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August 31, 2009
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How can I generate PDF bookmarks for change bars?

  • August 31, 2009
  • 3 replies
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I want to generate PDF bookmarks for text that is marked by change bars when I save as PDF from structured Framemaker 7.1. That way the proofreader can go directly to the pages that contain change bars and proof only that text.

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    Correct answer Arnis Gubins

    FM creates bookmarks based upon paragraph tags only, so this isn't easily done in FM. However, if you have Framescript available, then one could create script that runs through the document, retags all paratags that have a change-bar active and generates a PDF using the the retagged paratags for bookmarks. Setting a flag in the userstring would allow one to reset the newly re-tagged paratags back to original values for continued document developement.

    3 replies

    September 1, 2009
    That way the proofreader can go directly to the pages that contain change bars and proof only that text.

    You could also change the requirement <g>

    I publish a document with a three-monthly review cycle, using conditions to track new, deleted and updated content in each issue. At the start of the .pdf I deliver, there's a List of References (LOR) I use as a change-log. The only overhead, something I've decided I can live with, is cleaning the LOR for each release; necessary because all the "new" conditions are set to show, even though only the latest one uses a change-bar and a highlight colour.

    N

    [ps] a typical change-log looks like this, though you'll have to imagine the tabbed/columnar layout:

    Wijzigingenlogboek voor rev. AMDT 3/2009


    type wijziging    bestand/bladzijde
    deleted_032009    4_08_airside_works.fm    2
    deleted_032009    4_10_ramp_safety.fm    2
    deleted_032009    4_12_animals.fm    1
    deleted_032009    4_12_animals.fm    3
    deleted_032009    4_13_obstacles.fm    2
    deleted_032009    4_13_obstacles.fm    3
    deleted_032009    5_SMS.fm    2

    new_032009    4_08_airside_works.fm    2
    new_032009    4_10_ramp_safety.fm    3
    new_032009    4_12_animals.fm    1
    new_032009    4_12_animals.fm    3
    new_032009    4_13_obstacles.fm    2
    new_032009    5_SMS.fm    2

    updated_032009    4_08_airside_works.fm    3
    updated_032009    4_10_ramp_safety.fm    2
    updated_032009    5_SMS.fm    1
    updated_032009    5_SMS.fm    2
    updated_032009    5_SMS.fm    5

    September 17, 2009

    Niels

    That is an awesome suggestion! I'm working on a document set now of nearly 2000 pages. I'm going to tell my reviewers that they owe you a lunch!

    Cheryl

    September 18, 2009

    Thanks, Cheryl!

    btw, as the number of conditions builds up then what I casually referred to as "cleaning the LOR" takes a bit longer. Still doable, though; I select the LOR as generated, convert to table, sort, delete the rows with information that's not needed in this issue's change-log, convert to text and then use basic regex to replace line-ends with tabs and get the required three-column layout. Feel free to ask questions if you need to.

    Niels

    Inspiring
    August 31, 2009

    Adding to Arnis' reply:

    It is also possible to generate PDF bookmarks for change bars through FrameMaker-to-Acrobat TimeSavers + Presentation Assistant, as follows:

    • Change bar has to use a unique color, with a known RGB value
    • A PDF layer is created automatically based on the specified RGB value, containing all change bars (layer can be set as initially hidden and/or as a non-printing one)
    • A generic bookmark can be created automatically for each change bar. Since this is not related to the specific text being indicated, the bookmark text has a user-controlled label, optionally autonumbered (eg "Change Bar #1", "Change Bar #2", etc).

    After setting the different parameters above, the process is entirely automatic (results are present as soon as the file is Save as PDF or distilled into a PDF).

    If this approach is of interest, I can set up sample FM + PDF files.

    A different approach -- based on custom markers inserted, with unique text and note attributes -- resulting in Quick-Access Bookmarks, is discussed/demonstrated at http://www.microtype.com/ImprovePDF06.html .

    Shlomo Perets

    MicroType * http://www.microtype.com
    FrameMaker/Acrobat training & consulting * FM-to-Acrobat TimeSavers/Assistants


    ------------------------------------------

    1-hour webinar (free), starting 10am PDT | 1pm EDT | 5pm UTC/GMT:

    Thursday, Sept. 10: Liven up your PDFs with FrameMaker-to-Acrobat TimeSavers/Assistants 
    https://student.gototraining.com/register/8019702938678710980

    Arnis Gubins
    Arnis GubinsCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    August 31, 2009

    FM creates bookmarks based upon paragraph tags only, so this isn't easily done in FM. However, if you have Framescript available, then one could create script that runs through the document, retags all paratags that have a change-bar active and generates a PDF using the the retagged paratags for bookmarks. Setting a flag in the userstring would allow one to reset the newly re-tagged paratags back to original values for continued document developement.