Cross references lose formatting on book update

[th72]

Good morning! I hope this will be an easy one, but you never know!

When I insert a cross reference into my FrameMaker 10 doc, and then Update the book, I lose my Italics formatting. I can then go back to the cross reference, double-click, click Replace, and the italics reappear.

Does this have something to do with my settings when I update the book?  My Update Book dialog box has the Numbering, All Text Insets, All Cross-References, and OLE Links check boxes selected.

Any thoughts on this are greatly appreciated!

Tom

[Bob_Niland]

How are the italics being applied?

I presume a named Character Format.

Is the cross-reference file-to-file?

Does the named Character Format exist in both files?

[th72]

Hi there,

Yes, a character format:

<Italic><Blue Text><$paratext><Default ¶ Font>, beginning on page\ <$pagenum>

This is happening both within the same file and across files, although the cross reference format appears in all files.

[Bob_Niland]

> <Italic><Blue Text>

Actually, you have two Character Formats there.

Are you absolutely sure they are set to "As-Is" (or blank) for all attributes except:

<Italic> Angle: Italic

<Blue> Color: {whatever your blue color name is}

<Blue> could easily be stomping <Italic>

[Bob_Niland]

> Are you absolutely sure they are set to "As-Is" (or blank) for all attributes except:

I might add, having just run into this again today with variables containing Character Formats, that it is all too easy to create a ChFmt with rather much more defined than you want. When you create one while the cursor is in text, by default it's going to pre-define every attribute, matching the current text plus whatever you change.

To check and fix one having excess attributes defined, click in the margin so that no text is selected.

Format > Characters > Designer

Character Tag: [ { is initially blank } ]

Select the format of interest, say:

Character Tag: [ Italic ]

Family: through Language: should be "As Is" excepting:

Angle: [ Italic ] (or Oblique depending on the font)

Spread: [ {blank} ]

Stretch: [ {blank} ]

Underline through Pair Kern should have their buttons in the as-is aspect (neither depressed nor raised).

Make it so.

Press:
[ Update All ]

In the Book menu, select all the other component files.

File > Import > Formats

Character Formats {only}

to all book component files, from the file you just fixed.

[th72]

Hey there,

Yes, it's definitely the character designs. I've checked all of the ones I'm using and they now are behaving much better!

For a few cross-refs I've had to remove/replace/reapply the format. Not sure why but once I did that they now appear properly.

Thanks so much for pointing me in the right direction! Took some time but all's well now!!

Tom