Adding Text Boxes & Arrows For Graphics

[_Belynda_]

I'm fairly new to FM 8 (unstructured).

I'm using Windows XP, Pro, SP2. My files were on the company network, but have been moved to my computers hard drive. I am turning Word files into FM books. I've been copying the text, then Paste Special/Unicode text into FM. I also have graphics and tables I need to ensure get into the FM file.

From what I've been able to gather when dealing with graphics, it's best to have one file from which you reference all your graphics, instead of pasting them in or copying/paste from another program. This would be all well and good except many of the graphics I'm using have little text boxes and arrows attached to them that are not part of the original graphic.

My problem is I just don't seem to be able to create these boxes, framed, with arrows in FM where I want them to be. The spreadsheets are a whole other problem.

Please help.

Belynda

[AxialInfo]

Belynda, here's an easy first step:

First, make a backup copy of the maker.ini file that's in the FM install directory (usually program files \ adobe \ framemaker8).

Down about half way, in the "Font Options" section, look for an entry that should be like this (note the spelling as shown here):

DisplayUsingPrinterMetrics=On

If it's not there, add the line. If it says "Off" change it to "On"

Second step: when you're working in FM, what printer do you have set as your system default printer?

Sheila

[_Belynda_]

Sheila,

Thanks for your help.

I checked the file and it is listed just as you have it listed above.

I am curious what does the printer have to do with it. As for what printer I use, it can vary. I can pretty much print to any of the company printers that have been put on the network. I mainly print to an HP 2605 or a HP 8550 or HP 8100.

Thanks again,

Belynda

[AxialInfo]

That's good as far as the DisplayUsing setting goes.

FM uses the default printer to determine many of its output capabilities. The very best results with FM come when having the "Adobe PDF" printer as the default. There should be several threads on the forum detailing the reasons -- if you search for "setprint" you'll find them. Font quality issues, uneven results in graphics, settings that are only available in one particular printer driver vs not in another, fonts that don't get embedded in your PDFs because they come from the printer driver, those are just some of the problems that can be avoided.

There's a freebie utility called "SetPrint" that will change the default printer *only within FM* (this is important) whenever FM is opened. That way other apps on your system still think that the default printer is whatever you have it set to, and everybody is happy :-)

See http://www.sundorne.com look in the FrameMaker section.

If you do switch to using the Adobe PDF printer, the whole idea is to print to a PDF file and then print the PDF on whatever hard copy printer you want. You'll need to be sure that the Adobe PDF printer knows where to look for fonts on your system.

Back to your original problem: what exactly doesn't work when making the callouts in FM? It sounded like you were having a problem where the callouts didn't print on your hardcopy at the same place where they appeared on your screen?

If so, as a start, try closing FM. In Control Panel set the Adobe PDF printer as default. Open FM to one of the problem graphics and then make a PDF of the chapter or page, then print the PDF. Then compare to a print where you have printed directly from FM to the HP printer.

[Art Campbell]

In general, if you want solid WYSIWYG and stable PDFs, it's good to standardize on the Adobe PDF printer instance as your default printer.

If you use the HPs on your network, you may have a couple problems -- they may use unique fonts that aren't available either to create the PDF or by your end printer, if you produce hard copy.

***
As far as converting files from Word goes, you may also be importing hidden Word characters... you may want to begin making it a practice to save your FM files as MIF occasionally, open them, and save as FM.

***
On graphics, in Frame, the text and boxes and so on are on layers that float on top of the base image. If you're having trouble with placement, you may have Snap turned on, which would cause some problem.

The second issue would be fonts (see the first comment)... if you use printers other than Adobe PDF, you can open yourself to changable fonts.

Cheers,
Art

[Winfried Reng]

Hi Belynda,

I guess, your problem are the Rounaround properties.
To check that do this:
1 Select the graphics which should be in an anchored frame.
2 Select "Graphics | Runaround Properties".
3 Select "Don't Run Around".
If other settings were selected, you can create text frames
and type text in them. However, the text will be moved to the
outside of the graphics area.

After you have selected "Don't Run Around" create new text frames to hold your labels. In text frames you can apply paragraph formats to ensure consistent formatting.

Best regards

Winfried

[peter minneapolis]

Hi, Belynda:

It's not clear how you're recreating the graphics in FM. If you have a text insertion point in the document, importing a graphics file by reference (linking), creates the graphic in a close-fitting anchored frame that moves with text. Depending on your release of FM, Snap is turned on or off by default.

In addition to Art's note about Snap and location of annotations, and Winfried's note about Runaround properties, annotations like text frames and graphic arrows that you place on a graphic must be completely within the anchored frame's borders. If an annotation object is partly outside the anchored frame, and partly within, it isn't anchored, and it won't move with the anchored frame.

A related and confusing annoyance is that when you drag objects into or within the anchored frame, the object is within the anchored frame while the black graphics arrow cursor that you drag them with is within the anchored frame's borders. If the arrow cursor moves outside a border while dragging an object, the object is considered to be outside the graphic frame.

Regarding converting Word to FM, you should take a look at MIF2GO, from omsys.com. They're proud of their conversion quality, give great support, and have a free trial.

Finally, if you're trying to replicate the Word layout closely, consider creating PDFs from word and placing PDF pages on rear-most layer of master pages (Graphics > Send to Back), to use as guides to where stuff should be on the page.

HTH

Regards,

Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices