paragraph Designer were the same for all (tab position and leader > type). > > I get nice leaders and page # placement for all except the top level. > > Any suggestions? * If a tab character is beyond (to the right of) its corresponding tab stop, it's ignored. Check that your top-level text isn't so long that it's causing this. * Verify that the rightmost tab stop is right aligned. * Verify that the reference page top-level prototype line contains the manually-inserted tab character, that the right-aligned tab stop position falls within the body-page's text-frame width. * Verify that no nearby body- or master-page graphic or text frame has its runaround property ON - this can force the text to the left, which simulates the tab failing. * Regenerate the TOC. I'm out of ideas. Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices > Thanks, > > Brian > -- Original message -- > From: "Peter Gold" >> Hi, Brian: >> >> Turn on View > Text Symbols to verify that there's a tab character to >> the left of the page numbers on the TOC body page, then: >> >> * If there is NO tab character on the TOC body page, on the reference >> page named TOC, if there is no tab character (looks like a greater >> than symbol) to the left of the <$pagenum> building blocks for each >> line that represents an entry level, you need.to manually type a tab >> character at that spot. Then regenerate the TOC - FM creates the tab >> on the body page before the page number by "picking up" the one you >> type on the reference page. >> >> * If there IS a tab character to the left of the page number on the >> TOC body page, then the cause usually comes from the TOC reference >> page's text frame width being wider than the body page's text-frame >> width. If you've position the right-aligned tab stop at the right edge >> of the reference-page's text frame (the wider one), the tab character >> in the text frame on the TOC body page can't reach the tab stop. >> >> HTH >> >> Regards, >> >> Peter Gold >> KnowHow ProServices >> >> On Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 10:52 AM, wrote: >> > I am working with FrameMaker 8 on a Windows XP platform. I have my product >> interface in preferences set to FrameMaker. >> > >> > I have generated a TOC and am trying to set tabs to place the page number >> > out >> near the right edge of the page. I have defined the tab stops, but when I >> hit >> the tab key the insertion point does not move. >> > >> > I have followed the steps laid out in the Help file to the letter and am >> > not >> having success. >> > >> > Can anyone point me in the right direction? >> > >> > Thanks, >> > >> > Brian > >
Re: Tab issue with FrameMaker 8
Hi, Brian: On Tue, Dec 16, 2008 at 9:21 AM, wrote: > Peter, > > Thanks for the info. I went back to double check what was going on. The > tabs were not there. I manually inserted them. The tabs/leaders work for > Paragraph Designs (auto generated by Frame) Heading2TOC through Heading 5TOC. > They do not work for Heading1TOC (the top level). > > The tab mark is there, and I checked to make sure that all of the definitions > in the Paragraph Designer were the same for all (tab position and leader > type). > > I get nice leaders and page # placement for all except the top level. > > Any suggestions? * If a tab character is beyond (to the right of) its corresponding tab stop, it's ignored. Check that your top-level text isn't so long that it's causing this. * Verify that the rightmost tab stop is right aligned. * Verify that the reference page top-level prototype line contains the manually-inserted tab character, that the right-aligned tab stop position falls within the body-page's text-frame width. * Verify that no nearby body- or master-page graphic or text frame has its runaround property ON - this can force the text to the left, which simulates the tab failing. * Regenerate the TOC. I'm out of ideas. Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices > Thanks, > > Brian > -- Original message -- > From: "Peter Gold" >> Hi, Brian: >> >> Turn on View > Text Symbols to verify that there's a tab character to >> the left of the page numbers on the TOC body page, then: >> >> * If there is NO tab character on the TOC body page, on the reference >> page named TOC, if there is no tab character (looks like a greater >> than symbol) to the left of the <$pagenum> building blocks for each >> line that represents an entry level, you need.to manually type a tab >> character at that spot. Then regenerate the TOC - FM creates the tab >> on the body page before the page number by "picking up" the one you >> type on the reference page. >> >> * If there IS a tab character to the left of the page number on the >> TOC body page, then the cause usually comes from the TOC reference >> page's text frame width being wider than the body page's text-frame >> width. If you've position the right-aligned tab stop at the right edge >> of the reference-page's text frame (the wider one), the tab character >> in the text frame on the TOC body page can't reach the tab stop. >> >> HTH >> >> Regards, >> >> Peter Gold >> KnowHow ProServices >> >> On Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 10:52 AM, wrote: >> > I am working with FrameMaker 8 on a Windows XP platform. I have my product >> interface in preferences set to FrameMaker. >> > >> > I have generated a TOC and am trying to set tabs to place the page number >> > out >> near the right edge of the page. I have defined the tab stops, but when I >> hit >> the tab key the insertion point does not move. >> > >> > I have followed the steps laid out in the Help file to the letter and am >> > not >> having success. >> > >> > Can anyone point me in the right direction? >> > >> > Thanks, >> > >> > Brian > > ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as arch...@mail-archive.com. Send list messages to fram...@lists.frameusers.com. To unsubscribe send a blank email to framers-unsubscr...@lists.frameusers.com or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to listad...@frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
Tab issue with FrameMaker 8
Hi, Brian: Turn on View > Text Symbols to verify that there's a tab character to the left of the page numbers on the TOC body page, then: * If there is NO tab character on the TOC body page, on the reference page named TOC, if there is no tab character (looks like a greater than symbol) to the left of the <$pagenum> building blocks for each line that represents an entry level, you need.to manually type a tab character at that spot. Then regenerate the TOC - FM creates the tab on the body page before the page number by "picking up" the one you type on the reference page. * If there IS a tab character to the left of the page number on the TOC body page, then the cause usually comes from the TOC reference page's text frame width being wider than the body page's text-frame width. If you've position the right-aligned tab stop at the right edge of the reference-page's text frame (the wider one), the tab character in the text frame on the TOC body page can't reach the tab stop. HTH Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 10:52 AM, wrote: > I am working with FrameMaker 8 on a Windows XP platform. I have my product > interface in preferences set to FrameMaker. > > I have generated a TOC and am trying to set tabs to place the page number out > near the right edge of the page. I have defined the tab stops, but when I > hit the tab key the insertion point does not move. > > I have followed the steps laid out in the Help file to the letter and am not > having success. > > Can anyone point me in the right direction? > > Thanks, > > Brian
Re: Tab issue with FrameMaker 8
Hi, Brian: Turn on View > Text Symbols to verify that there's a tab character to the left of the page numbers on the TOC body page, then: * If there is NO tab character on the TOC body page, on the reference page named TOC, if there is no tab character (looks like a greater than symbol) to the left of the <$pagenum> building blocks for each line that represents an entry level, you need.to manually type a tab character at that spot. Then regenerate the TOC - FM creates the tab on the body page before the page number by "picking up" the one you type on the reference page. * If there IS a tab character to the left of the page number on the TOC body page, then the cause usually comes from the TOC reference page's text frame width being wider than the body page's text-frame width. If you've position the right-aligned tab stop at the right edge of the reference-page's text frame (the wider one), the tab character in the text frame on the TOC body page can't reach the tab stop. HTH Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 10:52 AM, wrote: > I am working with FrameMaker 8 on a Windows XP platform. I have my product > interface in preferences set to FrameMaker. > > I have generated a TOC and am trying to set tabs to place the page number out > near the right edge of the page. I have defined the tab stops, but when I > hit the tab key the insertion point does not move. > > I have followed the steps laid out in the Help file to the letter and am not > having success. > > Can anyone point me in the right direction? > > Thanks, > > Brian ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as arch...@mail-archive.com. Send list messages to fram...@lists.frameusers.com. To unsubscribe send a blank email to framers-unsubscr...@lists.frameusers.com or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to listad...@frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
Paragraph and Character styles in FrameMaker and InDesign
One more thing (OK, a couple more)
Now that I'm back on my Windows machine where I can use FrameMaker 8,
I tried my own suggestions using my rusty and trusty MS Word 97, and
learned a few things. Perhaps newer Word releases can understand more
of the information that FrameMaker puts into the RTF, if in fact there
is more. (Anyone who feels like testing this with newer Word releases
can request my test file.)
* There's no Save As > MS Word in FM 7 or FM8, only RTF. I don't have
earlier installed FM, just the faint memory (from FM7 on Mac) of being
able to save as Word. However, saving as RTF and placing the RTF file
in ID retains the FM paragraph and character format names, and many of
FM's paragraph and character font properties, and some typographic and
composition properties - like leading, indents, tab stops, alignment,
hyphenation, space before and after, and even a valiant effort at
frame above and below paragraphs. But missing are FrameMaker's unique
paragraph pagination properties like run-in, across columns, and side
headings, and FM's advanced paragraph property that modifies table
cell margins.
* Opening the RTF file in Word displays bullets and auto-numbers as
question marks in correctly-tagged paragraphs in main text, but the
auto-number format codes (like C:Chapter <$chapnum> \t) are lost.
* Cross-references are partially converted to text, so you can at
least have a fragment of the referenced content to search for.
* Index markers are broken and leave messes in the form of {xe-"???"}.
The number of question marks varies, but you can search for the marker
locations, create ID index entries there, and delete the broken
markers.
* Footnote references (the number in main text) and footnote content
are retained.
* Table appearance is preserved, but table format names are lost.
Paragraph format names in table cells are retained.
This may be more information than you (or anyone sane) needs. I'm not
not-sane, though I am writing a book on ID for FM users making the
switch (maybe THIS is not sane :) ) and I'd have had to do this
research anyway, sooner or later. I didn't get to this area of detail
in my review of the DTP Tools plug-in in the October/November 2007
issue of InDesign Magazine, because it's not central to evaluating the
plug-in.
The upshot is this: DTP Tools' MIF Filter plug-in for ID is the most
efficient conversion path. For small amounts of content and
formatting, you can save as RTF if it serves your needs, or you can
copy from a conversion using the trial plug-in, and paste into a new
ID document to save it. Otherwise, buy a ticket for some page credits.
HTH
Regards,
Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices
> On 12/12/08, mulholland4 wrote:
>> Hi,
>> I am going to be using InDesign to produce some docs and was wondering if
>> there is any way of importing the Paragraph and Character styles from my
>> Framemaker 8 docs into InDesign CS4? Although my layout will be radically
>> different in the new docs, it would be useful to be able to reuse content
>> from my Frame docs.
>>
>> Thanks
>> Mulholland
Re: Paragraph and Character styles in FrameMaker and InDesign
One more thing (OK, a couple more)
Now that I'm back on my Windows machine where I can use FrameMaker 8,
I tried my own suggestions using my rusty and trusty MS Word 97, and
learned a few things. Perhaps newer Word releases can understand more
of the information that FrameMaker puts into the RTF, if in fact there
is more. (Anyone who feels like testing this with newer Word releases
can request my test file.)
* There's no Save As > MS Word in FM 7 or FM8, only RTF. I don't have
earlier installed FM, just the faint memory (from FM7 on Mac) of being
able to save as Word. However, saving as RTF and placing the RTF file
in ID retains the FM paragraph and character format names, and many of
FM's paragraph and character font properties, and some typographic and
composition properties - like leading, indents, tab stops, alignment,
hyphenation, space before and after, and even a valiant effort at
frame above and below paragraphs. But missing are FrameMaker's unique
paragraph pagination properties like run-in, across columns, and side
headings, and FM's advanced paragraph property that modifies table
cell margins.
* Opening the RTF file in Word displays bullets and auto-numbers as
question marks in correctly-tagged paragraphs in main text, but the
auto-number format codes (like C:Chapter <$chapnum> \t) are lost.
* Cross-references are partially converted to text, so you can at
least have a fragment of the referenced content to search for.
* Index markers are broken and leave messes in the form of {xe-"???"}.
The number of question marks varies, but you can search for the marker
locations, create ID index entries there, and delete the broken
markers.
* Footnote references (the number in main text) and footnote content
are retained.
* Table appearance is preserved, but table format names are lost.
Paragraph format names in table cells are retained.
This may be more information than you (or anyone sane) needs. I'm not
not-sane, though I am writing a book on ID for FM users making the
switch (maybe THIS is not sane :) ) and I'd have had to do this
research anyway, sooner or later. I didn't get to this area of detail
in my review of the DTP Tools plug-in in the October/November 2007
issue of InDesign Magazine, because it's not central to evaluating the
plug-in.
The upshot is this: DTP Tools' MIF Filter plug-in for ID is the most
efficient conversion path. For small amounts of content and
formatting, you can save as RTF if it serves your needs, or you can
copy from a conversion using the trial plug-in, and paste into a new
ID document to save it. Otherwise, buy a ticket for some page credits.
HTH
Regards,
Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices
> On 12/12/08, mulholland4 wrote:
>> Hi,
>> I am going to be using InDesign to produce some docs and was wondering if
>> there is any way of importing the Paragraph and Character styles from my
>> Framemaker 8 docs into InDesign CS4? Although my layout will be radically
>> different in the new docs, it would be useful to be able to reuse content
>> from my Frame docs.
>>
>> Thanks
>> Mulholland
___
You are currently subscribed to Framers as arch...@mail-archive.com.
Send list messages to fram...@lists.frameusers.com.
To unsubscribe send a blank email to
framers-unsubscr...@lists.frameusers.com
or visit
http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com
Send administrative questions to listad...@frameusers.com. Visit
http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
Paragraph and Character styles in FrameMaker and InDesign
On 12/12/08, mulholland4 wrote: > Hi, > I am going to be using InDesign to produce some docs and was wondering if > there is any way of importing the Paragraph and Character styles from my > Framemaker 8 docs into InDesign CS4? Although my layout will be radically > different in the new docs, it would be useful to be able to reuse content > from my Frame docs. > > Thanks > Mulholland > ___ > You can save the FM file as MS Word and use File > Place in ID to import the Word file. The formats should be retained. There's a good chance that cross-references and their formats will survive, too. Not sure about table formats. Index markers should survive. If you need to convert or recreate any volume of FM documents in ID, look into the MIF Filter at dtptools.com that's been mentioned earlier in this thread. It does a good job of translating MIF files into ID. There's a free trial. Although it doesn't save until you buy some page credits, you should be able to copy and paste pieces of the converted file that contain the FM formats that were converted to ID styles into a new file. HTH Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: Paragraph and Character styles in FrameMaker and InDesign
On 12/12/08, mulholland4 wrote: > Hi, > I am going to be using InDesign to produce some docs and was wondering if > there is any way of importing the Paragraph and Character styles from my > Framemaker 8 docs into InDesign CS4? Although my layout will be radically > different in the new docs, it would be useful to be able to reuse content > from my Frame docs. > > Thanks > Mulholland > ___ > You can save the FM file as MS Word and use File > Place in ID to import the Word file. The formats should be retained. There's a good chance that cross-references and their formats will survive, too. Not sure about table formats. Index markers should survive. If you need to convert or recreate any volume of FM documents in ID, look into the MIF Filter at dtptools.com that's been mentioned earlier in this thread. It does a good job of translating MIF files into ID. There's a free trial. Although it doesn't save until you buy some page credits, you should be able to copy and paste pieces of the converted file that contain the FM formats that were converted to ID styles into a new file. HTH Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as arch...@mail-archive.com. Send list messages to fram...@lists.frameusers.com. To unsubscribe send a blank email to framers-unsubscr...@lists.frameusers.com or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to listad...@frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
Book file > PDF problem
CAUTION WHEN INSTALLING MULTIPLE VERSIONS OF FRAMEMAKER ON ONE COMPUTER! DO: install each version into its own directory. During installation, check default installation path for each version to be sure of this. NOTE: I can't recall with certainty how every "point" release worked (like 5.0, 5.3, 5.5). I think 7.0, 7.1, and 7.2 each installed into separate directories and didn't interfere with others. More recently, I think, updates to recent releases were distributed as patches that modified their base release. Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On 12/11/08, Combs, Richard wrote: > Jo Watkiss wrote: > > > "Anyway, if changing to a different printer driver changed your output > > from separate chapter PDFs to a single book PDF, then something's > wrong > > somewhere." > > Yup. > > > > I suspect the answer is upgrade my FrameMaker. > > > No. Unless you need to for other reasons. When I said "something's wrong > somewhere," I didn't mean with FM6, which is perfectly capable of > producing single PDFs from FM6 books. Countless Framers did this for > many years. I still use FM6 at home, and I've never had this problem. > > Something's wrong with your settings, procedure, or configuration, not > with FM6 itself. > > And Art -- I was agreeing with you about the asterisk. Sorry I confused > things by mentioning the FM7.2 setting. I just thought it was > interesting how Adobe evolved the feature into something more > user-friendly. > > > Richard > > > Richard G. Combs > Senior Technical Writer > Polycom, Inc. > richardDOTcombs AT polycomDOTcom > 303-223-5111 > -- > rgcombs AT gmailDOTcom > 303-777-0436 > -- > > > > > >
Re: Book file > PDF problem
CAUTION WHEN INSTALLING MULTIPLE VERSIONS OF FRAMEMAKER ON ONE COMPUTER! DO: install each version into its own directory. During installation, check default installation path for each version to be sure of this. NOTE: I can't recall with certainty how every "point" release worked (like 5.0, 5.3, 5.5). I think 7.0, 7.1, and 7.2 each installed into separate directories and didn't interfere with others. More recently, I think, updates to recent releases were distributed as patches that modified their base release. Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On 12/11/08, Combs, Richard wrote: > Jo Watkiss wrote: > > > "Anyway, if changing to a different printer driver changed your output > > from separate chapter PDFs to a single book PDF, then something's > wrong > > somewhere." > > Yup. > > > > I suspect the answer is upgrade my FrameMaker. > > > No. Unless you need to for other reasons. When I said "something's wrong > somewhere," I didn't mean with FM6, which is perfectly capable of > producing single PDFs from FM6 books. Countless Framers did this for > many years. I still use FM6 at home, and I've never had this problem. > > Something's wrong with your settings, procedure, or configuration, not > with FM6 itself. > > And Art -- I was agreeing with you about the asterisk. Sorry I confused > things by mentioning the FM7.2 setting. I just thought it was > interesting how Adobe evolved the feature into something more > user-friendly. > > > Richard > > > Richard G. Combs > Senior Technical Writer > Polycom, Inc. > richardDOTcombs AT polycomDOTcom > 303-223-5111 > -- > rgcombs AT gmailDOTcom > 303-777-0436 > -- > > > > > > ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as arch...@mail-archive.com. Send list messages to fram...@lists.frameusers.com. To unsubscribe send a blank email to framers-unsubscr...@lists.frameusers.com or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to listad...@frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
FM file per country for same software
Hi, Carla: With all your conditions, I'm wondering if you're using logical expressions (new in FM 8) or are doing it the old way. - Regards, Peter On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 8:17 AM, Martinek, Carla wrote: > Lynn - > > >From my viewpoint, you are doing the right thing now. Moving away from > this method will cause you more problems down the road. However, you may > need to add additional conditional text settings to accommodate your > needs. (I assume you are storing the shared files on a network location > accessible by both writers?) > > We maintain shared files for multiple product lines (at least 8 at last > count). We have separate conditional text formats for each product line > for the following: User Guide, Quick Ref Guides, Maintenance Manual, and > Maintenance Kit. Add in some other product conditional text options (our > software and programming guides) and we are easily over 100 conditional > tags in use. It seems daunting at first, but it's really quite logical. > > I suggest that you create additional logical styles, based on the region > and the software release. For example: > > UK 1.1 > UK 2.0 > US 1.1 > US 2.0 > > Or, if you want them grouped differently: > > 1.1 US > 1.1 UK > Etc. > > Assign each release a specific COLOR for the condition, and add a format > for the region. For example: > > UK 1.1 = BLUE Overline > US 1.1 = BLUE Underline > UK 2.0 = PINE GREEN Overline > US 2.0 = PINE GREEN Underline > > We created a matrix that has sample text for all of our conditions, and > use it to import conditional text and variable settings. I've attached > it to this email (the list won't get it, tho. If anyone else wants to > see this example, email me offlist.) > > Also, look at the granularity of each file you are sharing. Are they > full chapters, or individual topics that are assembled into chapters > within the Frame book? (We do the topical files, assembled in the book.) > If you have topics which are completely different for new versions of > the software, create and name the topics based on that. (e.g., > installation_UK-r2_0.fm and installation_US-r2_0, or > installation_UK-r1_1.fm and installation_US-r1_1.) That allows you > addiitional control as to what gets added into specific books. > > Regards, > Carla > > > > > > -Original Message- > From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com > [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Lynn Durell > Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 7:15 AM > To: framers at lists.frameusers.com > Subject: FM file per country for same software > > Hi Framers, > > We currently have a single source FM doc, with conditional tags used for > UK-only or USA-only sections, so the same FM file is used for both UK > and USA versions of our software app, with 2 writers (one UK, one USA) > working in conjunction on the same file. > > This is too complex to keep up, especially as UK and USA versions of the > software are not released at the same time, so we are going to split the > FM in two copies. Going forwards, there will be one writer updating the > UK FM and one writer updating the USA FM. > > However, we don't want both writers to be documenting the same software, > but at the same time, we don't want one writer to have to continuously > list or copy/paste all their changes to the other writer (who then > localises). > > Does anyone have experience with this and how to work with it? > > Thanks, > Lynn Durell > lynn.durell at dds.co.uk
Re: FM file per country for same software
Hi, Carla: With all your conditions, I'm wondering if you're using logical expressions (new in FM 8) or are doing it the old way. - Regards, Peter On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 8:17 AM, Martinek, Carla <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Lynn - > > >From my viewpoint, you are doing the right thing now. Moving away from > this method will cause you more problems down the road. However, you may > need to add additional conditional text settings to accommodate your > needs. (I assume you are storing the shared files on a network location > accessible by both writers?) > > We maintain shared files for multiple product lines (at least 8 at last > count). We have separate conditional text formats for each product line > for the following: User Guide, Quick Ref Guides, Maintenance Manual, and > Maintenance Kit. Add in some other product conditional text options (our > software and programming guides) and we are easily over 100 conditional > tags in use. It seems daunting at first, but it's really quite logical. > > I suggest that you create additional logical styles, based on the region > and the software release. For example: > > UK 1.1 > UK 2.0 > US 1.1 > US 2.0 > > Or, if you want them grouped differently: > > 1.1 US > 1.1 UK > Etc. > > Assign each release a specific COLOR for the condition, and add a format > for the region. For example: > > UK 1.1 = BLUE Overline > US 1.1 = BLUE Underline > UK 2.0 = PINE GREEN Overline > US 2.0 = PINE GREEN Underline > > We created a matrix that has sample text for all of our conditions, and > use it to import conditional text and variable settings. I've attached > it to this email (the list won't get it, tho. If anyone else wants to > see this example, email me offlist.) > > Also, look at the granularity of each file you are sharing. Are they > full chapters, or individual topics that are assembled into chapters > within the Frame book? (We do the topical files, assembled in the book.) > If you have topics which are completely different for new versions of > the software, create and name the topics based on that. (e.g., > installation_UK-r2_0.fm and installation_US-r2_0, or > installation_UK-r1_1.fm and installation_US-r1_1.) That allows you > addiitional control as to what gets added into specific books. > > Regards, > Carla > > > > > > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Lynn Durell > Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 7:15 AM > To: framers@lists.frameusers.com > Subject: FM file per country for same software > > Hi Framers, > > We currently have a single source FM doc, with conditional tags used for > UK-only or USA-only sections, so the same FM file is used for both UK > and USA versions of our software app, with 2 writers (one UK, one USA) > working in conjunction on the same file. > > This is too complex to keep up, especially as UK and USA versions of the > software are not released at the same time, so we are going to split the > FM in two copies. Going forwards, there will be one writer updating the > UK FM and one writer updating the USA FM. > > However, we don't want both writers to be documenting the same software, > but at the same time, we don't want one writer to have to continuously > list or copy/paste all their changes to the other writer (who then > localises). > > Does anyone have experience with this and how to work with it? > > Thanks, > Lynn Durell > [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ 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.
Paragraph catalog sort order
Stuart gives me more credit than I deserve for my wild guess. I dreamed this up by remembering some of the reported problems with Unicode-aware FM and spurious characters in PDF bookmarks, and in moving legacy files created in earlier versions into FM 8. On Mon, Dec 8, 2008 at 4:50 PM, Stuart Rogers wrote: > Fred Ridder wrote: >> I think you might be on the right track, Peter, given someone else's >> observation that they have seen FM8 behave differently in this regard >> on two different machnies. >> >> But I have to say that I have no clue about where/how to change to >> a different character set for my OS (Windows XP Pro SP2). >> >> Fred Ridder > > Fred, > > Have a look at Control Panel > Regional and Language Options, Advanced > tab. I'm not sure what you need to change there, but I think the Code > page conversion tables are what Peter is referring to. > > HTH, HTH Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: Paragraph catalog sort order
Stuart gives me more credit than I deserve for my wild guess. I dreamed this up by remembering some of the reported problems with Unicode-aware FM and spurious characters in PDF bookmarks, and in moving legacy files created in earlier versions into FM 8. On Mon, Dec 8, 2008 at 4:50 PM, Stuart Rogers <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Fred Ridder wrote: >> I think you might be on the right track, Peter, given someone else's >> observation that they have seen FM8 behave differently in this regard >> on two different machnies. >> >> But I have to say that I have no clue about where/how to change to >> a different character set for my OS (Windows XP Pro SP2). >> >> Fred Ridder > > Fred, > > Have a look at Control Panel > Regional and Language Options, Advanced > tab. I'm not sure what you need to change there, but I think the Code > page conversion tables are what Peter is referring to. > > HTH, HTH Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
Paragraph catalog sort order
Hi, Fred: Just off the top of my head I wonder if the change is from an ASCII sort order to a Unicode sort order. Have you tried choosing a different character set for your OS (I'm on my Mac right now, and can't remember the exact name or location on a Windows machine.) On Mon, Dec 8, 2008 at 1:00 PM, Fred Ridder wrote: > > Has anyone found a workaround for the change in the sort > order used in the Paragraph Catalog and other listings of > paragraph tags? ____ Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: Paragraph catalog sort order
Hi, Fred: Just off the top of my head I wonder if the change is from an ASCII sort order to a Unicode sort order. Have you tried choosing a different character set for your OS (I'm on my Mac right now, and can't remember the exact name or location on a Windows machine.) On Mon, Dec 8, 2008 at 1:00 PM, Fred Ridder <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Has anyone found a workaround for the change in the sort > order used in the Paragraph Catalog and other listings of > paragraph tags? ____ Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
Default anchored frame settings
Hi, Nancy: On Tue, Dec 2, 2008 at 1:29 PM, Nancy Allison wrote: > > Ah, you misunderstand. The reason I ask for recommendations is that > I'm CHEAP, and the license costs $25.00, which would come out of my > impoverished, freelancer's shallow pockets. > > Don't want to spend the dough if there is any question about the tool, > or if there is some other tool out there that provides both that > solution and, I dunno, makes my breakfast and sings the national anthem > as well, for the same $25.00. Consider that Bruce Foster, who created this plug-in, and others that have been helpful mainstays to the FrameMaker user community for many years, is also an individual creator, not a large company. Paying a modest price for a useful tool rewards their creators and keeps them motivated to maintain the existing tools and develop new ones. Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
party invitation
On Tue, Dec 2, 2008 at 11:20 AM, Deirdre Reagan wrote: > Hi all: > > FM 8.0 -- Windows XP. > > I am making our holiday party invitations -- is FM a good product to > use, or would word be better. I don't have any good publishing > software. Unless FM is good publishing software, of course! > > LOL It depends on the kind of party you're planning . Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: Default anchored frame settings
Hi, Nancy: On Tue, Dec 2, 2008 at 1:29 PM, Nancy Allison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Ah, you misunderstand. The reason I ask for recommendations is that > I'm CHEAP, and the license costs $25.00, which would come out of my > impoverished, freelancer's shallow pockets. > > Don't want to spend the dough if there is any question about the tool, > or if there is some other tool out there that provides both that > solution and, I dunno, makes my breakfast and sings the national anthem > as well, for the same $25.00. Consider that Bruce Foster, who created this plug-in, and others that have been helpful mainstays to the FrameMaker user community for many years, is also an individual creator, not a large company. Paying a modest price for a useful tool rewards their creators and keeps them motivated to maintain the existing tools and develop new ones. Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
Re: party invitation
On Tue, Dec 2, 2008 at 11:20 AM, Deirdre Reagan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi all: > > FM 8.0 -- Windows XP. > > I am making our holiday party invitations -- is FM a good product to > use, or would word be better. I don't have any good publishing > software. Unless FM is good publishing software, of course! > > LOL It depends on the kind of party you're planning . Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
Great Leap
Hi, Murray: There are some issues with unicode characters available in FM 8, but not in earlier versions. I think one common area to see this is in PDF bookmarks. > On Mon, Dec 1, 2008 at 1:53 PM, Murray Moore csdcsystems.com>wrote: > >> I have an opportunity to leap several versions and upgrade from FM 6 to FM >> 8. >> >> My manager wants to know "Do you see any issues migrating to 8 - it is >> seamless? All our old files are compatible?" >> >> Any gotchas about which to beware? >> >> /\/\ >> Murray HTH Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: Great Leap
Hi, Murray: There are some issues with unicode characters available in FM 8, but not in earlier versions. I think one common area to see this is in PDF bookmarks. > On Mon, Dec 1, 2008 at 1:53 PM, Murray Moore <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: > >> I have an opportunity to leap several versions and upgrade from FM 6 to FM >> 8. >> >> My manager wants to know "Do you see any issues migrating to 8 - it is >> seamless? All our old files are compatible?" >> >> Any gotchas about which to beware? >> >> /\/\ >> Murray HTH Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
Hot Keys & Macros
Hi, Donald: As you probably know, nothing on the Internet ever dies, and this includes the WordStar keystroke habits embedded in the cultural unconscious of many among us. FrameMaker keystroke shortcuts are not the same as WS, though some of Windows are quite similar. Instead of ^S ^D ^E and ^X for character left, right, and line up, down, arrow keys do it. Look up keystrokes in FM help, and framemaker keystrokes and framemaker keystroke shortcuts on Google to find some charts and listings of some of the many things that you can do in FM without a mouse. Also, open a copy of the command text files in the configui folder under your FM installation directory, to see listings of the many commands and their keystrokes built into FM. Read about how to create your own, as well as customizing menus, in the PDF Customizing Framemaker, also under the FM installation directory. To truly mimic WS commands, search for a third-party keystroke macro recorder. HTH Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Sun, Nov 30, 2008 at 1:08 PM, Donlad W. Spencer wrote: > Rick Q. et al: > > I recently gave up on converting a one-file book to a master/sub-document > group in MSWord because of the infuriating problems thus created. Having > previously self published a rather complicated book through Framemaker 7.2, > I decided to migrate the book now and have done with it. I am almost over > the re-learning curve and have solved all the formatting and numbering > problems. However, what I have given up are the macro/hotkeys which I had > developed in Word that emulated my old Worstar navigation and editing > hotkeys. Without them, I'm stuck with creating a Temp.doc in Word, composing > within it, saving it, and then importing it into my Frame book. > > If I purchased FrameScript, could I create the same macros? Or must I change > my OS to Unix and purchase the Unix version of Framemaker? > > Can't really afford either choice, but in case my situation improves, I > would like to know my options. > > ~ Don Spencer
Re: Hot Keys & Macros
Hi, Donald: As you probably know, nothing on the Internet ever dies, and this includes the WordStar keystroke habits embedded in the cultural unconscious of many among us. FrameMaker keystroke shortcuts are not the same as WS, though some of Windows are quite similar. Instead of ^S ^D ^E and ^X for character left, right, and line up, down, arrow keys do it. Look up keystrokes in FM help, and framemaker keystrokes and framemaker keystroke shortcuts on Google to find some charts and listings of some of the many things that you can do in FM without a mouse. Also, open a copy of the command text files in the configui folder under your FM installation directory, to see listings of the many commands and their keystrokes built into FM. Read about how to create your own, as well as customizing menus, in the PDF Customizing Framemaker, also under the FM installation directory. To truly mimic WS commands, search for a third-party keystroke macro recorder. HTH Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Sun, Nov 30, 2008 at 1:08 PM, Donlad W. Spencer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Rick Q. et al: > > I recently gave up on converting a one-file book to a master/sub-document > group in MSWord because of the infuriating problems thus created. Having > previously self published a rather complicated book through Framemaker 7.2, > I decided to migrate the book now and have done with it. I am almost over > the re-learning curve and have solved all the formatting and numbering > problems. However, what I have given up are the macro/hotkeys which I had > developed in Word that emulated my old Worstar navigation and editing > hotkeys. Without them, I'm stuck with creating a Temp.doc in Word, composing > within it, saving it, and then importing it into my Frame book. > > If I purchased FrameScript, could I create the same macros? Or must I change > my OS to Unix and purchase the Unix version of Framemaker? > > Can't really afford either choice, but in case my situation improves, I > would like to know my options. > > ~ Don Spencer ___ 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.
