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FM_JEN
Participating Frequently
April 6, 2014
Question

Cross Reference displays wrong Chapter

  • April 6, 2014
  • 2 replies
  • 3855 views

I have several FrameMaker files that will eventually be combined into one book. In some chapters there are references to outside chapters. At some point another person that was using these files had to switch the Chapter title; for example Chapter 7 became Chapter 6. Now when I open up, lets say Chapter 5, and I set up a cross reference to chapter 6 I got throug the following steps:

I make sure both files are open in FrameMaker, I put my cursor in the spot I want to make a hyperlink > Right click > Cross Reference

When the window Pops up I make the following selections:

Document: Chpater 6

Source Type: Paragraphs

Paragraph type: Heading1

Paragraphs: Page 7

I select the exact paragraph I want referenced

Format: CH XX, #

When I hit replace I am expecting the text on the screen to say something like "CH06, 3-1 Title" but instead it says "CH07, 3-1 Title"

The link goes to the location I want, it goes right to Chapter 6 but the visible text says Chapter 7 which is wrong. I assume this is happening because someone switched those two chapters.

Does anyone know how to edit what the text says or what I need to change in the switched chapters to make it work correctly. Something else I noticed is that the Document option in the cross reference is saying Chapter 6 with the old title, not the latest up to date title.

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

A
Anonymous
May 8, 2014

I think I may be having the same issue. I'm using Technical Communications version 3. I have a huge FM book composed of many books - over 3,000 pages if it were printed. I'm linking to the FM file in RoboHelp (RH). No broken xrefs in FM, but when I go to RH, there are odd xrefs or missing ones. I keep updating both FM and RH without any success. So, I generated a list of cross-reference markers in FM.

This is what I think is causing this. Even though you're supposed to be able to link to the FM file and if all is ok with the FM book (no errors, no broken xrefs), everything should chug along in RH. But, NO, it doesn't. When I put in cross-references in FM, I do them by the paragraph. But then you can also see the actual marker text, which doesn't always agree with the heading text. This is what RH uses. So, if you're having these issues, check the marker text to make sure it matches the paragraph text.

Below is an example where I had updated the heading, but the marker didn't match. FM didn't care and didn't report a broken cross-reference. RH just displayed the xref heading but it wasn't a link. Very frustrating. I'm looking for a way to get the xref markers to match the paragraph headings.

This is the heading: EContent in the PAC Patron Account

    and this is the marker text: 28254:Heading 3: 3M eBooks in the PAC Patron Account - Items Out 768

BTW - I saw some snarky answers - just insecure people who want to show how much they know technically. For me, I just want the friggin' tool to work! If I wanted to know all the sausage-making, I'd have been a programmer. I actually like to write and fiddling with RH is just tedious! In my experience, programmers are a dime a dozen; good writers are rare.

Make this a snark-free zone and help novices. Lord knows, Adobe's own documentation just doesn't get it. They tell you what something is but not how to do it! Oh, and the UX in RH is so cluttered and confusing! Do you use a pod or a menu item, what is important enough to get a pod? Why are there all these different ways to set up a project? It's like it was designed by hyped-up, overly-caffeinated people with really bad OCD. It's not about the tool, it's about the writers trying to get their jobs done!

Jeff_Coatsworth
Community Expert
Jeff_CoatsworthCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 8, 2014

@Curious 1 – I think you posted to the wrong thread – this one has nothing to do with FM to RH.

A
Anonymous
May 8, 2014

It deals with the difference between selecting a paragraph for a xref and then not having it automatically update the actual marker text. So I thought it might help since she wasn't getting anywhere. If a user has a lot of old files where the headings have been updated, the xref markers don't match.

Bob_Niland
Community Expert
Bob_NilandCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 6, 2014

What is this the format of?
"CH XX, #"

Is Heading1 an autonumbered paragraph (and is that specific instance of it an AN)?

What is the Autonumber Format?

What is the Cross-Reference Format?

I'd expect Heading1 to have an AN format like:

[Chapter\ <$chapnum>,<n+><n+>\ ]

where "title" is hand typed at the instance.

I'd expect any cross-references to that to be:

[<$paranum><$paratext>]

F
FM_JENAuthor
Participating Frequently
April 6, 2014

I was just listing all the options that display when you open up "cross-reference" Format CH XX, # just means that the output of the reference will be in the format chapter, #

Heading1 is just the paragraph tag that I am referencing, none of that matters, I was just using it all as examples.

The problem is that I am putting in to reference a certain chapter but when I complete the reference the text is saying a different chapter than what is actually referenced. When you click on the link it goes to the correct place but according to the text it is going to another place.

Arnis Gubins
Arnis Gubins
Inspiring
April 6, 2014

IF the files are part of the same book, then update the book and the numbering will sort itself out - if you've used the correct building blocks in both the cross-ref format and the Heading1 autonumber formats. [That's what Error was hinting at...]

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