Chapter Number -1 When Opening Book & No Insertion Point

Report · Mar 02, 2023

I'm working on a book. When I open it and run a bookwide script I get an error on one chapter (Atch 5) because there is no insertion point in the chapter. Additionally, Atch 5 current pg no. shows -1. If I click on the attachment, an insertion point appears and the page number updates to pg 1. I've saved it and open it again, everything is fine. If I close all the files of the book and reopen the book, the problem reoccurs. I searched the forum and read article "Chapter Numbering Broken - 1 Book File Only," but nothing it suggested seems to work. When I open numbering properties, the Pg# is set to 1 and in Paragraph Designer, number format is "A:ATTACHMENT <$chapnum>" like all the other attachemens. What am I missing?

Report · Mar 02, 2023

Hmmm. I've seen a reference page show -1 but not a body page. Have you tried a MIF wash?

https://community.adobe.com/t5/framemaker-discussions/what-is-the-mif-wash-utility-how-do-i-use-it/m...

https://helpx.adobe.com/framemaker/kb/how-to-use-mifwash-utility-in-framemaker.html

~Barb

Report · Mar 03, 2023

Hi, @Fightergator ,

where did you make the numbering settings for that chapter?

In the book file or in the chapter file itself?

If done in the book file, check the settings of all chapters in the book file.

(Numbering settings have to be done in the book file only, else you are running into trouble.)

If done in the chapter file (and then counteracting to the book file settings), you can try to do a MIF wash as @Barb Binder mentionend.

Before making the MIF wash be sure to have set the correct values for the numbering.

If that does not help best would be to rename that chapter file, insert a new chapter file and copy all content from the old file to the new file.

Trying to solve the problem can/would be time consuming.

Regards

Stephan

Report · Mar 03, 2023

Is that file view only?

Report · Mar 03, 2023

Many thanks for all the suggestions.

No, the file is not a view only file. And per, Barb's first comment, it only shows the -1 body page when the book is first opened. When I click inside the 16 pg attachment (chap), the page number immediately switches to 1. I'm not so concerned with the page number as with the fact there is no insertion point in the attachment when I initially open the book, and this causes a script error.

Barb...thanks for the tip on the MIF wash. I was unaware of that. I'll give that a try. And per, MF-Will, the number settings where done in the book file and all other chapters open just fine, with an insertion point already in each.

P.S. Does anyone know if there is a way to programmatically force an insertion point in a document if one isn't found?

Report · Mar 03, 2023

...also, this is the last chapter in the book, and is opened last when opening the book; if that makes a difference.

Report · Mar 03, 2023

I've never seen a no-insertion-point error. I'm wondering what conditions would give rise to that. My first guess would be a book chapter (perhaps a cover) that has no Flow A.

Report · Mar 03, 2023

Hi @Fightergator:

The negative -1 and the inability to add an insertion point both seem to point to a corrupt file. If the MIF wash doesn't work, are you able to extract the content? Do you have a .backup file that you can open?

~Barb

Report · Mar 04, 2023

Bob...my mistake on the "no insertion point error." When I select the the first pgf in the document, I check for a valid object. If the object is not valid, I have that message pop up. Don't know where I picked that up, but it seems to work. Barb....thanks for all the tips...I'll get back to you in a day or two regarding the mif wash.