FrameMaker -- removing heading rows in existing tables
Hi, Jim: Table formats don't set the number or size of rows or columns; creating or modifying a table sets these features. Table formats remember the size and number of columns and rows of the selected table when you create or revise a table format. For existing tables, you might try selecting and merging (Table > Straddle) the two heading rows. This combines the content of the two rows, so you may need to do some clean up editing. To revise the format to one heading row, select a new one-heading row table, and click Update All in the Table Designer. New tables will have the revised format. On Fri, Nov 28, 2008 at 12:54 PM, Jim Owens wrote: > Thanks, I'll keep it in mind. I was hoping to update the existing table > format somehow, so that we don't have to add a new format to the catalog > or manually edit each table. Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: FrameMaker -- removing heading rows in existing tables
Hi, Jim: Table formats don't set the number or size of rows or columns; creating or modifying a table sets these features. Table formats remember the size and number of columns and rows of the selected table when you create or revise a table format. For existing tables, you might try selecting and merging (Table > Straddle) the two heading rows. This combines the content of the two rows, so you may need to do some clean up editing. To revise the format to one heading row, select a new one-heading row table, and click Update All in the Table Designer. New tables will have the revised format. On Fri, Nov 28, 2008 at 12:54 PM, Jim Owens <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Thanks, I'll keep it in mind. I was hoping to update the existing table > format somehow, so that we don't have to add a new format to the catalog > or manually edit each table. Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
Sorting: Ignoring periods
Hi, Darren: Have you tried specifying the sort order with square brackets in each index marker? For example: Heidi Chronicles.[Heidi Chronicles] Heidi.[Heidi] etc. Markerworker is a free marker editing tool from cudspan. Search Google for: markerworker cudspan HTH Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Mon, Nov 3, 2008 at 8:03 AM, Butler, Darren J CTR USAF AFMC 584 CBSS/GBHAC wrote: > Fred Ridder wrote: >>>The cause is easy. Period follow spaces in the standard sort order. > Any entry that includes Heidi followed by a space will sort before an > entry that has Heidi followed by a period (or almost any other > punctuation character). The best fix for your situation is another > matter...<< > > > If changing the SortOrder or the IgnoreChars building blocks won't help, > does anybody have any ideas on what else I can do - even if it's not a > total fix - because I have a customer that's producing very large > indexes. Finding every out-of-order "Heidi" would be tedious and > eye-straining. > > Thanx, > DJ > > > > > -Original Message- > From: Fred Ridder [mailto:docudoc at hotmail.com] > Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 12:33 PM > To: Butler, Darren J CTR USAF AFMC 584 CBSS/GBHAC > Subject: RE: Sorting: Ignoring periods > > The cause is easy. Period follow spaces in the standard sort order. > Any entry that includes Heidi followed by a space will sort before an > entry that has Heidi followed by a period (or almost any other > punctuation character). > > The best fix for your situation is another matter... > > > >> Subject: Sorting: Ignoring periods >> Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:43:32 -0400 >> From: Darren.Butler.ctr at Robins.af.mil >> To: framers at lists.frameusers.com >> >> Hello fellow FrameManiacs, >> >> >> >> In an index of paragraph titles; >> >> >> >> I WANT: >> >> Heidi. >> >> Heidi Chronicles. >> >> Heidi Fleiss. >> >> Heidi Ho. >> >> Heidi Klum. >> >> >> >> I GET: >> >> Heidi Chronicles. >> >> Heidi Fleiss. >> >> Heidi Ho. >> >> Heidi Klum. >> >> Heidi. >> >> >> >> Do I need to monkey with the SortOrder of the IgnoreChars? >> >> >> >> TIA, >> >> DJ
Subject: creating a table with row headings instead of column headings
Great solution, Wim! Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Mon, Nov 3, 2008 at 2:27 AM, Wim Hooghwinkel - idtp wrote: > Hi Ben, > > To make a table with (repeating) row headers you can use a rotated frame, > create table and rotate the text. In fact you turn the tabel (90 degrees) > and use rotated the text (-90 degrees) so the display will be 'normal'. > You could make a special master page with a rotated text frame to hold the > table and maintain table continuation. > > HTH > > > Vriendelijke groet, > > Wim Hooghwinkel > > Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in FrameMaker > > iDTP > > International DTP and Documentation Consultancy > > tel. +31652036811 > info at idtp.eu > www.idtp.eu
Re: Sorting: Ignoring periods
Hi, Darren: Have you tried specifying the sort order with square brackets in each index marker? For example: Heidi Chronicles.[Heidi Chronicles] Heidi.[Heidi] etc. Markerworker is a free marker editing tool from cudspan. Search Google for: markerworker cudspan HTH Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Mon, Nov 3, 2008 at 8:03 AM, Butler, Darren J CTR USAF AFMC 584 CBSS/GBHAC <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Fred Ridder wrote: >>>The cause is easy. Period follow spaces in the standard sort order. > Any entry that includes Heidi followed by a space will sort before an > entry that has Heidi followed by a period (or almost any other > punctuation character). The best fix for your situation is another > matter...<< > > > If changing the SortOrder or the IgnoreChars building blocks won't help, > does anybody have any ideas on what else I can do - even if it's not a > total fix - because I have a customer that's producing very large > indexes. Finding every out-of-order "Heidi" would be tedious and > eye-straining. > > Thanx, > DJ > > > > > -Original Message- > From: Fred Ridder [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 12:33 PM > To: Butler, Darren J CTR USAF AFMC 584 CBSS/GBHAC > Subject: RE: Sorting: Ignoring periods > > The cause is easy. Period follow spaces in the standard sort order. > Any entry that includes Heidi followed by a space will sort before an > entry that has Heidi followed by a period (or almost any other > punctuation character). > > The best fix for your situation is another matter... > > > >> Subject: Sorting: Ignoring periods >> Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:43:32 -0400 >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> To: framers@lists.frameusers.com >> >> Hello fellow FrameManiacs, >> >> >> >> In an index of paragraph titles; >> >> >> >> I WANT: >> >> Heidi. >> >> Heidi Chronicles. >> >> Heidi Fleiss. >> >> Heidi Ho. >> >> Heidi Klum. >> >> >> >> I GET: >> >> Heidi Chronicles. >> >> Heidi Fleiss. >> >> Heidi Ho. >> >> Heidi Klum. >> >> Heidi. >> >> >> >> Do I need to monkey with the SortOrder of the IgnoreChars? >> >> >> >> TIA, >> >> DJ ___ 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.
Re: Subject: creating a table with row headings instead of column headings
Great solution, Wim! Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Mon, Nov 3, 2008 at 2:27 AM, Wim Hooghwinkel - idtp <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Ben, > > To make a table with (repeating) row headers you can use a rotated frame, > create table and rotate the text. In fact you turn the tabel (90 degrees) > and use rotated the text (-90 degrees) so the display will be 'normal'. > You could make a special master page with a rotated text frame to hold the > table and maintain table continuation. > > HTH > > > Vriendelijke groet, > > Wim Hooghwinkel > > Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in FrameMaker > > iDTP > > International DTP and Documentation Consultancy > > tel. +31652036811 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > www.idtp.eu ___ 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.
Commas in paragraph tags
Hi, Charles: You can rename paragraph formats across a book's files using only FM's tools, this way: * Before proceeding, from the book window, perform Shift+File > Open All Files In Book, if they're not already open. Then, perform Shift+File > Save All Files In Book. * Click in a paragraph whose format you want to rename. * In the Paragraph Tag box of the Paragraph Designer, type the new name and click Apply. * Check Store in Catalog and Apply to Selection. The paragraph format now has the new name and the old properties. * Copy the paragraph format with Edit > Copy Special > Paragraph Format. The format is copied to the clipboard. * With a selection in any book file or the book window, use Edit > Find/Change > Find > Paragraph Tag and type in the old format name exactly (spaces, symbols, punctuation, comma, capitalization, etc) * Choose Change > By Pasting * Select Look In > Book * Try a few find/replace operations manually to see that things are working correctly. If all's OK, Click Change All to propagate the change across all the files in the book. * Do some spot checks in the chapters to verify the results. When you approve, from the book window, perform Shift+File > Save All Files In Book. If you have many files that are in different books, or are not in books at all, you can create a new book to contain them all, just for the purpose of changing the formats. Perform the Find/Change across the files, BUT don't update the book, to avoid changing any properties that are set in other books or individual chapters. HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: Commas in paragraph tags
Hi, Charles: You can rename paragraph formats across a book's files using only FM's tools, this way: * Before proceeding, from the book window, perform Shift+File > Open All Files In Book, if they're not already open. Then, perform Shift+File > Save All Files In Book. * Click in a paragraph whose format you want to rename. * In the Paragraph Tag box of the Paragraph Designer, type the new name and click Apply. * Check Store in Catalog and Apply to Selection. The paragraph format now has the new name and the old properties. * Copy the paragraph format with Edit > Copy Special > Paragraph Format. The format is copied to the clipboard. * With a selection in any book file or the book window, use Edit > Find/Change > Find > Paragraph Tag and type in the old format name exactly (spaces, symbols, punctuation, comma, capitalization, etc) * Choose Change > By Pasting * Select Look In > Book * Try a few find/replace operations manually to see that things are working correctly. If all's OK, Click Change All to propagate the change across all the files in the book. * Do some spot checks in the chapters to verify the results. When you approve, from the book window, perform Shift+File > Save All Files In Book. If you have many files that are in different books, or are not in books at all, you can create a new book to contain them all, just for the purpose of changing the formats. Perform the Find/Change across the files, BUT don't update the book, to avoid changing any properties that are set in other books or individual chapters. HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
Commas in paragraph tags
Hi, Chuck: I don't have a solution, but I do have a suggestion. It sounds as if you've found a bug in how FM processes the naming of paragraph (and probably character) format names. If an embedded comma confuses the running header/footer variable, it shouldn't be permitted when defining the format's name. An explanatory alert should appear. You might want to submit this as a bug report / feature request, at: http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Mon, Oct 27, 2008. at 10:56 AM, Charles Beck wrote: > Esteemed Framers, > > I have a problem I am hoping someone can help me solve. I have searched > the Frame documentation to no avail. I do not have time to search > through all the archives for this list; so please forgive if the info is > there (which I rather doubt). > > I have a set of templates that I inherited. I want to use the Heading 2 > paragraph style in a running header. Unfortunately, the paragraph style > is actually named "Heading 2,H2", which confuses FrameMaker when > encountered in a system variable paragraph tag <$paratext[Heading > 2,H2]>. Frame thinks it is a multiple style reference because of the > comma. That much I have learned from the documentation. > > The question is, short of renaming the paragraph style (which is not > really an option for us), is there any way to get Frame to recognized > this as a single paragraph style in a paragraph tag for a running > header? > > Please reply to me directly, as I am on digest. > > TIA for whatever help anyone can give me! > > Chuck Beck
Re: Commas in paragraph tags
Hi, Chuck: I don't have a solution, but I do have a suggestion. It sounds as if you've found a bug in how FM processes the naming of paragraph (and probably character) format names. If an embedded comma confuses the running header/footer variable, it shouldn't be permitted when defining the format's name. An explanatory alert should appear. You might want to submit this as a bug report / feature request, at: http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Mon, Oct 27, 2008. at 10:56 AM, Charles Beck <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Esteemed Framers, > > I have a problem I am hoping someone can help me solve. I have searched > the Frame documentation to no avail. I do not have time to search > through all the archives for this list; so please forgive if the info is > there (which I rather doubt). > > I have a set of templates that I inherited. I want to use the Heading 2 > paragraph style in a running header. Unfortunately, the paragraph style > is actually named "Heading 2,H2", which confuses FrameMaker when > encountered in a system variable paragraph tag <$paratext[Heading > 2,H2]>. Frame thinks it is a multiple style reference because of the > comma. That much I have learned from the documentation. > > The question is, short of renaming the paragraph style (which is not > really an option for us), is there any way to get Frame to recognized > this as a single paragraph style in a paragraph tag for a running > header? > > Please reply to me directly, as I am on digest. > > TIA for whatever help anyone can give me! > > Chuck Beck ___ 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.
