[FM Querry] FrameMaker Template Browser

[experience with hypertext markers is assumed]

In the Maker.ini file (in the folder where FrameMaker is installed),
you'll find the the following setting
TemplateBrowserDoc=fminit\maker\tmpltbrw
in the [Files] section

tmpltbrw is the FrameMaker file which serves as the default template browser.
It is normally opened as a palette (when you use File > New > Explore Standard
Templates), with clickable buttons.

FM6: To open it as a FrameMaker file, you have to first copy it to a
different folder, which is not under the FrameMaker folder.

FM7: this file was locked in a way which prevents opening the document and editing it. You can still use the FM6 file, or you can create your own file, so that you have a complete set of your own (some may prefer this route, regardless of the difficulty of opening the FM7 version); you can still open the standard browser through File > Open (or through a custom menu entry added under Help, for example.

Once you open the tmpltbrw file in FrameMaker, you'll see that is it a "view only" document. Use Escape F l k (separate keystrokes, it's lowercase L after the F) to toggle view only off/on.

When the document is in the "standard" editable mode, use View > Text Symbols to see the locations of hypertext markers and also inspect master/body pages.

The hypertext marker placed in text frames in body pages on top of the "Create" and "Show Samples" button (the graphics itself is stored on the master page) is an "opennew" marker, which opens the specified document as an untitled one.

The Create and Show Sample buttons open different versions of the specific template, one without the text, the other with some sample Latin text, eg:

opennew <$path[templates]>/Business/Letter.fm
opennew <$path[samples]>/Templates/Business/Letter.fm

You could specify a path+file name directly, or use the path variables as defined in the maker.ini file, under [Directories]

Other markers you'll see in the standard browser are newlink/gotolink markers (these activate the categories on the navigation bar on the left, and are placed on the master page so that they are defined once and active in all body pages). The "Done" button uses the "quit" hypertext markers (closes the document).

Add pages, markers, descriptive text and graphics as necessary, pointing to your company's FrameMaker templates. If you don't have or need two separate versions (with/without text), a single "opennew" marker will be needed for each template (pointing to the corresponding FrameMaker file).

Before "locking" the document again, turn borders and text symbols off.

Place the file in the standard location with its standard name (move the original first to a backup folder). You may also modify the entry pointing to it in make.ini file (effective after you restart FrameMaker; recommended: local folders or network locations that are always accessible).

The ToolbarPlus FM customization -- http://www.microtype.com/ToolbarPlus.html -- offers another example of a file browser -- the "samples.fm" file in the fminit/configui folder (this one can be opened in its current location)

MicroType, http://www.microtype.com
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Free 1-hour webinar: Ten FrameMaker Tips (from the "Improve Your FrameMaker Skills" series)
Tuesday, October 13, starting 10am PDT