Locking FM Files

[_Tina_Breed_]

Does anyone know of a way to lock a FrameMaker file so no part of it can be edited (inlcuding linked EPS files)?

The issue is this - for the last 10 years or so we have been linking all graphics to our FM documents. One of my co-workers thinks this is risky because it does not maintain the integrity of the file (graphics can be changed accidentally, lost links, etc.). He would rather embed our illustrations, but this creates a lot of other problems. We want to avoid this if at all possible.

One question that came up was whether FM files can be locked. Currently the only way I figure this can be done is to make the FM read-only as well as each EPS file that is linked to it.

Do we have any other options?

[Art Campbell]

Try Esc F l k (l = lower case L)

It is case-sensitive. Same sequence unlocks.

Art

[_Tina_Breed_]

Thank you Art!!

[Arnis Gubins]

Tina,

The shortcut may lock the FM file, but it does nothing to prevent
someone from moving/deleting the graphics files imported by reference
(i.e. linked).

That is more of a workflow issue and you have to set some rules that
everyone on your team has to follow.

[MichaelKazlow]

If you want to prevent the editing of linked files, then you need to use
a file system that supports permissions on both the folder and perhaps
the file level. If I remember correctly, Frame supports working on a
Webdav sever, but I really don't like working on files stored on server.
But it may be your only solution.

Mike

[_Tina_Breed_]

Thank you everyone.

All our files are stored on a network - but only our group has access to them. We will need to set up some rules to prevent 'accidental' deletion or changing of files.

At the same time, we can lock the FrameMaker documents once they are complete and the individual EPS files. As I said, this will prevent accidental moving, deletion, etc. of files, which is our main issue.

It will help.

Thanks again.
Tina