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TeraRecon
Known Participant
January 25, 2016
Answered

problem creating/editing tab stops in FM2015

  • January 25, 2016
  • 8 replies
  • 9642 views

Hello,

I sometimes can't add a new tab stop, or edit a tab stop that has already been added, using the Paragraph Designer. Here's what happens:

I click on the tab I want to change and click Edit. The Edit Tab Stop dialog opens.

I enter the position in the New Position box.

I click Continue.

This closes the Edit box and goes back to the Paragraph Designer. The new tab is in the list, but only for a second, and then it just disappears. I go back to the beginning and try again, but the same thing happens.

The same thing also happens when I try to edit a tab stop that has already been created.

An important thing to mention here is that this is an intermittent problem. It doesn't always happen - sometimes it works fine, for either adding new tab stops or editing an existing one. I haven't been able to discern any pattern associated with it.

This wasn't a problem in FM8. But this past summer I upgraded to FM 2015 and I have encountered this problem numerous times. Is this a bug? Or is there a new step I need to do, that I'm not aware of?

Thanks,

Joyce

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer LinSims

It's still an issue sometimes, and for some reason it's associated with graphics files. What has been learned is that if you turn off the display of graphics in the document (View > Options and deselect the Graphics option), then you can edit your paragraph tabs as usual.

 

Weird, but this has worked for many people facing this same issue. I have no idea if a bug was logged for it, but I do know it's been a problem since at least FM 13.

8 replies

hanacan
hanacan
Participant
March 8, 2018

I have been having this problem for quite a while now ( running FM13). When attempting to update the tab value in the Paragraph Designer from the Tab Stops box, a modified value displays for about 1 second, then disappears; the setting is ignored.

I think I have figured out a workaround:
1. At the tab ribbon (top of page) click to set a tab (place the tab arrow). 
You will see this setting correspondingly show up in the Tab Stops: box in the Paragraph Designer (which will refuse to be edited, per what has become the usual behavior). Ignore this and go to step 2.
2. Double click on the tab setting in the ribbon to get the Edit Tab Stop dialog. Adjust the values there, and click Edit.
Again, you will see the new value in the Tab Stops box of the Paragraph Designer; but now it is successfully updated (namely, it's sticking), and you can then apply/update all from the Paragraph Designer.

HeCK
HeCK
Known Participant
February 8, 2019

I tried this. I now have a tab stop at 0.502, and cannot edit it. If I try, it blinks in and out again, returning to the previous value. It exists, but cannot be edited. So, I'm just throwing darts at my document now, hoping that the tab stop lands precisely where I want it.

L
LouKwayshus
Participating Frequently
September 12, 2017

I've followed this post for months, hoping to find the problem is fixed. I am using FrameMaker 2015, version 13.0.5.547, but the error continues. We are not upgrading documents from a previous version of Frame, so that seems unlikely to be the cause. We also don't have enormous documents of great complexity, so the MIF approach doesn't feel relevant either, for me.

I did, however, run into an instance a couple months ago, while working on building templates, specifically the generated files. This might help someone a little bit, in a narrow set of circumstances. I noticed that the error occurred when I was working on the body page, but if I reset the tab stops from the reference page, it worked without issue. At the time, I thought maybe it was at least a path to maintaining sanity until Adobe gets this fixed, but I am now back into an editing session (still in a generated file) where I cannot use the reference-page workaround, because the error is occurring on a ptag that's not from generated content--clearly, there is no corresponding entry on the reference page.

Adobe, you're killin' us. Please, send help...

G
GrayBugs
Inspiring
January 5, 2018

I'm having this problem, too, after upgrading a FM 6 file to FM 2015.

Matt-Tech Comm Tools
Community Expert
Matt-Tech Comm ToolsCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 6, 2018

Does the behavior exist if you create a new doc in Fm?

Assuming you've already updated to Fm 13.0.5 via the Help menu,

Try importing your content into a new Fm file (File > Import > File) and/or copy/paste into a new file.

-Matt Sullivan, FrameMaker Course Creator, Author, Trainer, Consultant
    I
    imKathyNF12
    Participant
    February 23, 2017

    I am experiencing the same problem. I updated my Framemaker to version 13.0.5.547. Cannot create or delete a tab stop in any of my files. All of my files were originated in Framemaker 2015, but not with this patch. This is unacceptable as it disallows me from creating a custom template for my employer.

    Need a quick fix if there is one available.

    --Kathy

      D
      deborahs68858966
      Participant
      August 8, 2017

      Did this get fixed? Also reported here:

      Re: Tab stop bug in FrameMaker v13.0.0.333?

      We've got 13.0.5.547 and it still doesn't work.

      Be.eM
      Be.eM
      Inspiring
      March 14, 2019

      Today I was hit by the same bug (FM2015, fully patched to the current version). MIF wash didn't help. Then I tried the route of creating a completely new document (not using the existing, buggy file as a template), but instead using an empty standard template and importing the formats from the buggy file afterwards.

      Without the content the bug was gone and tab stop editing worked as expected. Then I copied the whole content of the old file to the new file, and the bug was back. Now I deleted everything again, and the bug was gone again. So the bug was content related. Cutting a long story short, I was able to track down the culprit to… an imported PNG graphic. Yes, really. Copied the anchored frame with that graphic into the new file, and boom, there was the bug. Deleted just the graphic (keeping the frame), and it was gone again. Replaced the PNG with a TIF version of the same image, and the bug remained gone.

      Now my document is fully working again, and I'll never use a PNG again. I did it this time only for developing a preliminary layout, and the PNG was a file from our customer which I didn't want to use later anyway, so it was just for testing purposes. I usually only use TIF or EPS files for pixel images. On a side note, this specific file with that PNG image worked correctly in FM2019.