Two-column layout and large graphics
>>I think the client would prefer that the text in the left column continue >>down the left column below the graphic, then continue to top of the right >>column, then below the graphic in the right column. >> >>Is there a way to do that in FM? Actually, yes, if you don't want the frame's content to be anchored to text and flow with it. Create a text or graphic frame with runaround contour or bounding box property, and position it over the two columns. The displaced text will snake down the left column, then to the top of the right column. HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: Two-column layout and large graphics
>>I think the client would prefer that the text in the left column continue >>down the left column below the graphic, then continue to top of the right >>column, then below the graphic in the right column. >> >>Is there a way to do that in FM? Actually, yes, if you don't want the frame's content to be anchored to text and flow with it. Create a text or graphic frame with runaround contour or bounding box property, and position it over the two columns. The displaced text will snake down the left column, then to the top of the right column. HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
Weird little anomoly...
On Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 12:01 PM, Art Campbell wrote: ... > Working in a book file, spell check refused to end. It reached the > last chapter in the book, then just kept on running. I got status > messages that spelling was OK, but it never stopped. > > AND... in both a book and file level Find&Replace, it doesn't stop > searching. Just goes on and on and on... > > Any ideas? Yes! To quote the intro to the TV show "Outer Limits," "There is nothing wrong with your set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We will control transmission..." The IT update probably enabled a hidden "future technology" switch in the spell checker. You're seeing a spell checker that tries to keep up with the constantly-changing English language, in real time. Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: Weird little anomoly...
On Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 12:01 PM, Art Campbell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: ... > Working in a book file, spell check refused to end. It reached the > last chapter in the book, then just kept on running. I got status > messages that spelling was OK, but it never stopped. > > AND... in both a book and file level Find&Replace, it doesn't stop > searching. Just goes on and on and on... > > Any ideas? Yes! To quote the intro to the TV show "Outer Limits," "There is nothing wrong with your set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We will control transmission..." The IT update probably enabled a hidden "future technology" switch in the spell checker. You're seeing a spell checker that tries to keep up with the constantly-changing English language, in real time. Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
Specifying HTML Colors in FM?
Hi, Ben: > On Thu, Oct 9, 2008 at 10:36 AM, Ben Hechter wrote: >> Hi Folks, >> >> Is there a way to specify HTML color codes in FM (e.g., #FF)? >> >> Thanks! >> >> Ben Hechter Use View > Color > Definitions > Color Libraries, and select Online in the pull-down list. Add the color(s) to the active list of colors in the current document; you can change the name to a text name like ShellPink, or use the #112233 notation. Then, you'll find the new color in the options wherever in FM that you specify colors. Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: Specifying HTML Colors in FM?
Hi, Ben: > On Thu, Oct 9, 2008 at 10:36 AM, Ben Hechter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> Hi Folks, >> >> Is there a way to specify HTML color codes in FM (e.g., #FF)? >> >> Thanks! >> >> Ben Hechter Use View > Color > Definitions > Color Libraries, and select Online in the pull-down list. Add the color(s) to the active list of colors in the current document; you can change the name to a text name like ShellPink, or use the #112233 notation. Then, you'll find the new color in the options wherever in FM that you specify colors. Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
RANT: FrameMaker's "help" function
Hi, Dierdre: On Fri, Oct 3, 2008 at 3:50 PM, Deirdre Reagan wrote: > Look at that! Yes indeed. > > If only someone would invent a function that allows a link between > text in one file and text in another file. Ah, a girl can dream. > > LOL > > Thanks, You're welcome. Please do file your requests for these improvements. In the meantime, you can download the FM 8 User Manual PDF and create a full-text searchable index for it with Acrobat's Catalog function, so you can perform searches any which-way you can think of, then comment the topics you needed to find, and save. IOW, a living help document. Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
RANT: FrameMaker's "help" function
Hi, Deirdre: In FM Help, it's common that information is present, but it is described in terms that aren't exactly the ones you expect or search for, or it is buried in the mass of found topics. Your search did find what you needed, about 12 lines down, in the topic, "Breaking tables at a specific place." Searches in Help file that's included in your FrameMaker installation (the one that comes up with the F1 key, or from Help > Help Topics) is and in the online Help you get by choosing Help > Complete FrameMaker Help, which takes you to a page at Adobe.com sometimes rank responses differently. Under User Guides, Using Adobe FrameMaker 8, clicking LiveDocs takes you to a searchable online version of the User Guide. Searching for table break returns the topic "Breaking tables at a specific place" as the third entry. This is all un- or under-documented. LiveDocs for some Adobe applications work like wikis - you can post comments and correction requests directly to them. You can contribute greatly to the FrameMaker community if you'd post a formal request at http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform to make the FM LiveDocs interactive, and also to correct the LiveDocs, PDF, and distributed versions of the FM Help topics "Controlling page breaks in tables," and "Controlling where tables begin" to include linked references to the topic "Breaking tables at a specific place." Future generations of FM users will thank you. HTH Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Fri, Oct 3, 2008 at 2:56 PM, Deirdre Reagan wrote: > Is anyone else as annoyed by FrameMaker's useless help function as I am? > > I want to put a page break in my table. Here's what I get when I type > "table break" into the Help search function: > > *** > Controlling page breaks in tables > > If all the rows of a table don't fit in a text column, some of the > rows move to the next page or column. You can control how the table > breaks between pages or columns. For example, you can set the minimum > number of rows that can appear on a page or column, or specify that > two rows always appear together on the same page or column. You can > also force a break at any row in a table. > > When you insert a table, the minimum number of rows in a column or on > a page is determined by the table format. You can change this number > in the Table Designer. > > On the other hand, keeping two rows together and forcing a page break > are not part of the format; they are custom settings, which you make > on a case-by-case basis. If you apply a different format to the table, > these settings are not overwritten. > > For information on controlling where a table starts on a page or in a > column, see Controlling where tables begin. > *** > > Ok. So, I can control how the table breaks. Great! I can force a > break at any row in a table. Fantastic! > > Anyone notice anything missing? > > I especially like this nugget of useful information: "forcing a page > break [is] not part of the format; they are custom settings, which you > make on a case-by-case basis." > > Um, where? How? > > In case anyone here doesn't know, it's Table> Row Format > Start Row:. > > Deirdre > ___ >
Re: RANT: FrameMaker's "help" function
Hi, Dierdre: On Fri, Oct 3, 2008 at 3:50 PM, Deirdre Reagan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Look at that! Yes indeed. > > If only someone would invent a function that allows a link between > text in one file and text in another file. Ah, a girl can dream. > > LOL > > Thanks, You're welcome. Please do file your requests for these improvements. In the meantime, you can download the FM 8 User Manual PDF and create a full-text searchable index for it with Acrobat's Catalog function, so you can perform searches any which-way you can think of, then comment the topics you needed to find, and save. IOW, a living help document. Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
Re: RANT: FrameMaker's "help" function
Hi, Deirdre: In FM Help, it's common that information is present, but it is described in terms that aren't exactly the ones you expect or search for, or it is buried in the mass of found topics. Your search did find what you needed, about 12 lines down, in the topic, "Breaking tables at a specific place." Searches in Help file that's included in your FrameMaker installation (the one that comes up with the F1 key, or from Help > Help Topics) is and in the online Help you get by choosing Help > Complete FrameMaker Help, which takes you to a page at Adobe.com sometimes rank responses differently. Under User Guides, Using Adobe FrameMaker 8, clicking LiveDocs takes you to a searchable online version of the User Guide. Searching for table break returns the topic "Breaking tables at a specific place" as the third entry. This is all un- or under-documented. LiveDocs for some Adobe applications work like wikis - you can post comments and correction requests directly to them. You can contribute greatly to the FrameMaker community if you'd post a formal request at http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform to make the FM LiveDocs interactive, and also to correct the LiveDocs, PDF, and distributed versions of the FM Help topics "Controlling page breaks in tables," and "Controlling where tables begin" to include linked references to the topic "Breaking tables at a specific place." Future generations of FM users will thank you. HTH Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Fri, Oct 3, 2008 at 2:56 PM, Deirdre Reagan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Is anyone else as annoyed by FrameMaker's useless help function as I am? > > I want to put a page break in my table. Here's what I get when I type > "table break" into the Help search function: > > *** > Controlling page breaks in tables > > If all the rows of a table don't fit in a text column, some of the > rows move to the next page or column. You can control how the table > breaks between pages or columns. For example, you can set the minimum > number of rows that can appear on a page or column, or specify that > two rows always appear together on the same page or column. You can > also force a break at any row in a table. > > When you insert a table, the minimum number of rows in a column or on > a page is determined by the table format. You can change this number > in the Table Designer. > > On the other hand, keeping two rows together and forcing a page break > are not part of the format; they are custom settings, which you make > on a case-by-case basis. If you apply a different format to the table, > these settings are not overwritten. > > For information on controlling where a table starts on a page or in a > column, see Controlling where tables begin. > *** > > Ok. So, I can control how the table breaks. Great! I can force a > break at any row in a table. Fantastic! > > Anyone notice anything missing? > > I especially like this nugget of useful information: "forcing a page > break [is] not part of the format; they are custom settings, which you > make on a case-by-case basis." > > Um, where? How? > > In case anyone here doesn't know, it's Table> Row Format > Start Row:. > > Deirdre > ___ > ___ 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.
FrameMaker-Acrobat-Other?
Hi, Ben: Have you examined the links in the PDF with the Link tool? Perhaps you'll find a clue that sheds light on the behavior. HTH On Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 4:16 PM, Anderson, Ben wrote: > > An additional note about this error. The hyperlinks in my PDF index > open to the first page of the corresponding PDF, not the actual page the > index tag references. > > Could this be a SharePoint issue? > Regards, Peter ______ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: FrameMaker-Acrobat-Other?
Hi, Ben: Have you examined the links in the PDF with the Link tool? Perhaps you'll find a clue that sheds light on the behavior. HTH On Tue, Sep 30, 2008 at 4:16 PM, Anderson, Ben <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > An additional note about this error. The hyperlinks in my PDF index > open to the first page of the corresponding PDF, not the actual page the > index tag references. > > Could this be a SharePoint issue? > Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
Migrating features over to InDesign
Hi, Lea: On Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 11:57 AM, Lea Rush wrote: > Hi Peter, > > Thanks for the reminder and the link. You're welcome. > Quite frankly, I'll be using Frame > until it's metaphorically pried from my cold, dead fingers. I have a lot of > duties aside from document creation and maintainence*, and the longer I can > put off the inevitable learning curve, the better. I hope I haven't unintentionally implied or added to the suspicion that FM is/will be discontinued in favor of ID. The FM "Next" development team is working intensely as always. Don't be shy about posting wishes to Adobe's official feature-request site: http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Migrating features over to InDesign
Hi, Lea: In case you missed it, I've noted some of the differences between FM and ID that make it difficult to accomplish perfect automated conversions in this thread: http://lists.frameusers.com/pipermail/framers/2008-September/013757.html If your documents rely heavily on the problematic features, consider posting your requests for changes in both FM and ID at Adobe's official link: http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform HTH Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 10:57 AM, Lea Rush wrote: > Damn. Thanks for the heads' up. My hope is that once they consider InDesign > to have incorporated Frame's features, they also make the migration of > existing Frame projects reasonably simple. > > _ > > Lea Rush
Re: Migrating features over to InDesign
Hi, Lea: On Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 11:57 AM, Lea Rush <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Peter, > > Thanks for the reminder and the link. You're welcome. > Quite frankly, I'll be using Frame > until it's metaphorically pried from my cold, dead fingers. I have a lot of > duties aside from document creation and maintainence*, and the longer I can > put off the inevitable learning curve, the better. I hope I haven't unintentionally implied or added to the suspicion that FM is/will be discontinued in favor of ID. The FM "Next" development team is working intensely as always. Don't be shy about posting wishes to Adobe's official feature-request site: http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
Re: Migrating features over to InDesign
Hi, Lea: In case you missed it, I've noted some of the differences between FM and ID that make it difficult to accomplish perfect automated conversions in this thread: http://lists.frameusers.com/pipermail/framers/2008-September/013757.html If your documents rely heavily on the problematic features, consider posting your requests for changes in both FM and ID at Adobe's official link: http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform HTH Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Mon, Sep 29, 2008 at 10:57 AM, Lea Rush <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Damn. Thanks for the heads' up. My hope is that once they consider InDesign > to have incorporated Frame's features, they also make the migration of > existing Frame projects reasonably simple. > > _ > > Lea Rush ___ 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.
