FM9 and Unstable Xref Colors

Report · Nov 26, 2009

Hi,

Thanks in advance for anyone who may shed some light on this recurring annoyance I deal with every time I work in FrameMaker. I submitted this issue to Adobe Support and received this email:

"I have researched on the issue, it seems to be the issue with coding and scripting. so for that i would suggest you to contact devnet."

Problem is, I couldn't figure out how to contact devnet. From the link I received I found this forum and thought I'd try it next since I'm sure that many of you reading this have expert FrameMaker skills. Here's my initial write-up of my issue.

Two of the cross-reference types I use most frequently, which I call Heading and Heading and Page, often result in colors different from how I have coded them. The problem is when these heading types are in a bulleted list at the beginning of my chapters. The solution is to respecify each cross-reference for each bullet, which is time consuming and seems unnecessary. Could you tell me how to narrow down the problem?

The code for the Heading xref is this:

I usually follow the Heading xrefs with text that reads "on this page."

The code for the Heading and Page xref is this:

What happens is that the Heading xref appears in the custom Grape color, but the Heading and Page xrefs appear as black every time. I can respecify all of the Heading and Page xrefs to make them grape but there are always more of those than the Heading ones.

I am using a Windows XP machine and FrameMaker 9. This problem existed in FrameMaker 7 as well.

Carolyn

Operating System: Windows XP Home
Type of network (server type and protocol for connection): Home wireless network
Has it ever worked? If so, what's changed? (provide comments in description field): Not Applicable
Same results with different file?: Yes
Same results with different computer?: Yes
Recent System Hardware or Software change?: No

Report · Nov 26, 2009

This is an old bug (started with FM5, if I remember correctly): Updating a FrameMaker book disables the first character format in cross-references when multiple character formats are used.

For example: you used two character formats in the beginning of a cross-reference definition: <Grape><Emphasis><$paratext><Default ¶ Font>.

After you update the book, only the second format (<Emphasis>) is visible, which causes the color to change.

Workaround: Create a new character format that combines all of the properties you want for the cross-reference definition. In the above example, create a <GrapeEmphasis> character format to apply both color and italics.

Alternatively, after updating the book, open individual files and update cross-references in each file separately; properties will be "revived".

Shlomo Perets

MicroType, http://www.microtype.com
FrameMaker / Acrobat / TCS training & consulting

Report · Nov 26, 2009

Shlomo, I'm honored to get your response. Creating that new character format is what I will try next. Thank you for explaining the problem.

Do you happen to know if this bug is anywhere in the queue for the Adobe developers?

Carolyn

Report · Dec 08, 2009

Sorry for the delayed response. I reported this bug when I had a chance to do so, but have no idea as to the priority of fixing it. Given that the bug is 12 years old (or so), a safe assumption is that it is here to stay. Luckily, the workaround is solid and easy to apply. -- Shlomo

Report · Nov 28, 2009

I also found an archived TechNote about this:

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/317/317963.html

I'm not sure why it's archived when it is an active bug.