Missing Conref when I save and reopen an .xml file in FM9

[LNHT]

I am running FM9 on Windows 7. We have been using the template and rules files shipped with FM9 and modifying them for our needs. Currently I am experiencing an issue and I'm not at all sure how to resolve it.

I have two pieces of DITA content, they are both reference files created by using the DITA menu and creating a new <reference> file. I have entered my structured content into the two files and I want to include a conref from the source document B into my document A. I insert the conref into document A using the FM DITA menu and save both files as .xml. The files save without any errors. When I open document A the conref text is missing and all that is left is a blank reference element (created by the insertion of the conref). If I open the source document everything is fine. I also have an xref in document A and that seems to be working fine. My coworker is having the exact same issue. I am referencing a reference element with an unordered list.

Also, if I save file A as .fm the conref stays which leads me to believe it has something to do with how FrameMaker is reading the .xml file.

Any assistance would be appreciated,

Laura

[LNHT]

So to add to my previous question, if I go into the DITA options menu and select the option to Auto-Load Conrefs on file open, the conrefs actually do show up. I thought that conrefs were supposed to show up in my file if I had that option on or off. The xrefs do not have this problem at all.

[ScottPrentice]

Hi Laura...

If the "auto-load conrefs" option is off, your conrefs will not be rendered. This is "as designed" so that you can disable the conref updating if it's taking too long to rebuild all of the conrefs each time you open a file.. The "auto-load xrefs" option should work the same way, although this may have changed in FM9 since all xrefs are really "fm-xrefs" inside of FM. If the xrefs are rendering the same regardless of the option's setting, then that's a bug (I'd think).

So .. with the auto-load option enabled, your conrefs are working?

Cheers,

...scott

[LNHT]

Yes, my cross references are displaying text even with the auto-load option deselected and my conrefs only display with the auto-load option selected. So does that mean that in order to have my conrefs display in my book or document, I need to select the auto-load option before I generate a .pdf from my map?

[ScottPrentice · Accepted solution]

Yes. By default, a conref is "empty" (open the XML file in a text editor and take a look). So in order for the content of the conref to be included in the document, you need to enable the "auto-load" option. If xrefs are rendered regardless of the setting, that sounds like a bug to me.

...scott