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Z
Z__Bulova
Known Participant
June 30, 2009
Question

how can I have same TOC for four books

  • June 30, 2009
  • 1 reply
  • 771 views

Hello fellow Framemaker users:

I have four conditions and four book files so that I can generate four variations on what is, for the most part, the same content.

I would like to have the same TOC, TOF, TOT, and IX files for all four of these books, rather than having four different TOCs, TOFs, TOTs, and IXs. I tried adding the auto-generated files to the book but they end up having the wrong icon and they don't get updated when I update my book. If I add the auto-generated file using Add-> Table of Contents, it is a unique file at that point, and not shared amongst the different books.

Would anyone here know how to accomplish this? I would appreciate any assistance you might be able to offer.

Thanks in advance,

Z.

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    1 reply

    L
    Lynne A. Price
    Inspiring
    June 30, 2009

    Z,

    You have four books that share content and want to use the same

    generated files for all four. Do you want to be able to update the

    generated files from any one of the four books?

    When you add a generated file such as a table of contents to a book,

    FrameMaker proposes a filename for the generated file that is derived from

    the filename of the book. For example, if your books are named dog.book,

    cat.book, horse.book, and bird.book, FrameMaker proposes a table of

    contents called docTOC.fm for the first book, catTOC.fm for the second and

    so on. However, you can change these proposed names. the book window for

    dog.book, right-click on docTOC.fm and select Rename from the resulting

    context menu. You can then simply name the file TOC.fm or something like

    shareTOC.fm. Save the book and repeat for the remaining books. Updating the

    generated files for any one of the books will then update them for the others.

    This approach only works if the books and the generated files are in the

    same folder (non-generated files can be in other folders).

    --Lynne

    Lynne A. Price

    Text Structure Consulting, Inc.

    Specializing in structured FrameMaker consulting, application development,

    and training

    lprice@txstruct.com http://www.txstruct.com

    voice/fax: (510) 583-1505 cell phone: (510) 421-2284

    Z
    Z__BulovaAuthor
    Known Participant
    June 30, 2009

    Thanks Lynn!

    Arnis Gubins
    Arnis Gubins
    Inspiring
    July 1, 2009

    Just a side note: even though FM creates the generated files in the same folder as the .book file, you can edit a MIF version of the .book file to move the generated files to other locations, if you need/want to keep them separate or together with the other .fm files of the book.

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