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Participating Frequently
July 18, 2013
Question

ditafm-output.ini and PDF output for different situations

  • July 18, 2013
  • 1 reply
  • 724 views

I'm using a DITA 1.2 structured app and templates that I've set up. I'm generally happy with the output that I'm getting now, but I've also come to realize that I have two different situations for PDF output--in situation one, I need to set up for printed books, i.e., facing pages, keeping chapters starting on right-hand pages and so on. Situation two is for electronically-distributed PDFs that are NOT books--files that customers might print themselves, probably not double-sided, so I don't need facing pages with the associated blank pages in the file, and so on.

I'm using flags in the ditafm-output.ini file to control the pagination for the printed book in my output. Both situations currently use the same output templates, though I may create a single-sided template for situation two. That's easy enough.

My question, then, is this: It seems to me that I'll need two different ditafm-output.ini files for the two situations. Is there an easy way to switch between them? Output seems separate from the structured application, and I don't need or want two separate apps.

The best I can think of at the moment is to create a second ditafm-output.ini file with the settings I want for situation two, name it ditafm-output_foo.ini and change it to the "real" name when I need it. This, of course, introduces a potential overwrite disaster. Naturally, I'll keep backups.

Unless there's a better way??

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1 reply

ScottPrentice
Inspiring
July 18, 2013

That's the only way I can think of using "default" Frame to support multiple output types. To make it less error-prone you might set up batch files that do the copying .. just run the right batch file before you build each type of book.

OR .. you could use DITA-FMx which lets you define an INI file for each book-build (and provides many more features).

     http://leximation.com/dita-fmx/

Cheers,

Scott Prentice

Leximation, Inc.

www.leximation.com

ohnehosenAuthor
Participating Frequently
July 30, 2013

Thanks Scott; that's what I was afraid of. I'll look into the batch file or maybe even your product.