      So maybe all of you with FM2015 hit by this bug, check your documents for PNG files…?

      Bernd

        Deb Sauer
        Deb Sauer
        Inspiring
        November 2, 2016

        I am still seeing this issue. I'm completely patched up to 13.0.5.547. It happens with files that we created in various versions of FM over the last 10 years (and have been upgrading to the latest FM version as it becomes available). Oddly enough, I can create a new tab stop in some files, but there's no discernible pattern or evident reason why. AMAGARWA@ADOBE.COM​ Stefan Gentz [Adobe]​ any idea what's going on?

        jaggedpeak
        jaggedpeak
        Inspiring
        November 2, 2016

        The bug was submitted (and reproducible) by myself and Amit in July on 13.0.3.495: Bug#4170815 - v13.0.3.495 - Cannot modify tab stops in Paragraph Designer (changes revert when tab stop dialog is closed…

        I took a look at the release notes here: FrameMaker (2015 release) – Update 5 released – TechComm Central by Adobe  for the most recent version and I don't see that it's been addressed yet.

        AJIT_M
        Community Manager
        AJIT_MCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        November 3, 2016

        Hi Deborah,

        Please check your inbox and provide the requested information so that we can connect and troubleshoot this issue further.

        I will be looking forward to your response.

        Regards,

        Ajit

        Robert_^_W
        Robert_^_W
        Inspiring
        July 25, 2016

        What if you create a new file, get the tab stops where they need to be with all your imported formats, and then import those back into your existing files.

          D
          debbiespurlock
          Participant
          February 13, 2020

          I realize that it's 4 years later, but THIS suggestion is the only thing that has worked for me in the face of this bug, which I just encountered today. I have the most up-to-date FrameMaker 2019 but I'm working with files originally created in FrameMaker 11 (and now converted). I can tell that this is going to be a problem in the 4,000 documents I'll be updating to my new FM. Having to create paragraph tags in empty documents and then import them into my existing documents every time I want to add/change a tab setting will not be fun, but at least it will be POSSIBLE, where nothing else worked.  Thanks for the clever solutioneering, Robnurflugel.

          LinSims
          Community Expert
          LinSimsCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
          Community Expert
          February 13, 2020

          It's still an issue sometimes, and for some reason it's associated with graphics files. What has been learned is that if you turn off the display of graphics in the document (View > Options and deselect the Graphics option), then you can edit your paragraph tabs as usual.

           

          Weird, but this has worked for many people facing this same issue. I have no idea if a bug was logged for it, but I do know it's been a problem since at least FM 13.

          D
          dcrouse10
          Inspiring
          July 14, 2016

          I have the same issue.  FM2015 fully patched to 13.0.3.495.

          I did find somewhat of a workaround. If you are displaying rulers, just beneath is a thin strip. Click in the strip to add a tab stop. It displays as a bent arrow.

          You can slide it left and right as required, and it shows up, and STAYS, in the Paragraph Editor window.  You still cannot edit it, however, and cannot add a leader if required (unless there is a special key combination that allows you to click to add a specific type of stop).

          So it is still broken but at least you can do something while you wait.

            K.Daube
            Community Expert
            K.DaubeCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            April 18, 2016

            I encounter the same problem. MIF washing did not help.

            It is however not a problem for new documents, into which I have imported ALL formats from the failing one:

            1. File > New > Portrait
            2. Import all formats from existing file
            3. In exiting file select all contens of flow
            4. Copy into new file
            5. Update the master page usage in new file
            6. Close the existing file
            7. Save new file with the name of the existing one.
            8. Close FM and reopen to check new file.
            9. TAB handling OK now

            What the heck is going on here?

              Arnis Gubins
              Arnis Gubins
              Inspiring
              April 18, 2016

              Please wait for the 3.1 patch, due out shortly, to see if this issue has been addressed.

              Arnis Gubins
              Arnis Gubins
              Inspiring
              April 19, 2016

              A quick update: please go ahead and install patch 3.0 and then 3.1 when it is released. The 3.1 patch won't address the tab issue (hopefully that will be in the next patch - Adobe is aware of this issue).

              An alternative workaround (as it doesn't seem to affect all installations of FM2015) is to create the revised paratags in a new document using the same paratag name as in use and then import that back into the working document. Clumsy, inconvenient, but a workaround none the less.

              S
              Community Manager
              Stefan GentzCommunity Manager
              Community Manager
              January 25, 2016

              Hi Joyce,

              please check wich version of FrameMaker 2015 you have (> Help > About FrameMaker). I think I remember this was a bug in a very early version of FM2015.

              It's no longer present in the current builds. The latest version is FrameMaker 2015.0.2 (13.0.2.433).

              If your versions older than this, please update with the latest patches. You can do this with > Help > Updates…

              You can also download the latest updates here.

              Thanks,

              *Stefan.

              T
              TeraReconAuthor
              Known Participant
              January 25, 2016

              Hi Stefan,

              I upgraded to the latest version, and now have build 13.0.2.433 installed. I also restarted my system afterwards.

              Unfortunately, the problem is still there. New tabs disappear as soon as I create them. If I try to edit one that is already there, it will revert to the original value as soon as I enter it. (For example, if I want to change a tab stop from 3 inches to 4 inches, I enter 4.0 in the Edit Tab Stop dialog and click Continue. Back in the Paragraph Designer, the value "4.0" appears in the tab-stops list for a half-second, and immediately goes back to 3.0.)

              Could there be some other problem causing this?

              Thanks,

              Joyce

                T
                TeraReconAuthor
                Known Participant
                January 25, 2016

                P.S. I didn't mean to flag this as the correct answer since it did not work. Not sure how to remove that. However, thank you for taking the time. I hope that you or someone else has another suggestion!

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