FM11 Variables pane does not display contents with book file open

[cw_cooltext]

This has happened several times now working in Structured FM11. When I go to insert a variable, the Variables pane doesn't display any contents, just a gray area.

It seems to happen more if I open the book file first, and then open a file from within the book file. In fact, closing the book file causes the Variables pane to display its contents within the open chapter file. Now that I'm playing with it more: I opened the book file when I already have a chapter file open and variables showing in the Variables pane, the Variables pane immediately goes blank. It must have something to do with the book file.

Closing and starting the application seems to make it remember, but when I'm working with a 20 chapter book, and all the chapters are open, that's a bit of a pain.

Is this a bug?

[Arnis Gubins]

This looks like a graphics display issue. Have you tried a ctrl+L screen refresh?

[cw_cooltext]

Thanks for your response, Arnis. But no, a screen refresh does not make variables visible in the Variables pane.

Again, as soon as I close the book file, presto! The variables all appear in the Variables pane. And if I reopen the book file, the Variables pane goes gray again. And, it doesn't refresh if I close the application and restart it. It's all about the book file. 

This is definitely a bug.

[Van Kurtz]

Select an open document file with the book file open. The pane is showing the variables in the file. When you select the book file (after you open the book file, it is selected), the pane empties. I am guessing that it does this because variables are store in files, not books.

So, it is the selecting of the book, not its opening, that is causing the pane to empty.

[Arnis Gubins]

Selecting the book does remove the list of variables, but it still preserves the features of the Variables pod. See below:

The sample cw_ shows in the initial post is blank/grey except for the name on the tab. That's why I suspected it is a display issue. I haven't seen this behaviour in my installations, so perhaps a graphics driver update may be required?

As another test, if you switch to unstructured mode and create sample unstructured documents and books (don't open any existing structured files as you will wipe out their "structure"), do you still see this behaviour?

What operating system (32- or 64-bit) and graphics system are you using?

[cw_cooltext]

OK, Arnis. I have opened a release 10 unstructured doc in FM unstructured mode. The variables displayed...and remained displayed when I opened the corresponding book file. So this is a workaround for unstructured files.

When I switched back to structured FM and opened the same files, the issue persisted. So it seems it's a structured FM issue.

This laptop system is Windows 7 home premium, 64-bit, Radeon HD Graphics.

[Arnis Gubins]

You should file this as a bug report via: FrameMaker Bugs & Wish List

Please supply full details and also reference this thread: http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1140397?tstart=0

[cw_cooltext]

Thanks, Arnis. I've filed the bug.

[Van Kurtz]

For what it is worth...

My files and books are structured. With the book file open and at least one file from the book open, selecting the document file populates the Variables pane. Selecting the book file does not.

However, I noticed that there is a dropdown list labeled Select. The dropdown list includes each open book file, each open document file, All Open Docs, and Current. Again with the book file selected, selecting Current from the dropdown does NOT populate the pane. Selecting the book file from the list DOES populate the pane, as does All Open Docs and the document file.

It is not clear to me whether selecting the name of the book file from the dropdown list is showing a summary of the variables in all the files in the book or maybe they are also stored in the book file itself.

If the list for selecting the book file is meaningful, then the same list should show when selecting Current with the book file selected.

Van

[Arnis Gubins]

I got some feedback from the Adobe engineers on this one:

This issue is coming because POD size reaches a min length after which it grays out. If you try to increase the size of the POD or undock the POD, then you will be able to see the variables in the variable POD.

[cw_cooltext]

Nice try Van.

Of course there are no variables in the book file. I am viewing the Variables pane from a document file--any document file in the book. The Variables pane is gray in DOCUMENT files when the book file is open.

BTW: I have been using FM since v3 for Mac (1988). I wouldn't waste my time or yours if this wasn't a stable issue, seen consistently across multiple files.

Let's log it as a bug.