Multiple character formats in a paragraph format

[Guest]

Hi. I've searched the general discussion and did not find this issue.

I have one paragraph format called Bomb that consists of a Wingding character (M) in the Numbering tab that prints a little black bomb in a side head. I combine with format with two other paragraph formats called Caution and Warning. These formats are in column and use a red, bold autonumber (CAUTION, WARNING) followed by a couple of spaces--the text goes immediately after the spaces.

My bosses now want the bomb symbol and the CAUTION/WARNING word in the side head, with the text in column. I can't see how to combine that Wingding character with the regular Verdana word. I had to do something similar with my Note format, except that I put the word "note" by itself as a side head and created a format to follow it called NoteAft for the text.This way, I have a line with the Note format, followed by a paragraph return, then the NoteAft format for the text.

I'd rather not have to use three formats to replace the existing two for Caution/Warning, so I hope y'all can help me figure out how to handle this thing.

I appreciate your suggestions! BTW, I'm using FM 7.2 but will want to switch over to 9.0 when my bosses agree.

Dimi Everette

[Van Kurtz]

Dimi,

If I understand correctly what you are trying to do, make your Caution and Warning formats the same as you do for the Note format, but add the bomb character at the beginning of the autoformatting number. I am assuming that your Note format uses the word Note as its autonumber, so that you do not have to type the word Note. Then follow each Caution and Warning paragraph with a NoteAft paragraph. I am assuming that a caution text and warning text is formatted the same as note text. This adds no new formats, just changes the Caution and Warning formats.

OR, if you do not mind typing the words Caution and Warning, you can have one format that inserts the bomb as the autonumber, which can be used for both Cautions and Warnings.

Van

[Guest]

Thank you for responding, Van. However, I have not been able to add the bomb character in front of the Caution/Warning "autonumber" because it uses the Wingdings font, while the words use Verdana.Do you know of a way to format the bomb character using Wingdings and have Caution/Warning in that same autonumber field use Verdana?

I would rather not have to type the words every time.

Dimi

[Guest]

OK, I managed to answer my own question!

Bomb para format: tab at 0.2 cm (not sure that's required...), Next Para tag is CAUTION; default font is Verdana; Run-In Head with no default punctuation; Numbering tab has Autonumber format checked, M in text field with Wingdings char format; defaults for Advanced and Table Cell tabs.

I press Return and CAUTION appears.

CAUTION para format: no tabs, Next Para is NoteAft; default font is Verdana; Side Head--Alignment: First Baseline; Numbering tab has Autonumber format checked, CAUTION in text field with RedBold char format; defaults for Advanced and Table Cell tabs.

I press Return and type the text of the CAUTION in the NoteAft style.

I'm going to change that Para tag to BombCaution and create another para tag with for BombWarning and be set! Of course this won't work unless your master page uses a column with room for side heads.

If you know of something more elegant, please pass it along.

Dimi

[Arnis Gubins]

Dimi,

If you have some desgn flexibility, you could also consider using the Paragraph Above to include a reference frame that already has the correct formatting for each of the Caution and Warning items. With appropriate graphic ruling and layout as well as using graphical text, this would visually stand out in the sidehead areas. This would allow you cut back on the number of styles needed.

[Guest]

Thanks, Arnis...this definitely sounds more elegant! Although I have certain design flexibility, I have not the knowledge to do as you suggested. I've never created reference frames and have used graphical text only in MS Weird.

I'm working for a rather small organization at the moment, and it's been enough of a struggle to get them to keep using FrameMaker. They're all techie people I've worked with for years as their only "real" tech writer. FM is difficult for them and they really don't need (or want) to know it well. But when I told them what the learning curve for me to learn LaTeX would be--and my doubts that it would have the flexibility we need--they decided to hang in with FM for now.

Dimi

[Arnis Gubins]

The "graphical" text (or Text line tool)  is entered via the graphics palette using the "A" buton. You can apply character tags or format it using the Character Designer. You can position it using the cursors (drag & drop).

On the Reference page, use the Graphic Frame button/tool on the graphics palette to create a frame. FM will ask you to name it. This is the name that you need to use in the paratag for the Frame Above. Insert the Bomb Wingding and the Caution or Warning text and add any other graphics highlights, like a separating rule. See "Using text with graphics" in the online help.

The iswhole process is described in more detail in the online help "Using reference frames on refrence pages".