Structure View won't appear
Hi, Ben: It's possible that the window is opening off screen. This can be caused by lowering your screen resolution, or changing to a smaller monitor, between the time you closed FM with the window far off-center, and opening FM in the smaller screen. Have you tried using the Windows control menu - the one that comes up when you click the icon in the top-left corner of the application's (FM's) menu bar, choosing Move, then using the cursor arrow keys to move a possibly-off-screen structure window bqck "home?" The structure window may be to the left, right, top, or bottom. I believe the window settings are saved in one of the maker.ini files (there are two, one for user, one for application; use Windows Search to find them. Make a safety copy, then pen in a text editor or FM and look for windows location settings: four pairs of numbers separated by commas, to define the corner locations. I think if you change the first one to 10,10 it locates the top-left corner ten pixels down and ten pixels in from the left. Save the file - IF IN FM, REMEMBER TO SAVE AS TEXT! Quit and restart FM. If this messes things up, rename maker.ini to xmaker.ini, and rename the safety copy to maker.ini, then restart FM. HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Fri, Sep 26, 2008 at 2:22 PM, wrote: > Whenever I try to modify a structured document, the Structure View will > not appear when I click the Structure View button. All of the other > dialogs will open when I click them (i.e. the Element Catalog). Even if > I try the keyboard shortcut, the Structure View still will not open. I > even tried uninstalling and then reinstalling Frame, and I still have > the problem. Has anyone else experienced this issue? I'm running > FrameMaker 8.0p277. > > > > Best Regards, > > > > Ben Hardesty > > Senior Technical Writer > > Eaton Corporation > > Electrical Group > > tel: 412-893-4627 > > cell: 412-913-3316 > > www.eaton.com
Re: Structure View won't appear
Hi, Ben: It's possible that the window is opening off screen. This can be caused by lowering your screen resolution, or changing to a smaller monitor, between the time you closed FM with the window far off-center, and opening FM in the smaller screen. Have you tried using the Windows control menu - the one that comes up when you click the icon in the top-left corner of the application's (FM's) menu bar, choosing Move, then using the cursor arrow keys to move a possibly-off-screen structure window bqck "home?" The structure window may be to the left, right, top, or bottom. I believe the window settings are saved in one of the maker.ini files (there are two, one for user, one for application; use Windows Search to find them. Make a safety copy, then pen in a text editor or FM and look for windows location settings: four pairs of numbers separated by commas, to define the corner locations. I think if you change the first one to 10,10 it locates the top-left corner ten pixels down and ten pixels in from the left. Save the file - IF IN FM, REMEMBER TO SAVE AS TEXT! Quit and restart FM. If this messes things up, rename maker.ini to xmaker.ini, and rename the safety copy to maker.ini, then restart FM. HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Fri, Sep 26, 2008 at 2:22 PM, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Whenever I try to modify a structured document, the Structure View will > not appear when I click the Structure View button. All of the other > dialogs will open when I click them (i.e. the Element Catalog). Even if > I try the keyboard shortcut, the Structure View still will not open. I > even tried uninstalling and then reinstalling Frame, and I still have > the problem. Has anyone else experienced this issue? I'm running > FrameMaker 8.0p277. > > > > Best Regards, > > > > Ben Hardesty > > Senior Technical Writer > > Eaton Corporation > > Electrical Group > > tel: 412-893-4627 > > cell: 412-913-3316 > > www.eaton.com ___ 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.
InDesign and FrameMaker Text Entry Comparison (WAS: FrameMaker vs. InDesign, round CS4)
This is really a new topic.
>> On 23 Sep 2008, at 21:05, quills at airmail.net wrote:
>
>> Every time I try the demo of InDesign I can't get past the part where
>> I make a page and look for where the text entry starts. As in, where
>> is the cursor for text?
and
> On Thu, Sep 25, 2008 at 9:38 AM, Paul Findon
> responded:
>
> On the New Document dialog box, select Master Text Frame, then click
> OK. When the new document appears, select the Text tool, Command-
> Shift-click (Ctrl+Shift+click) the frame, and start typing.
This is a good start, but, wait, there's more to it. While the "power
click" brings an InDesign master-page text frame to the body page,
where it works both like and differently from FM, you'll soon fill it
to overflowing, and then...
* You can only type to the bottom of the first text frame; additional
typing is "overset," as typographers call it, indicated by a red "+"
in the lower-right text-frame border, if the Screen Mode is Normal
(not Preview), and the text frame is selected (use the black arrow
tool, aka Selection tool.)
* In FM, it's called "overflow," indicated by a horizontal black line
at the bottom of the frame, if View > Borders is enabled. Because FM
documents typically are designed with auto-connect properties that
cause filled main text frames (like Flow A) to create new text frames
on new pages, it's uncommon to overflow main text flow frames
unintentionally. Main text frames on disconnected FM pages, or those
drawn on any body pages with the text frame tool, do overflow, rather
than connecting automatically to new frames on new pages. You can
connect disconnected text frames manually, using Format > Customize
Layout > Connect Text Frames, to thread text flows across frames and
pages. This is similar to the method of flowing stories across frames
and pages in most layout programs.
* In InDesign earlier than CS4, to add content across pages by typing,
you'd need to manually add pages and connect ("thread") the text
frames manually.
* You can work in the Story Editor window in all InDesign versions,
instead of a layout window, and enter text without concern about
getting stuck when a text frame becomes overset. The Story Editor
indicates where overset begins, but it doesn't stop you from adding
new content.
* In CS4, there's a new feature, Auto Text Reflow, that makes ID work
as you're expecting, based on your experience in FrameMaker, or other
non-layout-centric DTP tools and word-processors.
* ID and FM can do many of the same things, but they often work
differently, as in this example. If you're giving ID a good workout
and get stuck, these InDesign-specific resources will be helpful:
* The Adobe User-to-User InDesign Macintosh and Windows forums (often
the postings aren't platform-specific, so you need to read both to see
all questions and answers), and the Lassosoft InDesign list. Adobe.com
offers a lot of video tutorials and other resources on all the Adobe
products.
* Don't overlook the Help
* Visit the third-party InDesign book descriptions at Amazon.com. Two
very popular dedicated InDesign titles are "Adobe InDesign CS3 Visual
Quick Start," by Sandee Cohen, and "Real World InDesign CS3," by Olav
Kvern and David Blatner.
* These ID-specific resources don't address FM-to-ID issues, so if you
find that applying the FrameMaker side of your brain InDesign causes
headaches, post your questions here.
HTH
Regards,
Peter
__
Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices
InDesign and FrameMaker Text Entry Comparison (WAS: FrameMaker vs. InDesign, round CS4)
This is really a new topic.
>> On 23 Sep 2008, at 21:05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
>> Every time I try the demo of InDesign I can't get past the part where
>> I make a page and look for where the text entry starts. As in, where
>> is the cursor for text?
and
> On Thu, Sep 25, 2008 at 9:38 AM, Paul Findon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> responded:
>
> On the New Document dialog box, select Master Text Frame, then click
> OK. When the new document appears, select the Text tool, Command-
> Shift-click (Ctrl+Shift+click) the frame, and start typing.
This is a good start, but, wait, there's more to it. While the "power
click" brings an InDesign master-page text frame to the body page,
where it works both like and differently from FM, you'll soon fill it
to overflowing, and then...
* You can only type to the bottom of the first text frame; additional
typing is "overset," as typographers call it, indicated by a red "+"
in the lower-right text-frame border, if the Screen Mode is Normal
(not Preview), and the text frame is selected (use the black arrow
tool, aka Selection tool.)
* In FM, it's called "overflow," indicated by a horizontal black line
at the bottom of the frame, if View > Borders is enabled. Because FM
documents typically are designed with auto-connect properties that
cause filled main text frames (like Flow A) to create new text frames
on new pages, it's uncommon to overflow main text flow frames
unintentionally. Main text frames on disconnected FM pages, or those
drawn on any body pages with the text frame tool, do overflow, rather
than connecting automatically to new frames on new pages. You can
connect disconnected text frames manually, using Format > Customize
Layout > Connect Text Frames, to thread text flows across frames and
pages. This is similar to the method of flowing stories across frames
and pages in most layout programs.
* In InDesign earlier than CS4, to add content across pages by typing,
you'd need to manually add pages and connect ("thread") the text
frames manually.
* You can work in the Story Editor window in all InDesign versions,
instead of a layout window, and enter text without concern about
getting stuck when a text frame becomes overset. The Story Editor
indicates where overset begins, but it doesn't stop you from adding
new content.
* In CS4, there's a new feature, Auto Text Reflow, that makes ID work
as you're expecting, based on your experience in FrameMaker, or other
non-layout-centric DTP tools and word-processors.
* ID and FM can do many of the same things, but they often work
differently, as in this example. If you're giving ID a good workout
and get stuck, these InDesign-specific resources will be helpful:
* The Adobe User-to-User InDesign Macintosh and Windows forums (often
the postings aren't platform-specific, so you need to read both to see
all questions and answers), and the Lassosoft InDesign list. Adobe.com
offers a lot of video tutorials and other resources on all the Adobe
products.
* Don't overlook the Help
* Visit the third-party InDesign book descriptions at Amazon.com. Two
very popular dedicated InDesign titles are "Adobe InDesign CS3 Visual
Quick Start," by Sandee Cohen, and "Real World InDesign CS3," by Olav
Kvern and David Blatner.
* These ID-specific resources don't address FM-to-ID issues, so if you
find that applying the FrameMaker side of your brain InDesign causes
headaches, post your questions here.
HTH
Regards,
Peter
__
Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices
___
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.
Page numbering question
Hi, Keith: Search FM Help for last page in book, and choose the topic "Including the total page count of a book in a header or footer," (or just search for "total page count.") HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Wed, Sep 24, 2008 at 5:42 PM, Keith Soltys wrote: > I've run into something that's stumped me. > > Our house style for our technical docs has the page numbering style Page > x of y, where y is the total number of pages in the document. This is > easy to do in Word. I don't like it, but I need to set up a template in > Frame that matches the Word template we've been using. > > I thought it would be easy to do in Frame, as there is a > <$LastPageCount> variable which includes the last page number of the > document. But, in a book with multiple files I want the last page number > of the book. And what I'm getting is not right. For example, in chapter > 1 I get page 7 of 13, in chapter 2 I get page 18 of 26, and so on. The > page number count is correct but the last page number is the last page > number of the chapter file, not the book. It's only accurate for the > last file in the book. > > Does anyone know if it's possible to do this type of page numbering in > Frame and if so, how? > > Thanks > Keith > ___
Re: Page numbering question
Hi, Keith: Search FM Help for last page in book, and choose the topic "Including the total page count of a book in a header or footer," (or just search for "total page count.") HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Wed, Sep 24, 2008 at 5:42 PM, Keith Soltys <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I've run into something that's stumped me. > > Our house style for our technical docs has the page numbering style Page > x of y, where y is the total number of pages in the document. This is > easy to do in Word. I don't like it, but I need to set up a template in > Frame that matches the Word template we've been using. > > I thought it would be easy to do in Frame, as there is a > <$LastPageCount> variable which includes the last page number of the > document. But, in a book with multiple files I want the last page number > of the book. And what I'm getting is not right. For example, in chapter > 1 I get page 7 of 13, in chapter 2 I get page 18 of 26, and so on. The > page number count is correct but the last page number is the last page > number of the chapter file, not the book. It's only accurate for the > last file in the book. > > Does anyone know if it's possible to do this type of page numbering in > Frame and if so, how? > > Thanks > Keith > ___ ___ 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.
Space!........ABOVE & BELOW!!
Hi, Darren: It's a good idea to avoid surprises caused by the addition of space below/above consecutive paragraphs. I'm not sure if you know that FrameMaker is nearly unique* in its method of inter-paragraph space settings. It's about "size matters." FrameMaker honors the larger of space below and space above to set the space between them. Almost all other text-creation tools combine the spaces. The additive method requires more thought about designing for many possible combinations of consecutive paragraph formats. *I believe that Ventura Publisher offers the option to work either larger one wins, or additive. Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Wed, Sep 24, 2008 at 1:49 PM, Butler, Darren J CTR USAF AFMC 584 CBSS/GBHAC wrote: > Hello fellow FrameManiacs, > > I'd like to know your philosophy - if you have one - on using the > "Above Pfg:" and "Below Pgf:" parameters when designing templates. > > I have recently set all my ParaTags to "Below Pgf: = 0.0" to avoid any > compounding of spaces. I'm using the "Below " setting only in special > cases or when I need to override a tag (which I try and keep to a > minimum). > > > > Thanx, > > DJ > > > > Darren J Butler > > NG Corp > > [Space; the Final Frontier...] >
Re: Space!........ABOVE & BELOW!!
Hi, Darren: It's a good idea to avoid surprises caused by the addition of space below/above consecutive paragraphs. I'm not sure if you know that FrameMaker is nearly unique* in its method of inter-paragraph space settings. It's about "size matters." FrameMaker honors the larger of space below and space above to set the space between them. Almost all other text-creation tools combine the spaces. The additive method requires more thought about designing for many possible combinations of consecutive paragraph formats. *I believe that Ventura Publisher offers the option to work either larger one wins, or additive. Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Wed, Sep 24, 2008 at 1:49 PM, Butler, Darren J CTR USAF AFMC 584 CBSS/GBHAC <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hello fellow FrameManiacs, > > I'd like to know your philosophy - if you have one - on using the > "Above Pfg:" and "Below Pgf:" parameters when designing templates. > > I have recently set all my ParaTags to "Below Pgf: = 0.0" to avoid any > compounding of spaces. I'm using the "Below " setting only in special > cases or when I need to override a tag (which I try and keep to a > minimum). > > > > Thanx, > > DJ > > > > Darren J Butler > > NG Corp > > [Space; the Final Frontier...] > ___ 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.
Element boundaries
Hi, Roger: The property is saved in each file. You can set the property for multiple files by selecting them in a book window and using View > Show (or Hide) Element Boundaries, then perform Shift+File > Save All Files In Book. HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices Wed, Sep 24, 2008 at 10:08 AM, Shuttleworth, Roger wrote: > Hello All > > > > I am working with XML files in FM 7.1. > > > > I prefer to work with Element Boundaries visible, so after opening a file I > set this option on the View menu. However, when I close the file and open > another one, I have to set it again. Is there any way to have this set as a > permanent preference? I searched the maker.ini file but there seems to be > no option there. > >
Re: Element boundaries
Hi, Roger: The property is saved in each file. You can set the property for multiple files by selecting them in a book window and using View > Show (or Hide) Element Boundaries, then perform Shift+File > Save All Files In Book. HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices Wed, Sep 24, 2008 at 10:08 AM, Shuttleworth, Roger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hello All > > > > I am working with XML files in FM 7.1. > > > > I prefer to work with Element Boundaries visible, so after opening a file I > set this option on the View menu. However, when I close the file and open > another one, I have to set it again. Is there any way to have this set as a > permanent preference? I searched the maker.ini file but there seems to be > no option there. > > ___ 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.
FrameMaker vs. InDesign, round CS4
Hi, Sarah: (I also posted on your blog) "...UNTIL NOW...," as the late movie trailer guy might say, I've been under Adobe's non-disclosure agreement for ID CS4 pre-release testers. "...BUT, IN A WORLD..." where disclosure can now be thrown to the winds, I'll add a few comments. ID's been sneaking up on FM's long technical-document authoring tool set for a few releases. ID CS3 added system- and user-defined variables, running headers, table styles (named table formats), cell styles, named object styles, and nested styles - the ability to specify a pattern that applies named character styles to matching content within paragraphs - and it improved numbered lists a HUGE amount. ID CS4 is closing in with new additions that matter to technical authors: cross-references, conditional text, smart text reflow (real-time adding new pages as needed, and deleting them when empty), along with boosting the already-powerful nested paragraph feature to include, selecting by a GREP pattern as you noted, and also by line number within the paragraph, so the nth line will get the character style you specify, no matter how it wraps or flows, and the ability to repeat (or loop) applying the sequence of styles (sort of a macro ability.) FrameMaker users who don't use CS3-level Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop will need time to adjust to Adobe's corporate user interface, and learning new ways to perform familiar tasks. Plus, just because something's on the package label, trust - but verify. Don't assume. Here are a few FrameMaker features that you may miss: * Run-in paragraphs * Side headings and side-heading area * Paragraphs that flow with text and also straddle multiple columns, and multiple columns AND side heads * Table sorting * No Track Changes * No logical conditional text expressions - AND and NOT were added in FM 8 * No "size matters" inter-paragraph spacing - FM uses the larger of space below and space above for paragraph spacing. ID, like most other applications, adds the space below and space above, which makes it more complicated to set up paragraph formats that will space as you need, regardless of who-follows-what. * Frame above /below paragraphs can contain graphics, text, or a mix. ID's rules above/below paragraph are great, but they aren't containers. Here are a few FrameMaker features in ID CS4 that are a little more complicated to do: * To jump to a cross-reference source from within FrameMaker, instead of Ctrl+Alt+Click, you click in the Cross-Reference panel * Index markers support multiple-level entries, but can't create multiple entries in one marker like FM's ":" technique * Without run-in paragraphs, you need to strategize to create TOC entries from a partial heading There's a very good third-party conversion tool that converts MIF files to InDesign (dtptools.com). However, migrating FrameMaker content to InDesign depends on what FrameMaker are in them for which InDesign has no direct counterpart, whether you use a commercial tool or do it manually. It's something like converting Microsoft Word files to FrameMaker. There's work to be done. The conversion tool's nearly-clonelike reproduction of FM pages in ID comes from its minute adjustments of paragraph formats, meaning many formats are overridden uniquely. Most of the tweaks are paragraph settings - space between, run-in, side heading, straddle headings, frame above/below, table-cell properties. One of the greatest ID features from early on is the INFINITE UNDO UNDO UNDO! It doesn't clear its history when you perform certain actions. You can experiment nearly forever, and roll back to "square one." ID saves every action you perform - an instant autosave; after a crash, it can restore almost every last one. If you're considering ID as a replacement for FM, test-drive ID in parallel with an FM project or two, to see if your wishes are rewarded or exceeded, and if your needs are served. During my testing, I compared the long-document features so much that I decided to write a book on the core issues for FrameMaker users moving to Indesign. FM Mac diehards - don't forget that ID works on Mac OS X, both Intel and PowerPC G4/G5 chips. FM's stuck at 7.0 on Classic or OS 9 on Mac. Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
FrameMaker vs. InDesign, round CS4
On Tue, Sep 23, 2008 at 5:24 PM, wrote: > Sarah, > > As a final thought, I'll add this. Any tool that won't automatically > add pages to the text flow when I come to the end of a page is an > automatic no-go. If I have to add text boxes to the page in order to > enter text, it's a no-go. Here's the deal: Smart Text Reflow is one of the "smaller" new features in ID CS4. It's a preference you need to set, and it's got some options. It adds pages as you type, and deletes empty ones when you delete content from them, which isn't often a designer's need. ID has always had auto-flow for "placed" content (like File > Import > File in FM). It creates pages as it needs them. You'll need to read the short passage in Help, when ID CS4 is released. HTH Regards, Peter Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: FrameMaker vs. InDesign, round CS4
Hi, Sarah: (I also posted on your blog) "...UNTIL NOW...," as the late movie trailer guy might say, I've been under Adobe's non-disclosure agreement for ID CS4 pre-release testers. "...BUT, IN A WORLD..." where disclosure can now be thrown to the winds, I'll add a few comments. ID's been sneaking up on FM's long technical-document authoring tool set for a few releases. ID CS3 added system- and user-defined variables, running headers, table styles (named table formats), cell styles, named object styles, and nested styles - the ability to specify a pattern that applies named character styles to matching content within paragraphs - and it improved numbered lists a HUGE amount. ID CS4 is closing in with new additions that matter to technical authors: cross-references, conditional text, smart text reflow (real-time adding new pages as needed, and deleting them when empty), along with boosting the already-powerful nested paragraph feature to include, selecting by a GREP pattern as you noted, and also by line number within the paragraph, so the nth line will get the character style you specify, no matter how it wraps or flows, and the ability to repeat (or loop) applying the sequence of styles (sort of a macro ability.) FrameMaker users who don't use CS3-level Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop will need time to adjust to Adobe's corporate user interface, and learning new ways to perform familiar tasks. Plus, just because something's on the package label, trust - but verify. Don't assume. Here are a few FrameMaker features that you may miss: * Run-in paragraphs * Side headings and side-heading area * Paragraphs that flow with text and also straddle multiple columns, and multiple columns AND side heads * Table sorting * No Track Changes * No logical conditional text expressions - AND and NOT were added in FM 8 * No "size matters" inter-paragraph spacing - FM uses the larger of space below and space above for paragraph spacing. ID, like most other applications, adds the space below and space above, which makes it more complicated to set up paragraph formats that will space as you need, regardless of who-follows-what. * Frame above /below paragraphs can contain graphics, text, or a mix. ID's rules above/below paragraph are great, but they aren't containers. Here are a few FrameMaker features in ID CS4 that are a little more complicated to do: * To jump to a cross-reference source from within FrameMaker, instead of Ctrl+Alt+Click, you click in the Cross-Reference panel * Index markers support multiple-level entries, but can't create multiple entries in one marker like FM's ":" technique * Without run-in paragraphs, you need to strategize to create TOC entries from a partial heading There's a very good third-party conversion tool that converts MIF files to InDesign (dtptools.com). However, migrating FrameMaker content to InDesign depends on what FrameMaker are in them for which InDesign has no direct counterpart, whether you use a commercial tool or do it manually. It's something like converting Microsoft Word files to FrameMaker. There's work to be done. The conversion tool's nearly-clonelike reproduction of FM pages in ID comes from its minute adjustments of paragraph formats, meaning many formats are overridden uniquely. Most of the tweaks are paragraph settings - space between, run-in, side heading, straddle headings, frame above/below, table-cell properties. One of the greatest ID features from early on is the INFINITE UNDO UNDO UNDO! It doesn't clear its history when you perform certain actions. You can experiment nearly forever, and roll back to "square one." ID saves every action you perform - an instant autosave; after a crash, it can restore almost every last one. If you're considering ID as a replacement for FM, test-drive ID in parallel with an FM project or two, to see if your wishes are rewarded or exceeded, and if your needs are served. During my testing, I compared the long-document features so much that I decided to write a book on the core issues for FrameMaker users moving to Indesign. FM Mac diehards - don't forget that ID works on Mac OS X, both Intel and PowerPC G4/G5 chips. FM's stuck at 7.0 on Classic or OS 9 on Mac. Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
Re: FrameMaker vs. InDesign, round CS4
On Tue, Sep 23, 2008 at 5:24 PM, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Sarah, > > As a final thought, I'll add this. Any tool that won't automatically > add pages to the text flow when I come to the end of a page is an > automatic no-go. If I have to add text boxes to the page in order to > enter text, it's a no-go. Here's the deal: Smart Text Reflow is one of the "smaller" new features in ID CS4. It's a preference you need to set, and it's got some options. It adds pages as you type, and deletes empty ones when you delete content from them, which isn't often a designer's need. ID has always had auto-flow for "placed" content (like File > Import > File in FM). It creates pages as it needs them. You'll need to read the short passage in Help, when ID CS4 is released. HTH Regards, Peter Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
CORRECTION Re: InDesign as a replacement for Framemaker
Ooops! I just caught a typo, an omission that reverses the meaning. It's embedded in the body below, marked with * >Thanks Peter! You're welcome. > i'll take some time to go over this carefully, but this will be a great help > to me! > cheers > Mulholland On Mon, Sep 15, 2008 at 4:32 PM, Peter Gold wrote: On Mon, Sep 15, 2008 at 1:51 PM, mulholland4 wrote: > Hi Peter, > I sent an email to Art and received a very good reply which I think answers > all of my questions (I have pasted them in the lower section of this email.) > My original reason for asking about InDesign as a replacement for > Framemaker was that I have been asked by a new manager to dispose of > Framemaker and transfer all writing tasks, 700 page User Guides, and various > other docs to InDesign. The problem I am worried about is that we use a lot > of cross references throughout the chapters and books and have a large > fairly comprehensive Index. I reviewed the DTP Tools Cross-Reference plug-in for InDesign CS2 and CS3 for InDesign Magazine around last December's issue. You'd have to buy the issue to see the whole review, but very briefly: It's on par with FM's cross-reference ability, and in some ways a little better. There's also a free cross-reference script that creates page-number-only references, and a commercial cross-reference tool from Virginia Systems that I didn't test. > I also use conditional text to output several > versions of the same doc. Can this be done in InDesign? ID CS3 has no conditional text, and I'm not aware of a third-party tool that offers it. The usual workaround is to create the different versions of content on different layers, and show or hide them as needed. It's not a good solution for content, product, or audience variations in a single language, because you really are maintaining multiple copies of the common content, and have to be careful to avoid introducing unwanted differences when editing. This is much the same effort as maintaining one separate file for each version. For multiple languages, where all content, or at least all text content, is translated in each variation, layers can work. Text wrap (FM's Text Runaround object property) is smart about working through layers, so showing/hiding different language layers with careful planning may simplify handling graphics in each language) and, BTW, ID wraps text around all sides of an object if you want, not just three sides as FM does. However, another approach is to use ID's XML ability to filter marked-up XML content. Mostly XML is being used with ID for variable-data publishing, and other automated production. There's no dedicated DITA support in ID. > And what about > generating a help system for InDesign, is it possible? There's no tightly-bound partner for help from ID, though again its XML export is one way to implement help coupled with other third-party tools. RTF export may be another possibility. I haven't heard anyone claim to be doing this. Yet. > > I believe that Art answered all of these questions, but feel free to make > any other comments or suggestions. > > Thanks for the help > Mulholand > > Here are Art's comments: > << I've moved books & files from FM to InDesign CS3, and unless there's > something else going on that the manager didn't share with you or you > didn't present in your email, this is going to be a Bad Idea of large > tarbaby proportions... > > InDesign is great for short docs, or even books, that require a lot of > individual formatting and exceptions to the base template or master > pages. It was designed as a PageMaker replacement, and it fulfills > that role very nicely. It's a nice program. > > Frame was designed to handle large books, multiple documents, and doc > sets that basically use the same type or set of page layouts in order > to produce a uniform look and feel. Essentially the 700 page User > Guide scenario that you present. ID has running header/footer variables, user-defined variables, master pages (even master pages based on other master pages), multiple numbering streams (1.1.1.1, and 1,A,ii,b, etc) for lists, figure captions, etc, as FM has. Page and chapter numbering, footnotes, and across-file numbering in books, are the same, but ID also can make multi-page spreads with appropriate page numbers on left and right (or on spreads of as many as ten pages) - FM can't. This isn't a common need in technical docs, so it's not a biggie. ID CS3 books are better than FM's in some ways, the same in some others, and worse in a few others. ID book files are lists of files, and instructions for processing them, like FM books. FM's cool feature of showing filename or first paragraph content in the book list
InDesign as a replacement for Framemaker
re's ID's huge world printing abilities, in color management, pre-press tasks, pre-flighting that finds and reports problems that can affect the professional printing phase of the project, and more stuff that goes beyond FM's range, but which techwriters don't typically need to be involved with.. You'll need to do some real-world testing with the ID tryout to see if it's suitable for your requirements. If you do go ahead with the testing, it would be great if you posted your findings for the community to learn from your experience. Even with the accurate conversion available for your legacy FM documents, expect to spend a period of adjusting your workflow as well as your habits, as with any major tool change. > > But you're going to lose lots of functionality that's going to be made > up by vastly increasing man hours. You mentioned a few: conditional > text, inter-book cross refs, decent indexing, especially indexing that > spans books or volumes, and the ability to go to online help. Some of > this may have changed since I last had to do this about 6 months ago, Keep in mind that on September 22, 2008, mere days away, Adobe will officially announce CS4 products. It's not clear how much they'll reveal about new features and abilities, but certainly there's got to be something to tempt users to upgrade. > but it'd only change because a third party brought out a better ID > plug in. Which would cost money and be another company to deal with > for support and updates and integration. > > Unless you guys have money and manpower to burn, I'd try to find out > the reasoning behind the proposed switch before you try to > implement There's a chance that the manager is way behind the > times and still listening to the FM is dead rumors... which were bogus > a few years or so ago and are more so now. FM is Adobe's XML editor > choice, and they're pouring resources into it. > > From what you've mentioned, implementing the Tech Comm Suite would be > a better solution than ID. >> > > Fin DISCLAIMER: I'm not connected to DTP Tools (dtptools.com) except as a tool-crazy user. HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
InDesign as a replacement for Framemaker
Hi, Robert: On Sun, Sep 14, 2008 at 10:45 AM, Robert Rogge wrote: > A drop in the pond on this runaway thread - > > For the documents I produce, there is no way that InDesign could handle the > work of Frame. That would be a real nightmare. In other words, they > *cannot*do each other?s jobs. > > I tend to be a meticulous user of Frame, and all of those features missing > from ID are key components to my workflow, and were they lost, I seriously > doubt that my documents could be managed effectively. Further, it goes > beyond these basics and when you start getting into the details, you find > similar problems. > > Variables, equations, and conditional text are *really, really > powerful*tools if you just develop the right work habits. Are there any other features and tools that you rely on in FM, that are missing in ID? Have you posted ID feature requests to the official request site: http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform You never know when or if your wishes will come true. > At first it > might seem a > pain in the ass, but once you get into the flow (and with some planning), > you start saving time incrementally. I agree that investing in the effort to learn things you need has its share of pain that's usually repaid by being to work efficiently and accurately. However, from your statement, it's a little ambiguous which pain you're referring to. Are you saying that the investment in pain is in planning and the learning curve in FM? Or is the pain in investing the effort in ID? Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
