FM9: Import of previously created xml file back to FrameMaker

[s_oehlert]

Hi all,

I have saved a FrameMaker document as an XML file and would like to import it back to FrameMaker. I am guessing it needs a little more skills and attention than just hitting "Open file" cause previous attempts to convert that xml file back to how it used to look in FrameMaker  obviously failed.

I am importing it back to the same system so the styles and everything are exactly the same.

The idea behind this is that my boss wishes to check in the manual with every software release so a specific version of the manual for a specific release can be recreated at any time. Just that I have no idea how that will work if I cant import it back into FrameMaker to convert it into the manual I'd need. I am not familiar with the structured operation and I am desperately hoping theres a solution I can work with.

Thank you!!!

[Guest]

I just used FM9 to open a .dita file, clicked "Save as XML," and then opened the saved .xml file using File > Open.  It looks just as it did when I saved it.

Not sure where to start, so I 'll just suggest saving your files as FM documents instead.  Why do you want to save as XML?

[ScottPrentice]

You can't just save any random FM file to XML (well, you can, but the result is not going to be terribly useful, as you're seeing). In order to have a useful XML export, you will need to first convert it to a structured FM file (using a conversion table to map styles to elements). In order to do that you'll need some XML data model to map to. After you've converted the file to a structured FM file, you'll need to set up a structure application based on the XML model .. this will let you round-trip the files .. assuming you've set it all up properly. This is not a trivial task .. is there really a good reason to do it (other than the boss thinks it would be a good idea)?

The XML export from Frame, will give you valid XML, but it's not going to round-trip. If you're just exporting to XML, that *will* work, but it's not a terribly useful XML model.

If you really want to export to XML and then open the files back up in Frame, you could try using my free MIFML utility. You save the files to MIF, then run them through the MIF to MIFML command line tool. This will give you valid XML that can be parsed by other tools. It's basically just MIF that's been XML-ized. If the files are modified in the MIFML world, you can then run the MIFML to MIF tool to get a new MIF file, then open that in Frame. Of course, to be able to modify the MIFML file, you'll need an in-depth understanding of the MIF format .. otherwise you're likely to break the file.

     http://leximation.com/tools/mifml/

CAVEAT: The MIFML DTD hasn't been updated from FM7 MIF .. it may still do all that you need, but use it with this in mind.

Cheers,

...scott

Scott Prentice

Leximation, Inc.

www.leximation.com

[Van Kurtz]

I am importing it back to the same system so the styles and everything are exactly the same.

You need to clarify what you mean by importing back to the same system.

I suggest looking at the structured applications guide that comes with FrameMaker. You need to set up a structured application. A structured application tells where the template and read/write rules, among other things, are stored. Your template should contain the EDD that corresponds to the DTD of the XML file you are trying to open. The read/write rules helps FrameMaker convert certain structures, notably tables at the very least, into FrameMaker objects.

The reason AJ Owens was able to open a dita file, save as XML, and then open the XML file is because FrameMaker ships with the structured application needed to manage DITA files.

Van