Saving as book w/components changes column width to various sizes. How do I stop it?

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
May 23, 2023
3 replies
325 views

I am using Structured FrameMaker 2022 Version 17.0.1.305. I mainly edit XML files in a ditamap file. When I save the ditamap to "Book 2022 with fm components," new FM files are generated. In these new .FM files, the table columns appear in various, random sizes. I do not know why and I am trying to stop it from happening.

For instance, in one of my topics, in the XML file, I have a total of 14 tables, each with two columns. One column is always 1.68." The other is always 5.32." When I save the ditamap file that contains this XML file as a .BOOK (with fm components), these same tables appear but one coloumn has a width, not of 1.68", but of either 1.445", 1.435" or 1.255." The other column becomes either 4.576, 4.544" or 3.974," not 5.32".

I'd like all of these tables to be 1.445" and 4.576".

Furthermore, if I change the column size in the XML file, and close it, when I re-open it, the change hasn't saved.

I do not know why I cannot save changes to column width in XML. I can save text changes. I am using a version control system, but I have the file checked out. I also can save changes to the FM file. It leaves me with two questions:

Why does saving a ditamap as a book with fm components lead to unpredictable column widths in the FM files?

Why can't I save changes to coloumn width in an XML file?

Please help. Thanks!

This topic has been closed for replies.

Matt-Tech Comm Tools

Community Expert

The conversion isn't giving you unpredictable results, but it is using a specific Fm file (and likely default 2-column values) when saving to book components. I suspect default values, as I doubt the template file used has 2-column pages defined.

When you open your DITA with Fm, it uses a template file as defined in the structapps file(s).

This is a specific Fm file, but different from the template file used when performing a Save as Fm Book Components (or however it's phrased). With luck, an Fm engineer can chime in to specify whether it's a template file in a DITA app (like the one at C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe FrameMaker 2022\Structure\xml\DITA\app\DITA-Bookmap-FM) or perhaps a setting within a DITA initialization file.

-Matt

-Matt Sullivan, FrameMaker Course Creator, Author, Trainer, Consultant

frameexpert

Community Expert

Can you post a snippet of your XML so we can see how the widths are indicated? Thank you.

B

Brian26375051l7h5Author

Inspiring

F

FrameMaker-dk

Community Expert

I believe you shall have to go through the EDD settings for the template you are publishing into. When you publish to book with fm components, FrameMaker picks up a template and uses that for visualising and formatting your xml.

Bjørn Smalbro - FrameMaker.dk

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