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T
Trevor-Nicholls
Inspiring
April 16, 2019
Question

Creating a new document from the Welcome screen, doesn't

  • April 16, 2019
  • 1 reply
  • 2965 views

I think this must be really simple but I can't see the problem.

I've defined a structured application with DOCTYPE, DTD, Template, read/write rules, pre- and post-processor stylesheets.

I can open an existing XML document and everything works.

On the Welcome screen under "Create a new document" there is a button labelled "<xml/>" with the name of my application, and lots of other buttons indicating document types in other structured applications.

If I click any of the other buttons, Frame opens either an empty or trivial document, called "UntitledN.xml", and sets the structured application to that appropriate to the button I clicked.

If I click the button corresponding to my application, nothing happens.

I can't see any relevant difference between my application and the others - both have paths provided to template.fm documents (which exist), DTD and so on.

Can anyone help me here please?

Cheers,

T

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

L
Lynne A. Price
Inspiring
April 16, 2019

Trevor,

   Try the "... Other XML" button rather than the "<xml/> Empty XML" button. "Other XML" lets you choose an application. "Empty XML", which was available in FM 2017 but is gone in FM 2019, creates a new document with only one element defined: <ROOT>. In code view, you can add additional elements.

          --Lynne

T
Trevor-NichollsAuthor
Inspiring
April 17, 2019

Hi

Actually I tried going through "other XML" > Structured Applications > myapplication first (which also appeared to do nothing at all), and then noticed that there was a button at the top with myapplication and empty XML. I assumed Frame had added that button because I have been editing other documents in my application.

I only noticed this problem because I was trying to explain how to set up a new FM user - my notes (which started with an older version of Frame) said "use Edit > Preferences > General to set your product interface to 'Structured Framemaker', and then use Structure > Set Structured Application to set the application to 'myapplication'". It turns out that this second step is only possible if you already have a document open, i.e. you can't do it from the welcome screen. So how do I create an empty 'myapplication' document? Apparently I can't - but it ought to be possible because Every Other Option in the Structured Applications list opens a basic document when selected. Mine is the only application which doesn't. So I've evidently got something wrong, but the documentation isn't helping me find what that is!

L
Lynne A. Price
Inspiring
April 17, 2019

Trevor,

   To answer the side question fist, Set Structured Application sets a document property. It can't be used from the welcome screen because the welcome screen is not an FM document. Associating an application with an individual document allows you to have multiple documents open without requiring them all to use the same application. An application can be set in a document either with Set Structured Application or with the StructuredApplication element in an EDD. Since a template is just an FM document, setting the application in a template preserves that setting in each document created from that template.

   To get back to the main issue, the Other XML button on the welcome screen brings up the New XML dialog box, which has 4 tabs:

   1. Recently Used let's you choose to create a new document from an option you have recently used.

   2. Structured Applications lists a subset of the currently available structured applications. In particular, it lists XML applications that define a template and specified template exists. The list changes each time you Read Application Definitions.

  3. DITA lists only DITA applications.

  4. Other XML gives you a choice of Empty XML, which creates a document consisting of only a ROOT element, or DTD-based XML, which lets you edit an XML document conforming to a DTD that you specify. The DTD-based XML will not have any formatting associated with the various elements you ceate.

   In your case, you want to choose Structured Applications. If your new application is not listed, make sure that you have added the application to your application definition file (probably %appdata%\Adobe\FrameMaker\n\structapps.fm), where n indicates the version of FM you are using. Remember that FM reads application definitions from the file in %appdata% when it starts. If you have changed this file, of if you are using a different file, you'll need to read application definitions before you use the Other XML button. If you are sure FM has processed the correct application definition file and you still don't see the application listed, make sure that the template is defined in the application, and the file exists.

    --Lynne

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