InDesign as a replacement for Framemaker
This time I agree fully with Art! On Fri, Sep 12, 2008 at 8:24 AM, Art Campbell wrote: > As interesting as the thread on XML is (and it is), the OP didn't ask > anything about, or related to, XML. So we're experiencing some basic > thread drift. > > He's asking about moving from a technical publishing tool to a > design-driven tool, but not providing any details on why, or what > features he uses, or needs, or any other useful details. > > So other than saying that "Yes, you can do it, but unless you require > something that ID offers that FM doesn't it probably isn't worth the > bother," it's really difficult to go further than that. IMHO, of > course. It would be great to hear from the original poster, as well as anyone else who's considering making the move, or who is trying to make the move, about what's absolutely essential, what's been troublesome to adjust to, and what adjustments were smooth. Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
InDesign as a replacement for Framemaker
I respectfully disagree with Art's conclusion. While this feature comparison checklist is pretty thorough, and though it omits some features of both products, it is useful for some purposes. However, because it doesn't present a user's experience or evaluation in using either product for its intended professional work, or for the other product's intended professional work, by itself, it's not sufficiently informative for making a decision about adopting one or the other for one's technical-publishing workflow. On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 9:12 PM, Art Campbell wrote: > Adobe actually presents the case for deciding pretty well. > > http://www.adobe.com/products/framemaker/comparison.html >-- Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
InDesign as a replacement for Framemaker
Hi, Dov: On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 3:37 PM, Dov Isaacs wrote: > To be very clear, although designed as a replacement for PageMaker, InDesign > was certainly not designed by Adobe to be a "replacement for FrameMaker." > > Yes, over time a number of FrameMaker features have been incorporated into > InDesign, but unless you are using none of FrameMaker's structured features > (support for XML and DITA), and conditional text, equations, etc., InDesign > won't satisfy your needs. InDesign's XML abilities are used in database publishing and other automated workflows. It also works with DTDs. Can you comment the pros and cons of FM's XML support vs. ID's XML support? Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: InDesign as a replacement for Framemaker
Hi, Dov: On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 3:37 PM, Dov Isaacs <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > To be very clear, although designed as a replacement for PageMaker, InDesign > was certainly not designed by Adobe to be a "replacement for FrameMaker." > > Yes, over time a number of FrameMaker features have been incorporated into > InDesign, but unless you are using none of FrameMaker's structured features > (support for XML and DITA), and conditional text, equations, etc., InDesign > won't satisfy your needs. InDesign's XML abilities are used in database publishing and other automated workflows. It also works with DTDs. Can you comment the pros and cons of FM's XML support vs. ID's XML support? Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
FrameImage (was Equation Editor Issues)
On Thu, Sep 4, 2008 at 9:02 AM, wrote: > Question: What does "Save FrameImage with Imported Graphics" do? > Answer: Back in the early days when FrameMaker was a true cross-platform tool > that would allow you to work the same Frame file on Windows, Mac and various > flavors of Unix, FrameImage was an equilizer giving you a common format > across the three platforms for imported raster images. > While you could probably still use it with mif, etc. I doubt that many need > it today. FrameImage is mostly an artifact. Turning it on will bloat your > file sizes and give you little or no benefit. The common format was for image previews in FM documents, regardless of the platform or graphic format. Without a FrameImage, a graphic that couldn't be previewed would appear as a gray box placeholder on screen, but would reproduce correctly when output. Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: FrameImage (was Equation Editor Issues)
On Thu, Sep 4, 2008 at 9:02 AM, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Question: What does "Save FrameImage with Imported Graphics" do? > Answer: Back in the early days when FrameMaker was a true cross-platform tool > that would allow you to work the same Frame file on Windows, Mac and various > flavors of Unix, FrameImage was an equilizer giving you a common format > across the three platforms for imported raster images. > While you could probably still use it with mif, etc. I doubt that many need > it today. FrameImage is mostly an artifact. Turning it on will bloat your > file sizes and give you little or no benefit. The common format was for image previews in FM documents, regardless of the platform or graphic format. Without a FrameImage, a graphic that couldn't be previewed would appear as a gray box placeholder on screen, but would reproduce correctly when output. Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
FM<-->MIF round-tripping
Hi, Adam: Regarding the use of MIF and the spurious stuff in your MIF-to-FM conversions: * You can open a MIF file for editing in FM by pressing Shift while clicking Open, and choosing Treat Each Line As a Paragraph. * The proper way to save a MIF file for conversion back to FM is to save it as Text Only with a MIF extension. HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 11:54 AM, Adam Schweitzer wrote: > Thanks, Fred. > This does work - I was unaware of this feature. > > Adam > > > > From: Fred Ridder [mailto:docudoc at hotmail.com] > Sent: Friday, August 29, 2008 12:50 PM > To: Adam Schweitzer; framers at lists.frameusers.com > Subject: RE: FM<-->MIF round-tripping > > > Adam Schweitzer wrote (in part): > >> Goal: >> In the process of converting several documents from paper to > framemaker >> documents, a large number of (rather randomly placed) "discretionary >> hyphen" characters were inserted (probably by the OCR software). I >> cannot seem to select these characters for use with the find/replace >> tool in Framemaker, so my idea was to convert to .mif, remove all >> instances of , and then save back as FM. This appears >> to be successful, subject to my concerns above. > > Searching for the escape code "\-" (a backslash followed by a hyphen > without the quotes) didn't work? That's the standard code for typing a > discretionary hyphen in plain-text dialog boxes. See Appendix A of the > FrameMaker User Guide for a full list of dialog box codes for special > characters. > > -Fred Ridder
Re: FM<-->MIF round-tripping
Hi, Adam: Regarding the use of MIF and the spurious stuff in your MIF-to-FM conversions: * You can open a MIF file for editing in FM by pressing Shift while clicking Open, and choosing Treat Each Line As a Paragraph. * The proper way to save a MIF file for conversion back to FM is to save it as Text Only with a MIF extension. HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 11:54 AM, Adam Schweitzer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Thanks, Fred. > This does work - I was unaware of this feature. > > Adam > > > > From: Fred Ridder [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, August 29, 2008 12:50 PM > To: Adam Schweitzer; framers@lists.frameusers.com > Subject: RE: FM<-->MIF round-tripping > > > Adam Schweitzer wrote (in part): > >> Goal: >> In the process of converting several documents from paper to > framemaker >> documents, a large number of (rather randomly placed) "discretionary >> hyphen" characters were inserted (probably by the OCR software). I >> cannot seem to select these characters for use with the find/replace >> tool in Framemaker, so my idea was to convert to .mif, remove all >> instances of , and then save back as FM. This appears >> to be successful, subject to my concerns above. > > Searching for the escape code "\-" (a backslash followed by a hyphen > without the quotes) didn't work? That's the standard code for typing a > discretionary hyphen in plain-text dialog boxes. See Appendix A of the > FrameMaker User Guide for a full list of dialog box codes for special > characters. > > -Fred Ridder ___ 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.
why am I having missing fonts in FM8, and how to correct?
Hi, Charlie: You may have noticed that FM has no Print Preview option. This is because FM's on-screen view is (nearly) WYIWIG, and has been going back many versions. FM does this by looking at the font names listed in the currently-selected printer's support file(s). You may have noticed that FM displays a message - Document has changed. Font appearance may be affected - when you change printers. So, two simple causes of the missing font message are: * Not having the fonts installed on the computer or on the hard drive of the selected printer or in the printers permanent memory. * Having the fonts in one of these places, but the currently-selected printer doesn't recognize them. One more-complex-but-simple cause is opening a file created on FM on a Macintosh on a Windows computer. (Yes, there's a FM for Mac, but it's version 7.0, and it only runs on Mac OS before OS X, or Mac's Classic pre-OS X emulation.) There's nothing wrong with Mac FM files on a PC, but there some apparently-identical font names differ in their internal font names between platforms. For details, look for Multiple_Platforms.pdf in the Documents subdirectory of FM8's FrameMaker installation directory, or in the OnlineManuals directory of pre-FM8 releases. There's a free utility, SetPrint, that selects a specified printer as the default printer when you launch FM, then restores the previously-selected printer as default when you quit FM. www.sundorne.com HTH On Fri, Aug 15, 2008 at 7:11 PM, Charlie Kyle wrote: > I am also a font simpleton (I hesitate to use the word ignoramus because > I certainly haven't "ignored" font issues. But "wayback" in the 90s I > realized that scaling fonts was a nastier job than scaling fish and the > font wars between Apple and the Softies and Adobe stunk.) I'm a pacifist > and a low intermediate FM 8.0 user and would also appreciate some > straight forward information on fonts and FM. Even some links to > relevant info would be very much appreciated. A couple weeks ago I > opened some FM docs for updating and received the "Missing fonts" > message. I looked in the online help and the FrameMaker 7 reference from > Scriptorium, but I couldn't find a quick way to determine the names of > the missing fonts. When FM produces the "missing fonts" message, does it > know what fonts are missing or does it just know it can't find them? > > Thanks, > Charlie Kyle
Re: why am I having missing fonts in FM8, and how to correct?
Hi, Charlie: You may have noticed that FM has no Print Preview option. This is because FM's on-screen view is (nearly) WYIWIG, and has been going back many versions. FM does this by looking at the font names listed in the currently-selected printer's support file(s). You may have noticed that FM displays a message - Document has changed. Font appearance may be affected - when you change printers. So, two simple causes of the missing font message are: * Not having the fonts installed on the computer or on the hard drive of the selected printer or in the printers permanent memory. * Having the fonts in one of these places, but the currently-selected printer doesn't recognize them. One more-complex-but-simple cause is opening a file created on FM on a Macintosh on a Windows computer. (Yes, there's a FM for Mac, but it's version 7.0, and it only runs on Mac OS before OS X, or Mac's Classic pre-OS X emulation.) There's nothing wrong with Mac FM files on a PC, but there some apparently-identical font names differ in their internal font names between platforms. For details, look for Multiple_Platforms.pdf in the Documents subdirectory of FM8's FrameMaker installation directory, or in the OnlineManuals directory of pre-FM8 releases. There's a free utility, SetPrint, that selects a specified printer as the default printer when you launch FM, then restores the previously-selected printer as default when you quit FM. www.sundorne.com HTH On Fri, Aug 15, 2008 at 7:11 PM, Charlie Kyle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I am also a font simpleton (I hesitate to use the word ignoramus because > I certainly haven't "ignored" font issues. But "wayback" in the 90s I > realized that scaling fonts was a nastier job than scaling fish and the > font wars between Apple and the Softies and Adobe stunk.) I'm a pacifist > and a low intermediate FM 8.0 user and would also appreciate some > straight forward information on fonts and FM. Even some links to > relevant info would be very much appreciated. A couple weeks ago I > opened some FM docs for updating and received the "Missing fonts" > message. I looked in the online help and the FrameMaker 7 reference from > Scriptorium, but I couldn't find a quick way to determine the names of > the missing fonts. When FM produces the "missing fonts" message, does it > know what fonts are missing or does it just know it can't find them? > > Thanks, > Charlie Kyle ___ 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.
ON-SCREEN GUIDES
Have you tried drawing guide lines manually, positioning them accurately with object properties, and assigning them a non-printing or invisible color? Use: * View > Color > Definitions > Print As to define a non-printing color. OR * View > Color > Views to define a color view that makes specified colors invisible. HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: ON-SCREEN GUIDES
Have you tried drawing guide lines manually, positioning them accurately with object properties, and assigning them a non-printing or invisible color? Use: * View > Color > Definitions > Print As to define a non-printing color. OR * View > Color > Views to define a color view that makes specified colors invisible. HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
TOCs
Hi, Dierdre Have you tried: * Setting the paragraph formats of the first- and second-column *TOC paragraph formats to Run-in, and generating the TOC * Selecting the text in the generated TOC and using Table > Convert to Table, with Each Paragraph is a Cell, with 3 columns You'd need to remove the <$pagenum> building block from the first two column paragraph definitions. HTH Regards, Peter ______ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 2:51 PM, Deirdre Reagan wrote: > Hi All: > > FrameMaker 8.0, Windows XP. > > I have a question about creating a TOC. I'd like my TOC to have a > table format with three columns. Is that possible? > > I'd like the Table of Contents to look like this: > > > SUBJECT EFFECTIVITYCH-SC-SB-FIG > Top Collector 701701 23-32-0X-X1 > > Electrical Kit Collector 701701 23-32-0X-X2 > 921934 > > Structure Kit Collector 365366 23-32-0X-X3 > 701701 > 921934 > > where the Collectors are all one kind of paragraph tag, the > effectivities are one kinds of paragraph tag, and the CH numbers are > one kind of paragraph tag. > > Currently the TOC is done by hand with cross-references to the paragraph tags. > > I've been in the references pages, fooling around to see what would > happen, and I can't get two different paragraph tag TOCs on the same > line. Also, I drew a table onto the master page, hoping to fake a > table format, but it didn't show up on the body page. > > Any help would be most appreciated! > > Thanks! > > Deirdre > ___
Re: TOCs
Hi, Dierdre Have you tried: * Setting the paragraph formats of the first- and second-column *TOC paragraph formats to Run-in, and generating the TOC * Selecting the text in the generated TOC and using Table > Convert to Table, with Each Paragraph is a Cell, with 3 columns You'd need to remove the <$pagenum> building block from the first two column paragraph definitions. HTH Regards, Peter ______ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 2:51 PM, Deirdre Reagan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi All: > > FrameMaker 8.0, Windows XP. > > I have a question about creating a TOC. I'd like my TOC to have a > table format with three columns. Is that possible? > > I'd like the Table of Contents to look like this: > > > SUBJECT EFFECTIVITYCH-SC-SB-FIG > Top Collector 701701 23-32-0X-X1 > > Electrical Kit Collector 701701 23-32-0X-X2 > 921934 > > Structure Kit Collector 365366 23-32-0X-X3 > 701701 > 921934 > > where the Collectors are all one kind of paragraph tag, the > effectivities are one kinds of paragraph tag, and the CH numbers are > one kind of paragraph tag. > > Currently the TOC is done by hand with cross-references to the paragraph tags. > > I've been in the references pages, fooling around to see what would > happen, and I can't get two different paragraph tag TOCs on the same > line. Also, I drew a table onto the master page, hoping to fake a > table format, but it didn't show up on the body page. > > Any help would be most appreciated! > > Thanks! > > Deirdre > ___ ___ 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.
