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T
TLSchwab
Participant
June 22, 2009
Question

FrameMaker 8 on XP and Softech's ProductCenter

  • June 22, 2009
  • 1 reply
  • 1323 views

Is anyone using FrameMaker 8 on Windows XP and SofTech's Product Center? We are importing FrameMaker documents into FrameMaker files by reference and then attempting to enter these files into our vault storage. When storing the hierarchy, the process crashes Frame.

Wondering if anyone else is doing this.

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    1 reply

    A
    Anonymous
    June 23, 2009

    I don't recall hearing the name "Softech Product Center" in connection with FM.

    Can you clarify what the product does? I'm particularly curious about when you say "storing the hierarchy" -- does the target application (in this case  FM) have to be open in order for this process to occur?

    Does the product work with any other apps?

    T
    TLSchwabAuthor
    Participant
    June 23, 2009

    Shiela,

    Thanks for your interest. I'll try to explain:

    SoftTech offers file vault storage software called ProductCenter which incorporates a database. One of the modules we use is called FrameMaker Integrator, that stores a book, and all it's associated files (such as chapter files and referenced files). We also use Pro-E Integrator, which does a similar operation for Pro-Engineer CAD files. When a book is "checked in" to the database, an hierarchy is is created with the book being the parent and the chapter files as children of that parent. In like manner, if a chapter file contains referenced files, those files become children of the chapter files. ProductCenter also has a stand-alone client that alows checking in of individual files (no hierarchy).

    Basically, it's a secure file storage system. It requires a login and if one person has the file checked out, he is the only one who can modify it.

    T
    TLSchwabAuthor
    Participant
    June 23, 2009

    Have you triple-checked to be sure that all of the files have been saved in FM before the check-in process is started?

    Also, how about things like paths --  are all the component files (e.g. graphics, FM files, whatever is part of the FM document set) in the same directory, all on the same system? Or are some files accessed from non-local directories, network file shares, or something like that?

    Does the process work with any FM files at all -- or is it completely broken? e.g. if you make a brand new document without any significant content, no graphics, just a simple doc, does the original check-in work by itself?

    Can you identify any correlation between when these crashes started, to pin it down to a date range, and then maybe your IT could see if that syncs with any of the MS security patches.

    I guess what I'm trying to suggest is try to break down the steps to the most simple operations, to see if you can identify whether there's some trigger point between when it works vs. not.

    There are so many other possibilities with a server app, it's difficult to make troubleshooting suggestions.

    I understand trying to do some pre-emptive troubleshooting, but my gut tells me that this might be a significant enough issue that the vendor might have trouble reports from other users.


    OK...

    1. FM files are saved. One of the first things that happen in the

    background is that the FM files are saved. In this case, the FM file

    that is being imported into an FM file, is already in the ProductCenter

    database.

    2. We try to have all the files, including referenced files, coming from

    the same folder--a network folder (either on a linux server or a unix

    server).

    3. The process works very well with FM files (and books) with or without

    imported graphics files--such as .jpg, hpgl, .eps, etc. It also works

    consistently well when importing a TOC file into a chapter file. It

    works for both a single FM file and with a document set (book).

    4. Referring to the process with FM files imported into FM files, there

    has been a significant time span between the last successful check-in

    process and the current failed process--approximately one month. I will

    have to check with IT on the number of MS patches or updates in that

    time period.

    5. 6. & 7. The crash occurs during the "check-in" process, when

    ProductCenter is running things. For that reason, I've involve the

    system administrator (our CAD administrator) who has (I believe) been in

    contact with SoftTech. Still waiting on results from that.

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