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T
triciaklansky
Participant
November 2, 2009
Question

Structured book questions

  • November 2, 2009
  • 2 replies
  • 765 views

I have just begun using structured FrameMaker after working in unstructured FM for years. Even after reading the help, I'm having a hard time understanding some concepts.

All we want to do is open a ditamap in FrameMaker, save as a book, add a TOC and index, and then save as PDF.

You can save a ditamap as one of the following book files:

Book w/FM components - saves each XML file as an FM document.

Book - maintains the XML file formats.

If all we're doing is adding a TOC, Index, and then saving as PDF, which format do we need?

Another question - After I save a ditamap as a book, open all files in the book, and then try to update the files, FrameMaker says the XML application for one file cannot be found. When I opened this particular file before updating the book, I chose the structured application and saved the file. After receiving the error, I went to set the structured application, and it was already set. What gives?

Could this be any more difficult? That's a rhetorical question . I'm very frustrated.

I appreciate your help.

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

S
susmur
Inspiring
December 29, 2009

I just watched a video on book creation in structured FM (using FrameMaker 8). The suggested solution works without structuring the generated files. In the EDD, it looked like this for the TOC:

Element (Container): Contents

General rule: <ANY>

Valid as the highest level element.

The index definition was done the same way. TOC and index were added to the book, then the book was generated / updated. After the initial TOC and index generation, TOC and index had the correct element assignments at the book level, but not the correct formatting. The generated content was then deleted from TOC and index, followed by another update. Starting with the second update, TOC and index had correct formatting.

HTH

Susanne

ScottPrentice
ScottPrentice
Inspiring
November 3, 2009

If you're adding generated files, you should use the "Book w/ components". You then have to apply the proper "book template" (since by default FM9 uses the "topic" app to format your book), set up your paginatino and numbering, add any generated files, and update. No, this isn't very convenient. If you're looking for an easier way to do this, you might want to check out DITA-FMx, which offers lots of control over how the book and FM files are created ..

     http://leximation.com/dita-fmx/

Regarding your second question, I'm not sure why that would happen ..is this a "book" of XML files or FM component files? If XML files (unless your structapps.fm file is messed up) the proper app should get applied .. perhaps you've got an XML file with a doctype that's not supported? Open it in Notepad and open one that "works" in Notepad .. compare the top portions.

Cheers,

...scott

Scott Prentice

Leximation, Inc.

www.leximation.com

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