how is my <prodname> element being mapped to a variable named "BM_Prodname"

[Ian16B7]

I have inherited a FrameMaker project that is missing some documentation. I am trying to understand how something was accomplished (so that I can modify it...).

In our .DITAMAP files, we have <prodname> elements. Somehow, when our PDF is published the contents of the <prodname> element appear on the Title page of our PDF.  This is great, but I am trying to understand how that mapping occurs.

Setup:

• FM2020 or FM2022 (works on both)
• We are using DITA 1.3.
• When I publish a PDF, we use a .STS file:
  • on the DITA Options tab it has Apply Output Templates checked.
  • On the DITA Template tab, I have previously imported from TitlePageTpl.fm
• When I open the TitlePageTpl.fm file, I can see a variable has been inserted in the exact location where the <prodname> contents magically appear in the PDF output (i.e. clearly this is somehow "inserting" the correct title":
  • The Name of this variable is BM_ProdName
  • The Definition of this variable is Product

What I cannot see/figure out is how <prodname> is being mapped to the variable BM_ProdName...

[frameexpert]

If you search for either string in

C:\Users\rick\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\FrameMaker

they both appear in this dll:

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe FrameMaker 2022\fminit\ditafm.dll

So there is some kind of mapping going on when FrameMaker uses this dll for outputting dita content. If there is documentation somewhere regarding this, I don't know where it is.

[Matt-Tech Comm Tools]

It sounds like either your output templates have the variable definitions, or you are set up to use a ditaval that contains those values.

Sorry I can't help with a more specific answer right now...let us know what you find and I'll try to dig deeper tomorrow if needed.

[Ian16B7]

@Matt-Tech Comm Toolsmy output template has the variable definitions I described in my original post above, but nothing else. My ditaval is selecting one of several <prodname> elements, but that does not explain how the <prodname> element is mapped to the BM_prodname variable.

[Ian16B7]

Thanks. I was able to replicate your finding (i.e. BM_Prodname is inside ditafm.dll). Which I assume means that this is something baked into FM.

I found https://community.adobe.com/t5/framemaker-discussions/ditamap-metadata-in-book-title-page-what-can-b... which has asked a similar question (how to access other metadata, other than prodname and ), but without any responses (although I just commented there with a "I have the same question").

[frameexpert]

Yes, apparently it's baked into that dll.

[Ian16B7 · Accepted solution]

After numerous emails with Adobe support, I confirmed that there are some pre-defined variables that are mapped to various metadata. I have added the complete list that they gave me to https://community.adobe.com/t5/framemaker-discussions/ditamap-metadata-in-book-title-page-what-can-b... which asked this question many years ago.