Drag and Drop Files FrameMaker 2017

[donc16424362]

I am finding that drag-n-drop of files in FM 2017 behaves differently than in 2015. I want to place a PDF file (an image), non-anchored, on a blank page, without affecting text flow (we aren't using text on these pages). In 2017, it creates an anchored frame and/or jumps the image to a new page and/or replaces the previous image. Is there any way to change the way drag-n-drop of PDF files into FM behaves?

[Barb Binder · Accepted solution]

Hi Don:

It depends on what is active: the page or a flow tag.

Before you try it again, click on the page margin (outside any frames) and check the bottom left corner of the status bar—is it empty or does it show a flow tag/para tag combo like Flow A ¶: Body? It should be empty, which means the page is active.

If you have an active insertion point in the text, Fm will create an anchored frame for you. If you don't, the object will be placed directly on the page.

~Barb

[donc16424362]

That did it! We've never had to pay attention to the the cursor focus before; it would drop at that point directly regardless. But now this makes perfect sense. Thanks so much!

[Barb Binder]

Great!

This holds true for File > Import > File as well. You just need to be aware of your cursor position and what is active prior to adding graphics.

As a final thought, if you make a mistake, you can just drag the file out of the anchored frame and onto the page, and then delete the anchored frame. (Or, to go the other way, select the PDF, cut it click in the text and paste and Fm will make an anchored frame for you.)

~Barb

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Wouldn't you generally want to have the image in an anchored frame so that it would survive the publishing process to HTML?

[donc16424362]

Jeff, yes, we normally do. But for these illustrated parts pages, it works well dropping these in non-anchored. There is no text flow and no book generation done for these documents.