Creating TOC Problem

[Narasipur]

I wrote a book with several chapters in FrameMaker 10 and there was no problem creating TOC, Index and so on. For an edition with color I changed the page layout, imported the figures (using Illustrator 10.) Now with the new page layout, when I try to create TOC I get the message "Unable to process HTBookCol in book component as it creates cyclical loop. Please fix the loop." I do not know how to fix it. Can anyone tell me what it means and how to fix it? Please bear in mind that I use FrameMaker but am not a program specialist. Thanks for your help.

[Barb Binder]

there was no problem creating TOC, Index and so on

Is this the same book that was coming up with the message that "the book not self-consistent"? Did you get that issue resolved? I have never heard of this particular message, but it sounds like a similar issue to me. I did come up with some documentation for you on the earlier error message, but I'm not finding anything at all with "cyclical loop".

When trying to generate TOC from a book file I get the message book is not self consistent. I got ri...

[Narasipur]

Thanks for your efforts to solve the problems that I have.Yes, it is the same book that was coming up with the message about it not being self-consistent. After I got rid of all the unresolved cross references, it looked like the problem was solved but now the message about cyclical loop.The FrameMaker manual has no material on cyclical loop. With your expertise I am hoping you will be able to find a solution. Unfortunately Adobe is not of much help regarding issues with FrameMaker.

With best wishes, N.V. Suryanarayana

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[Barb Binder]

Hi Narasipur: I'm still trying to reconcile your comments. In your previous post, you said "I got rid of all the unresolved cross references but I still get the same message." but here you are saying "After I got rid of all the unresolved cross references, it looked like the problem was solved."

So did getting rid of the unresolved X-refs get rid of the message, or not? Or did it simply shift to the new message? The post I linked to in your previous question recommended removing all but one the generated files from the Update Book dialog box to see if the book will update properly. Did you try that? If not, please try it now.

Also, it's hard to keep track of multiple posts on a single topic. It would be best to use a single post for a single topic—in this case the topic is the inability to update your book.

[Narasipur]

Thanks for your quick response. I was trying to update the book when I got the message that there were unresolved cross references in several chapters. I do not know how I got them as I had taken care of that issue. I shall work on your suggestions and get back to you in the next day or two.Thanks again.

With best wishes, N.V. Suryanarayana

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[Barb Binder]

Ah. Ok, I would start with the unresolved X-references, and once you are sure they are all resolved, then move on to the book issue.

[Narasipur]

I am back again but with another TOC problem.I cleared all the unresolved cross references and the TOC was created. When creating the TOC I included the following paragraphs

  - Heading - gives the chapter heading.

  - Sec - which should include not only the section heading but also the section number like 2.2 One-Dimensional Conduction

  - Subsec - 2.2.1 Generalized One-Dimensional...

and so on. But in the TOC generated the Sec and Subsec numbers are not included. When creating the TOC I included those.What can I do to rectify it?Secondly when the TOC is generated, does it not format it with the different levels for Heading, Sec, Subsec and so on like it does for index?

With best wishes, N.V. Suryanarayana

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[Barb Binder · Accepted solution]

Ok, so are you saying that the odd messages about the book being self-consistent and cyclical loops are now gone? If so, that is great news.

FrameMaker doesn't pick up auto-numbering from the source documents automatically. You will need to add the building blocks to the reference page. Here is an example of how to add the chapter numbers to a TOC, although you will be adding the section numbers.

https://www.rockymountaintraining.com/adobe-framemaker-including-chapter-numbers-in-a-table-of-conte...

As for the formatting, when Fm collects the text tagged Heading, Sec and Subsec from the source chapters and adds it to the TOC file, it appends the suffix TOC to each item For example, HeadingTOC, SecTOC and SubsecTOC. It is up to you to format the first occurrence of each tag in the TOC and then update all to update the others.

[Narasipur]

Thanks a million Ms. Binder. You have been a very great help in patiently solving the problems that I faced. I am so happy that my FM problem reached you.Thanks again.

With best wishes, N.V. Suryanarayana

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[Barb Binder]

Always happy to help, Narasipur.