How do I keep the Element Catalog displayed?

[udonna]

..and why is it closing itself all the time?

Also, is there an option of setting the document window and the Structure View to be synched? So that when I move in the document the correct element is highlighted in the Structure View?

Windows XP, FM 7.2.

Many thanks, Donna

[Russ Ward]

Hi Donna,

FM already does both of these. I've never seen any behavior to the contrary. Can you explain what exactly you are seeing?  What are you doing when the element catalog disappears?  And, what does the Structure View do when you move around the document... nothing?

[udonna]

Hi Russ and thanks for addressing the question. The element catalog did stay displayed until a few days ago. Now when I position the cursor (appears as black arrow) in the Structure View window and right-click the mouse the element catalog vanishes.

Regarding the non-synch document view and structure view windows, so far haven't experienced synched scrolling. When I scroll in the document view, the current cursor position is not reflected in the Structure View window (it stays static). Only when I select the text in the document view window does the Structure View window jump to that corresponding point/element.

Is there any place where these preferences are set?

Thanks again.

Donna

[Russ Ward]

Hi Donna,

For your first issue, I have to say that I am at a loss. I don't know why the element catalog would disappear, unless the Structure View is in front of it. The two windows cannot occupy the same space, so the Structure View could cover up the element catalog if it were in front of it.

For the second issue, this is normal behavior that you won't be able to change. It would be cool if you could synchronize the scrolling, but alas, the Structure View only ever auto-positions according to the location of the insertion point (cursor).

Russ

[Guest]

Would be nice if Adobe would consider an option not only to schronize the stucture view with the document, but to provide a view where the document and the structure view are one... like Arbortext has.  It seems like Adobe thinks tech-writer can't handle the two together...that it's too complicated or something.  Don't get me wrong...I love my FM 9, but this is one feature I miss about Arbortext.

Eric G.

[udonna]

Many thanks Russ, the Element catalog was "disappearing" to behind the Structure view as you guessed, so I moved it to the other monitor and now it's fine. (Didn't even think in that direction..)

Regarding the scrolling issue, like Eric, I miss this from Arbortext. As my experience is with Arbortext when it comes to structured authoring, kinda expected having this option available when I started using structured FM two weeks ago. (maybe we'll see it in FM 10?..)

Appreciate your help, Donna

[Guest]

Once you get use to having both text and structure views in one view like Arbortext allows, you just don't want to work having text and structure separated as a tech-writer.  If FM would allow as an option, it'd be the icing on the cake!  Probably one of those programming issues though where it's much easier said than done.

Eric G.