How to register a DLL used by Framemaker

Report · Feb 17, 2010

Hi all,

I have a trouble with an installation of a structured framemaker XML DTD.

This DTD (I will call it application from now on) has been written by a customer of mine to automatically create publications from an XML file, but now, after having moved the application to a new machine, I am not able to make it working any more.

This application uses a DLL to extract datas from the XML file and save it after having "manipulated" (it creates general indexes and an alphanumerical index to be put at the end of the publication).

The Framemaker version used is 7.0

My questions are:

1 - can be a problem if Framemaker has been moved from a Win2k machine with english OS to a WinXp Pro one with german OS?

This question is made because Framemaker does not re format automatically the document and if I apply the command "Apply Master Pages" manually, it does not work

2 - how can I register the DLL and make the application working again on the new PC?

The question #1 applies only for an installation on the new German OS machine

Question 2 applies for both an installation on Framemaker 7.0 and 7.2 (OS indipendently)

The steps I have performed in order to move the application are:

1 - copy the directory with the DTD and all the informations (templates, rules, etc) in the "$STRUCTDIR\xml" directory (the file contained are: edd.fm, 3 template to be used for the different sections of the book, rules.fm, one DTD file and one DLL file)

2 - added the application to the structapps.fm file copying the data from the old file to the new one

Many thanx

Flavio

Report · Feb 17, 2010

Hi Flavio,

I don't mean to be simplistic here, but have you made sure that all the paths related to your application are correct on the new computer? Generally speaking, structured applications should work on different installations, but there is a possibility that installation paths have changed. In the application definition in structapps.fm, did you make absolutely sure that every path is still correct, after pasting from the old file?

Russ

Report · Feb 17, 2010

As you can see, I have used the absolute path

$STRUCTDIR\xml\directoryforapplication\filename

which should point to the correct path.

Isn't it?

From what you know, is there any path written in the fm files contained in the program directory?

Flavio

Report · Feb 17, 2010

Flavio,

This assumes that the $STRUCTDIR variable is properly set, which it should be. You might want to make sure, though. It's just an FM variable like any other.

If all the application files are correctly located in "directoryforapplication," then this begins to get more complicated. Are you having problems while opening an XML document, or while saving one? In an XML file, the path to your DTD is likely specified somewhere near the beginning and this could cause a problem if the path points to a place on your old computer. If you are having trouble opening an XML file, look at the beginning of it in a text editor to see if it references a DTD or schema that doesn't exists. If this turns out to be the case, I think you will need to manually edit that path before FM will accept the file.

There could be other possibilities too. It is difficult to troubleshoot problems like this from a distance, so I'm just throwing a few things out here and there, hoping to get lucky.

Russ

Report · Feb 17, 2010

Ok, this is what happen on my PC:

1 - I open the XML file and then I am asked to save the file somewhere (the normal procedure require to save a .book file)

2 - Framemaker starts parsing the XML file adding many different file (one for each chapter) to the .book file

3 - at the end, framemaker open (modify, I suppose) and close each file (possibly this procedure is started in order to update the layout (something like the "apply master page" commad), but without success (if that is the requested action)

The result is a non-well formatted book, but immediately after having saved the book, and after having commanded the Update Book (including the apply master pages from here), the book looks "perfect".

From what I have been said form the customer (which have given me the "application") on the old PC (which is not mine and which is know "broken"), the book came out perfect and complete of indexes (that have not been able to create on my PC).

This is the reason that makes me think about the DLL that does not seems to work...

Flavio

Report · Feb 17, 2010

Grasping at straws here....

After FrameMaker parses the XML into separate files, it applies the template, that is, it formats the structure according to the EDD stored in the template. This may be what is happening in your step 3; I am not sure whether an update master pages command is included as part of the process, but applying the template is. Part of the structure application points to this template. So, maybe the path is wrong, or there is no template file at the location specified in the application, or the template file has some other template.

Report · Feb 17, 2010

Yes, grasping at straws indeed because there are so many possible things that could go wrong here.

I gather, then, that you are using a custom import/export client in the form of a DLL file. Is it properly registered in the [API clients] section of your maker.ini file?

Russ

Report · Feb 17, 2010

Hi Russ,

and this is the question.

How can I register the DLL in the API section of the maker.ini file?

I couldn't find any information on the standard documentation...

Flavio

Report · Feb 18, 2010

Hi Flavio,

It is probably only in the FDK documentation. Anyway, it really is fairly simple... look in the [API Clients] section of the maker.ini file in your FrameMaker installation and follow one of the existing examples.

Russ

Report · Feb 17, 2010

Hi Van,

what you are writing is correct on my PC (FM7.2 english onto an XPPro Italian).

This is not true on the 7.0 german with XP Pro German. In this case the process is performed, but the templates are not applied....

This makes me think that there is a trouble in the paragraph/syyles (or whatever) naming (even if it is strange that changes between different language installation).

If you have any idea, it is wellcome

Flavio

Report · Feb 19, 2010

Many thanx to Russ Ward...

Even if he has not been able to find the correct problem (for obvious reasons) he has been able to create a trace for me to find it..

Thanx again