How do I change the DEFAULT colors used by Track Changes in Framemaker?

[Ian16B7]

I am trying to use Tracked Changes in FM2020, using DITA and structured documents. I am trying to figure out how to set/change the DEFAULT colours for tracked changes?

Please note, I know how to change/configure the colors for a file that already exists (i.e. Edit > Tracked Changes > Configure color). That is not my question - I am referring to the DEFAULT colours that will be used (i.e. how do I configure Framemaker such that when a new .DITA file is created it automatically uses some default colours that I have specified?).

[John T Smith]

You need to ask program questions in the forum for the program you are using
To ask in the forum for your program please start at https://community.adobe.com/
Moving from Using the Community (which is about the forums) to the correct forum

[Ian16B7]

Argh. Sorry about that - thanks for moving it to the correct forum.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Don't know anything about Structured FM, but is there a template file that's used to create new files? I'd be looking at setting the colours in that template 

[Winfried Reng]

As far as I know, these defaults cannot be changed.

However, I am sure that you could develop an ExtendScript script which changes the colours when you open a file.

[Ian16B7]

@Winfried Reng- that is disappointing that is is not possible to change the default colors.

But @Jeff_Coatsworth 's suggestion is interesting. I know that there are lots of files that FM uses and that can be configured. Does anyone know if there is some template that FM uses when creating a new .DITA file?

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

How is a new file normally created? Is it through File > New or some other process?

[Ian16B7]

File > New > DITA > <task>

(or <concept> or <reference>)

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Sorry, I've hit my limits when it comes to Structured FM - maybe @frameexpert or @techcommtools  has an idea.

[yatani · Accepted solution]

I think it will work if you modify the template file in the following path.

Program Files\Adobe\Adobe FrameMaker 2022\Structure\xml\DITA\app\DITA-Task-FM\task.template.fm

Program Files\Adobe\Adobe FrameMaker 2022\Structure\xml\DITA\app\DITA-Concept-FM\concept.template.fm

Program Files\Adobe\Adobe FrameMaker 2022\Structure\xml\DITA\app\DITA-Reference-FM\reference.template.fm

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Aha! So there are .fm files being used as a template in Structured! Thanks @yatani for the digging.

[frameexpert]

Here is a video that outlines the process.

https://youtu.be/Ebowun9km4I?si=BwDp9RzWOBSiT74t

[Ian16B7]

@yatani  thanks for the suggestion. That worked!

As an FYI to anyone reading this:

• my templates are located in C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\FrameMaker\16, which can configured as per the suggested video by @frameexpert 
• The exact change was to open the template, change the colour as per Edit > Tracked Changes > Configure color, then save the template.
• The change impacts the DEFAULT colour that FM will use to display tracked changes in any .DITA files that are based on the modified template(s)