Automating Framemaker

Hi Shannon:

In addition to Lin's answer, which is the preferred way to go if you can use the same filenames after each update, you can also update images that were imported by reference (linked) using the browse button in Graphics > Object Properties or can just combine the Replace feature with keyboard shortcuts, whichever is faster for you. 

1. Select the original image
2. Esc fif (shortcut for File > Import > File)
3. Double click the new image name (which will replace the selected one)

~Barb

re: My current dilemma is that when something on my company's software chganges (user interface) I then have to go retake and re-upload 50 images.

What is the change?
If it's the network file path(s) to the images, you might be able to finesse that with some file system gambits.

You'd still need to take the updated pictures, but if you import them by reference instead of by copy and save the new pictures in the same place with the same file names, they'll automatically update. If you want to keep the old pictures, you can zip them into an archive file.

For audit trail purposes, you might want to invest in Rick Quatro's ArchiveES plugin. I use it once I release a document to maintain archives for my company in case there's a trademark or patent dispute. It copies all the FM files, graphics files, and insets to a directory you specify and changes the relative paths for the graphics and text insets to the new location. Then you can zip the FM files and the graphics and inset directories and you have a complete duplicate of the document at a specific time in case there's a need for it.