Retain Dynamic HTML Effects > Drop Down Caption and Drop Down Body in FrameMaker XML Structured Application

Stephanie,

   Remember that FM applies format rules to outer elements before it formats inner elements. Thus, if your <note> contains a <p>, and your text format rules specify a paragraph format to use, FM will apply the paragraph format to the <note>, but when it formats the <p>, it will replace the <note>'s format with the one for the <p>.  One way to avoid this problem is with a context rule in the definition of <p> that only applies a paragraph format in contexts that do not apply something else. If the desired <p> and <note> formatting are similar, you can also apply individual properties instead of entire paragraph catalog entries.

  You may find the StructureTools > Show Element Context command helpful for debugging your EDD--it tells you which format rules have been applied.

--Lynne

Hi Stephanie...

Unfortunately, this is not how the XML authoring/publishing process is intended to work in FrameMaker Those commands should probably be disabled for XML files.

You'll need to assign attributes to the elements you want formatted, then save the map to a FM book and files. Then set up some process that you run on the generated FM files that applies the necessary formatting, then exports those files to HTML (I'm assuming that's your output format?). In theory you may be able to do this with some ExtendScript .. but it'll be a bit of work.

You may want to check out DITA-FMx. This is a plugin that I developed which provides extended DITA authoring and publishing features in FrameMaker. One feature is the ability to add your own custom processing (ExtendScript, FrameScript, or FDK plugin) into the book build process. This may be able to automate the formatting process you're trying to do .. although I've not messed around with the effects you're using so can't say for sure.

     http://leximation.com/dita-fmx

Good luck!

Scott Prentice
Leximation, Inc.

www.leximation.com