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jay fresno
Inspiring
February 21, 2008
Question

Add new symbol to FrameMaker 7.2's Symbol drop-down list

  • February 21, 2008
  • 5 replies
  • 2513 views
I need to add a new symbol to FrameMaker 7.2's Symbol drop-down list -- the "#" pound symbol.

I've never attempted to customize FrameMaker in this way. I tried reading the
customizing_frame_products.pdf file, but am not able to figure out how to add a new symbol.

If anyone would be kind enough to help me with easy to understand instructions for adding a new symbol, I would very much appreciate it.
    This topic has been closed for replies.

    5 replies

    J
    jay fresnoAuthor
    Inspiring
    February 21, 2008
    Art,
    Thank you so much for pointing out this post. I had done a search through the archives, but didn't find this gem. Can't wait to try out the instructions!
    A
    Art Campbell
    Inspiring
    February 21, 2008
    I'm surprised you didn't find this when you searched the archives....

    **************8

    from Ian Proudfoot <member@adobeforums.com>
    reply-to adobe.framemaker@adobeforums.com,
    to adobe.framemaker@adobeforums.com,
    date Tue, Jan 30, 2007 at 6:23 AM
    subject Re: Repair Symbols Pull Down Degree Symbol?
    mailed-by adobeforums.com


    A new message was posted by Ian Proudfoot in

    FrameMaker --
    Repair Symbols Pull Down Degree Symbol?

    Hi John,
    The pull down symbol menu only does half the job. If you select the x, then apply the symbol font you will get the degree symbol.

    Heres how to add symbols to the pulldown menu:
    (On Windows with all paths relative to the FrameMaker installation folder)

    1. Open the menus.cfg file.
    a. For structured FrameMaker this is located in the
    \fminit\fmstruct folder.
    b. For unstructured FrameMaker its in the
    \fminit\maker folder.
    2. Search for:
    <Add CharBullet <Menu SpecialSymbols>>
    <Add CharPlusMinus <Menu SpecialSymbols>>
    <Add CharGreaterEqual <Menu SpecialSymbols>>
    <Add CharNotEqual <Menu SpecialSymbols>>
    <Add CharDoubleDagger <Menu SpecialSymbols>>
    <Add CharDegree <Menu SpecialSymbols>>
    <Add CharEllipsis <Menu SpecialSymbols>>
    <Add CharEndash <Menu SpecialSymbols>>
    <Add CharEmdash <Menu SpecialSymbols>>
    <Add CharRegister <Menu SpecialSymbols>>
    <Add CharCopyright <Menu SpecialSymbols>>
    <Add CharTrademark <Menu SpecialSymbols>>
    <Add CharCent <Menu SpecialSymbols>>
    <Add CharPound <Menu SpecialSymbols>>
    <Add CharYen <Menu SpecialSymbols>>

    3. Add your new character reference to this list as follows:
    (In this example we are adding the per thousand symbol )

    a. The Char commands are defined in the file
    \fminit\configui\cmds.cfg
    b. Find the character that you want to add to the list:
    <Command CharPerThousand <Definition \xE4>>
    c. Add the label that will appear on the menu:
    <Command CharPerThousand <Label PerThousand><Definition \xE4>>
    d. Save the file
    4. Add the line command to menus.cfg:
    <Add CharPerThousand <Menu SpecialSymbols>>
    5. Save the file
    6. Restart FrameMaker, you should have a new entry on the pulldown menu.

    Im not sure why, but there are more charcters defined for unstructured FrameMaker, Structured Frame is missing the degree symbol.
    Some of you may want to correct the spelling of Em and En dash by editing their labels

    I hope this helps

    Now to find a way to automatically apply the correct char format for all symbols.

    Ian

    Ian Proudfoot
    iTP-X
    Adobe Community Expert

    ****
    Cheers,
    Art
    J
    jay fresnoAuthor
    Inspiring
    April 28, 2013

    I started a new thread at http://forums.adobe.com/message/5271423#5271423 and am cross-posting here, hoping that someone can answer.

    Now I'm using FrameMaker 11 and need to do the same thing: add a new symbol to the standard list of symbols. I followed the instructions in this thread step by step to the letter, yet the new symbol does not appear in the list.

    Maybe I didn't use the correct file. The path I used for menus.cfg file is

    C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\AdobeFrameMaker11\fminit\WorkSpaces\Unstructured\Menus

    The path I used for cmds.cfg is

    C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\AdobeFrameMaker11\fminit\configui

    But there were others I could have chosen:

    I'm using Unstructured FrameMaker.

    I would greatly appreciate it if someone can help with how to add a new symbol to the list.

    J
    jay fresnoAuthor
    Inspiring
    February 21, 2008
    I agree that the # symbol is not worth adding, but I need to add other symbols that are not easily accessible on the keyboard and require convoluted keyboard shortcuts. I hope that someone can help by explaining the procedure to add new symbols to the standard list of symbols that come with FrameMaker.
    _
    _Kenneth_Benson_
    Participating Frequently
    February 21, 2008
    This is sort of like adding the P symbol or the 6 symbol. Why add
    something that's right there on the keyboard?

    --
    Kenneth Benson
    Pegasus Type, Inc.
    www.pegtype.com
    J
    jay fresnoAuthor
    Inspiring
    February 21, 2008
    I also need to add a left angle quote and a right angle quote to the Symbols drop-down list.
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