FM8 and DITA -- Is there really no way to get XREF elements or FM8 from XML to FM?

Report · Nov 25, 2008

THE QUESTION is, is there any way -- without buying a third-party tool -- to have a valid DITA xref appear in clickable form in an Adobe-generated FrameMaker book or PDF?

I see there are evidently several problems associated with FM8-DITA and cross-references. (Can't blame Adobe for not wanting to rush too hastily into this fringe area of operation...)

In my case, I can create and maintain DITA xref tags that will validate properly an persist from file-open to file-open.

BUT if I export the DITA-MAP file as a DITABook (a.k.a. FrameMaker book file) the x-refs disappear entirely. This is true regardless of whether I use DITA xref tags or FrameMaker x-refs in the DITA files. (Parenthetical note: pushing the envelope by using FrameMaker xrefs results in "unknown xref format".)

So, are DITA xrefs non-functional in their entirety, save through the purchase of a supplemental tool?

Cheers & thanks,
Riley

Report · Nov 25, 2008

Hi Riley...

If you want functional links in a PDF, you need to use the fm-xref element. Although I think that this may still not work properly in all cases.

The xrefs should not disappear completely however. No .. you can't use "normal" FM cross-refs, since they aren't structured.

Yes .. DITA-FMx fixes this problem by providing an Xref to Hyperlink command to convert plain DITA xrefs into clickable links. If you use FM7.2 you can use the free version of DITA-FMx which will fix some of the problems (but won't provide the Xref to Hyperlink command).

Cheers?

...scott

Report · Nov 26, 2008

Scott:

Thanks -- didn't notice the fm-xref tag -- I'll give it a try.

Cheers, thanks, & have a great Thanksgiving weekend,
Riley

Report · Mar 27, 2009

Do you really have to install DITA-FMx in its entirety to get the Xref to Hyperlink plug-in? I've looked at all of the content in the download and I'm not sure that I would want to install everything when we have many things functioning properly right now. Basically, I'm scared :-)

Thanks,
Cathy

Report · Mar 27, 2009

Hi Cathy...

Yes .. this is a core component of the DITA-FMx plugin. To get that feature you need to install FMx and "uninstall" the default FM8-DITA functionality.

However .. there's no reason to be scared! :)

It is very easy to switch back and forth between the two tools, so you can install FMx and make sure it's going to do what you want before committing to anything.

The FM8-DITA "uninstallation" process is just a matter of commenting out the default DITA plugins in the maker.ini file. The DITA-FMx installer adds the necessary entries to the maker.ini file but doesn't remove the FM8-DITA entries (this is so that you know how to enable/disable these things on your own). The DITA-FMx installer also creates a DITA-FMx folder in the main FM8 folder, and you'll need to copy the structure applications into the right place. Follow these instructions carefully and you'll be good to go ..

http://docs.leximation.com/dita-fmx/1.00/installation.php

If you run into any problems you can email or call us at Leximation, and we'll help you out.

We also have a plugin (free) that lets you switch between the two DITA options by just choosing an menu item.

http://leximation.com/tools/info/iniswitcher.php

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Cheers,

...scott

Scott Prentice
Leximation, Inc.
www.leximation.com