Framemaker graphics weird occurances

[RG Tech Author]

Hi I am hoping someone can help as this is driving me insane.

I am using the latest vesions of Framemaker and Illustrator to Author and generate graphics exported as PNG and saved locally. The graphic/s are copied into Framemaker rather than impoted by reference as I work in various locations:

I create manuals which I created an EDD for so they are done in structured Framemaker.

The manuals I produce are reviewed and sometimes it may be necessary to change a graphic/s. The process I use is as follows:

Open Illustrator to change the graphic, once changed save the Illustrator file as an .ai on asking do you want to replace it I say yes to over write the original. I then export as to PNG format and again over write the existing PNG.

I then return to Framemaker go to the graphic that needed the change/s and delete it and then re-import the new graphic that I changed earlier. However I have noticed most of the time (but not everytime) when imported the graphic is the same as the old graphic as if it retained some memory/link. Which doesn't make any sense as the old graphic doesn't exist anymore! Mind Blown! If anyone could assist it would be very much appreciated. Thanks Mike.

[Barb Binder]

Hi Mike:

You should be able greatly simplify this process and solve the problem. First off, you don't need to export to .png in Illustrator, you can import native .ai files into your Fm documentation. Secondly, be sure you are importing by reference and not copying the graphics into the document. Then, when you edit the .ai file and save it, Fm will see the modified file and update it automatically.

If you decide to maintain the current workflow, and as long as you import by reference and not copy, when you save the updated .png with the same name in the same location (overwriting the original file), Fm will see the modified file and update it. 

EDIT: I just reread your post and realize that you said you need to copy. As you know, it's not the recommended workflow but in that environment, you do need to delete the original graphic before importing the revised one, which you also said you are doing. That should take care of it unless it is a.) a new bug, or b.) a refresh issue. Have you tried Window > Refresh? Have you pulled the revised image out of the frame to see if the old one is still there, underneath the new one?

~Barb

[Bob_Niland]

Barb: …to see if the old one is still there, underneath the new one?

In addition to overlaid ancestral embeds, it's also a bit too easy for FM to have undesired content that's hard to select or entirely out of view due to egregious Offset coordinates.

If only a single object is intended in the frame, select the Anchored Frame, and do an
Edit » Select All in Frame
or [Ctrl]a

before [␡]

Import-by-copy is fraught with immediate and long-term issues. I always explore all possible alternatives before using it, including using a ./imports/ sub-dir in the document directory that contains a copy of all the imports that aren't by reference. The script I wrote long ago for supporting translations automatically gathered all the imports in this manner (and re-wrote the paths in the .fm files).

[StudioSm]

I suspect you may be working in FM2019. That version of FrameMaker could not manage tmp files properly. The solution was to do a search on C:\ for  *.tmp files and then delete what could possibly be deleted. And preferrably reboot FrameMaker in between.  Worked for me when I had an enormous hassle with generating HTML5.

And if you are NOT working in FM2019... try deleting *.tmp files anyway. 🙂

[StudioSm]

... ah sorry - you are indeed using the latest version of FM. Saw that now...

[mk-will]

Hi Mike,

there is a setting in the FrameMaker presets in the global/general tab (I have a german version so hope this is correct named).

The setting is called "Save FrameImage with imported graphic".

Is this setting active? If yes, uncheck it and see if this helps.

Such a FrameImage is stored in the FM file as well and as the new graphic version does have the same filename as the old graphic FrameMaker maybe does not update the internally stored FrameImage.

Stephan

[RG Tech Author]

Hi Stephan

Thanks for the reply I have looked at this and no 'Save FrameImage with imported graphics' is not ticked.

Thanks