Modify default under line formats
Hi, Mark: You might be able to use the Japanese Rubi text feature in FM 8 (not sure if it's in earlier releases.) Briefly, select the text to be underlined, then use Special > Rubi (or if Rubi isn't on the Special menu, tap and release the Esc s r keys in sequence) to activate Rubi. * Type the period to make the dotted line; it will appear above the selected text. * Select the dotted line and use Alt+DownArrow to move the Rubi line's baseline below the text. It's tricky to get this going, and very tricky to edit after you exit the Rubi box (easier to delete and redo), but you'll catch on quickly. The Rubi'd text won't wrap around line endings. I haven't tried it with FM x-refs and hyperlinks, just plain text, and I haven't texted the result of PDFs made by printing or Save As. Search for Rubi in the Help for full information. HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: Modify default under line formats
Hi, Mark: You might be able to use the Japanese Rubi text feature in FM 8 (not sure if it's in earlier releases.) Briefly, select the text to be underlined, then use Special > Rubi (or if Rubi isn't on the Special menu, tap and release the Esc s r keys in sequence) to activate Rubi. * Type the period to make the dotted line; it will appear above the selected text. * Select the dotted line and use Alt+DownArrow to move the Rubi line's baseline below the text. It's tricky to get this going, and very tricky to edit after you exit the Rubi box (easier to delete and redo), but you'll catch on quickly. The Rubi'd text won't wrap around line endings. I haven't tried it with FM x-refs and hyperlinks, just plain text, and I haven't texted the result of PDFs made by printing or Save As. Search for Rubi in the Help for full information. HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
question about overrides
Search Google for "hunt overrides" On Fri, Jul 11, 2008 at 2:44 AM, David Shaked (Wernick) wrote: > > The main problem with overrides is that it will make > > changes later that will be difficult to find and/or fix. > > Is there a way to find overrides, other than examining each paragraph > individually? > > Is there a way to remove all overrides from a document in a single > operation? I guess one way is to import to a new document and select the > option to remove format overrides. Is that the best way? > HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: question about overrides
Search Google for "hunt overrides" On Fri, Jul 11, 2008 at 2:44 AM, David Shaked (Wernick) <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > The main problem with overrides is that it will make > > changes later that will be difficult to find and/or fix. > > Is there a way to find overrides, other than examining each paragraph > individually? > > Is there a way to remove all overrides from a document in a single > operation? I guess one way is to import to a new document and select the > option to remove format overrides. Is that the best way? > HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
FM 7.1 cannot find file to cross-ref to
It's possible to launch multiple instances of FM. Files open in one instance aren't considered open by another instance, so they won't appear in the open file pull-down list in the cross-references dialog box. Check that the files are open in the same active instance of FM. Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 3:40 PM, Rick Quatro wrote: > Are both files saved? > > Rick Quatro > Carmen Publishing Inc > 585-659-8267 > www.frameexpert.com > > > >> FM 7.1p116 on Win XP >> >> We are trying to create a cross-ref from one chapter to another. Both >> chapters are open. In the Cross Reference dialog, in the Document >> drop-down list, it only displays the Current file and will not display the >> other file. We have tried rebooting, uninstalling and reinstalling Frame >> and the patch, to no avail. We have more current versions of Frame, but >> are unable to use them on this particular project. This particular project >> requires FM 7.1. What's more, the problem does not exist on other machines >> running FM 7.1, but only on this particular machine, and this particular >> machine must be used for this particular project. Grr. What is the >> solution? >> >> Regards, >> Emmy A.
Re: FM 7.1 cannot find file to cross-ref to
It's possible to launch multiple instances of FM. Files open in one instance aren't considered open by another instance, so they won't appear in the open file pull-down list in the cross-references dialog box. Check that the files are open in the same active instance of FM. Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 3:40 PM, Rick Quatro <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Are both files saved? > > Rick Quatro > Carmen Publishing Inc > 585-659-8267 > www.frameexpert.com > > > >> FM 7.1p116 on Win XP >> >> We are trying to create a cross-ref from one chapter to another. Both >> chapters are open. In the Cross Reference dialog, in the Document >> drop-down list, it only displays the Current file and will not display the >> other file. We have tried rebooting, uninstalling and reinstalling Frame >> and the patch, to no avail. We have more current versions of Frame, but >> are unable to use them on this particular project. This particular project >> requires FM 7.1. What's more, the problem does not exist on other machines >> running FM 7.1, but only on this particular machine, and this particular >> machine must be used for this particular project. Grr. What is the >> solution? >> >> Regards, >> Emmy A. ___ 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.
weird symbols in front of my Chapter Titles
On Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 8:44 AM, Deirdre Reagan wrote: > I just remembered someone's advice -- delete the whole paragraph and > the marker will go away. Edit > Find > Any Marker will find and select markers. Keep the Marker window open, so you can see its marker type and other information. Delete key will delete the marker. > > Thank you! > > Deirdre > > On 7/3/08, Deirdre Reagan wrote: >> Thanks Peter. >> >> I tested this out. In my TOC, all my Chapter Titles have the little >> white box in front of them, and all my chapter subsections (1., a., >> etc) have a T in front of them. All work as hyperlinks. >> >> In the actual chapter, the Chapter Title with a T or a little white >> box in front of it doesn't not work as a hyperlink. They are not supposed to be hyperlinks that go somewhere. They are the targets of hyperlinks that go to them. >> >> All TOC hyperlinks connected to all chapters, regardless of whether >> the chapter had a symbol. View > Text Symbols is a file property; perhaps some chapter files have them turned off, so the markers don't appear. Or, perhaps you're hyperlinking to a subsection on the chapter title page, so it appears you're going to a chapter page that has no chapter hyperlink. When you hyperlink somewhere, the target marker is highlighted, and the Marker window tells you what kind it is. >> >> None of the chapters with the symbol hyperlinked to anywhere. >> >> So I'm left with the question -- why are these symbols appearing at >> the begining of some of my chapter titles, in the actual chapter. >> >> I'd like to delete the symbols out of the Chapter Title in the actual >> chapters (not from the TOC) and see what happens, but so far I've been >> unsuccessful in finding any way to delete them. >> >> Any suggestions? Please read the Help. Search for markers, hyperlinks, generated lists, table of contents, find marker, etc. Also there are several excellent FM books, including: FrameMaker(R) 7: The Complete Reference by Sarah S. S. O'Keefe and Sheila A. A. Loring (Paperback - Jun 11, 2002) Publishing Fundamentals: Unstructured FrameMaker 8 by Sarah S. O'Keefe, Sheila A. Loring, Terry Smith (contributor), and Lydia K. Wong (contributor) (Paperback - Jun 16, 2008) HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: weird symbols in front of my Chapter Titles
On Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 8:44 AM, Deirdre Reagan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I just remembered someone's advice -- delete the whole paragraph and > the marker will go away. Edit > Find > Any Marker will find and select markers. Keep the Marker window open, so you can see its marker type and other information. Delete key will delete the marker. > > Thank you! > > Deirdre > > On 7/3/08, Deirdre Reagan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> Thanks Peter. >> >> I tested this out. In my TOC, all my Chapter Titles have the little >> white box in front of them, and all my chapter subsections (1., a., >> etc) have a T in front of them. All work as hyperlinks. >> >> In the actual chapter, the Chapter Title with a T or a little white >> box in front of it doesn't not work as a hyperlink. They are not supposed to be hyperlinks that go somewhere. They are the targets of hyperlinks that go to them. >> >> All TOC hyperlinks connected to all chapters, regardless of whether >> the chapter had a symbol. View > Text Symbols is a file property; perhaps some chapter files have them turned off, so the markers don't appear. Or, perhaps you're hyperlinking to a subsection on the chapter title page, so it appears you're going to a chapter page that has no chapter hyperlink. When you hyperlink somewhere, the target marker is highlighted, and the Marker window tells you what kind it is. >> >> None of the chapters with the symbol hyperlinked to anywhere. >> >> So I'm left with the question -- why are these symbols appearing at >> the begining of some of my chapter titles, in the actual chapter. >> >> I'd like to delete the symbols out of the Chapter Title in the actual >> chapters (not from the TOC) and see what happens, but so far I've been >> unsuccessful in finding any way to delete them. >> >> Any suggestions? Please read the Help. Search for markers, hyperlinks, generated lists, table of contents, find marker, etc. Also there are several excellent FM books, including: FrameMaker(R) 7: The Complete Reference by Sarah S. S. O'Keefe and Sheila A. A. Loring (Paperback - Jun 11, 2002) Publishing Fundamentals: Unstructured FrameMaker 8 by Sarah S. O'Keefe, Sheila A. Loring, Terry Smith (contributor), and Lydia K. Wong (contributor) (Paperback - Jun 16, 2008) HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
condition-specific paragraph tags idea
Hi, Ben: >From your comment below, I'm not sure if you're aware of condition indicators. You can create them with text attributes like overline, underline, and strikethrough, plus a color - either one of the default FM colors, or a custom color you create. You can opt to show or hide these indicators; they print when they're visible. The indicators of hidden conditions are also hidden, but with View > Text Symbols ON, a marker (large "T" symbol) appears where content is hidden. HTH On Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 6:36 PM, Ben Hechter wrote: > Thanks, Peter, an interesting idea to check out. > > My main motivation is to make conditions more "visible", to avoid later > confusion/errors due to conditions being a "hidden" attribute. > > Ben > Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: condition-specific paragraph tags idea
Hi, Ben: >From your comment below, I'm not sure if you're aware of condition indicators. You can create them with text attributes like overline, underline, and strikethrough, plus a color - either one of the default FM colors, or a custom color you create. You can opt to show or hide these indicators; they print when they're visible. The indicators of hidden conditions are also hidden, but with View > Text Symbols ON, a marker (large "T" symbol) appears where content is hidden. HTH On Wed, Jul 2, 2008 at 6:36 PM, Ben Hechter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Thanks, Peter, an interesting idea to check out. > > My main motivation is to make conditions more "visible", to avoid later > confusion/errors due to conditions being a "hidden" attribute. > > Ben > Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
condition-specific paragraph tags idea
Have you tried to copy an example of the condition to the clipboard with Edit > Copy Special, then Find a paragraph format and Replace by Pasting, with Replace All enabled? HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
weird symbols in front of my Chapter Titles
Hi, Dierdre: The "T" characters before your chapter headings are markers that are created if you check "Create Hypertext Links" in the Table of Contents dialog box. These markers enable the ability to jump from a TOC entry to its source by clicking it in a PDF. In FM, you can use the combination Ctrl+Alt+Click on a TOC entry to jump to the source. HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices
Re: condition-specific paragraph tags idea
Have you tried to copy an example of the condition to the clipboard with Edit > Copy Special, then Find a paragraph format and Replace by Pasting, with Replace All enabled? HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
Re: weird symbols in front of my Chapter Titles
Hi, Dierdre: The "T" characters before your chapter headings are markers that are created if you check "Create Hypertext Links" in the Table of Contents dialog box. These markers enable the ability to jump from a TOC entry to its source by clicking it in a PDF. In FM, you can use the combination Ctrl+Alt+Click on a TOC entry to jump to the source. HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices ___ 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.
question about overrides
Overrides that are created during the final editing and layout pass, to control page, frame, and column breaks, can be removed in one action by using File > Import > Formats to import the file into itself, and choosing to remove overrides. Of course only remove these overrides from a copy of the saved edited file. This is easier than creating new paragraph formats for each unique instance, then cleaning up these unique fixes in preparing the material for the next revision. HTH Regards, Peter __ Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices On Fri, Jun 27, 2008 at 10:00 AM, Owen, Clint wrote: > Deirdre, > > In my opinion, Top of Page type overrides to force improved pagination > much more acceptable than other types of formatting changes. One of the > last steps in our process is to go through the document and check for > awkward pagination. Then we move figures and tables around or force a > heading to the next page to improve the look and flow. If something else > changes, we just have to do it again. It just makes a better product. > > Clint > > > Clinton Owen | Senior Technical Writer | Crane Aerospace & Electronics | > +1 425-743-8674 | F: +1 425-743-8113 > > > -Original Message- > From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com > [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Deirdre > Reagan > Sent: Friday, June 27, 2008 7:42 AM > To: Framer's List > Subject: question about overrides > > Hi all, good morning. > > FM 8.0, XP. > > This is really a best practices question. > > A couple of weeks ago, there was a discussion about overrides, and how > they should be used rarely or not at all. > > So I thought about that and started to watch our use of overrides. > > We use overrides all the time. For instance, if a figure would be > better placed at the top of the next page, we create that override (our > figure tag is set at Anywhere). > > We also used Top of Page when we want to keep a paragraph from breaking > over two pages. > > Is it really preferable to create a paragraph tag for each instance of > formatting? I'd end up a lot of one-time-use-only tags. > > Also, most of these overrides occur in the editing process, after the > content has been established and we are focused on making the document > look professional. Should I be creating tags as I edit the document, > rather than override the existing tag as I make layout decisions? > > A second question, now that I'm really thinking about this: > > I'm really bothered by the Top of Page as an override, because if we add > text to the front end, that override is going to force a Top of Page we > might not want. But I haven't been able to find a "keep together" > option, like Word has for keeping lines of text together. > Next Pgf is similar, but it works differently in significant ways. > You can't Next Pgf a single paragraph, for instance, but you can keep it > whole without forcing it to the top of the next page in Word. > > Anyway, any comments and insight into the override / editor's role / > tidying up the document / is there a "keep together" issue would be most > welcome! >
