Need help with Autonumber Format

Report · Dec 30, 2014

We are using unstructured FrameMaker 12 on a Windows 7 platform (64 bit).

We need to number questions in an FAQs section, that includes the "Q" in bold followed by a colon that is not in bold.

This is what the new paragraph style needs to do:

1.[tab][bold]Q[Default ¶ Font]:[tab]What happens when XYZ?

[tab][bold]A[Default ¶ Font]:[tab]This is what happens.

We would like for the number and "Q:" to appear automatically and be formatted correctly with the new paragraph style, so all we have to do is type the question. (We would prefer not to use "Q##:" because it would require a unique indentation distance in the template.)

The "A:" should also be indented and formatted correctly.

Both the "Q:" and the "A:" would wrap around to the same indentation for long text strings.

Can anyone provide the "building blocks" that can make this happen? Is this possible?

I tried to search for the answer in this forum and on the Web. I apologize if this is answered somewhere already.

Thanks in advance.

Tim

Report · Dec 31, 2014

This is certainly possible! assuming I've understood the question correctly, of course …

All you need is a pair of paragraph formats, one for the questions and one for the answers, and a character format for the labels. Set the paragraph properties so that the numbering can be outdented, and set the numbering properties to add Q (or A, depending) followed by a sequence indicator and a tab. Here's a screenshot of how I'd do it for the questions.

And here's a bit more explanation of how the Autonumber format works its magic …

the Q: at the very start is the series label, and the colon is an essential part of the definition. By including a series label, you can set up different series; for example to number tables and figures separately.
after the series label, Q {space} is the text that will be included before the counter; <n+> is the building block for a numeric counter that will increment by 1; the full stop after the building block is another piece of text, and \t is a tab character.
the character format identifies a, well, character format that is applied to anything generated by the autonumbering; the format I've used just happens to be set to light grey.

This already gives an idea of how elegant FM numbering can be. Icing on the cake in this case is that thanks to the series label you can also display the current value of the counter for the answer. The autonumber format I've used for answers is Q:A <n>.\t

the Q: is the same series label
A{space} is the text, and <n> is the building block for 'current value of counter identified by this series label'

If your document simply alternates single-paragraph questions and single-paragraph answers, you can save yourself time by using the Next Paragraph Tag option to follow questions by answers and vice versa. You'll be amazed by how quickly you'll have your Q&A ready :-}

Report · Dec 31, 2014

Niels, thanks for giving some time to my question and trying to come up with an alternative. The solution you provide is not exactly what I attempted to explain, but we have pretty much given up on trying to pursue the format in the original post. So, we are discussing it, and might go in the direction you suggest.

Thanks again.

Report · Jan 01, 2015

Quite right! after reading your post more thoroughly, I'd say that Q:<n+>\tQ\t and A\t would do almost exactly what you describe, as long as you set the tabs and indents for the two styles appropriately. What I can't think of is any way to include the : after the Q or A in the default paragraph font rather than the special font referenced in the numbering properties. With luck, some more knowledgeable contributor will educate us both.

Report · Jan 02, 2015

Use a run-in paragraph to set the bold Q or A with the ":" as the separator, e.g. Q or A tags. Set the Next paragraph tag in these two paratags accordingly to the actual question or answer (Q_body or A_body paratags). Then insert the appropriate Q or A paratag, hit Enter and keep on typing.

[Tip: you can set the Next paragraph tag in the Q_body to be the answer paratag (i.e. A), then hit enter again and type in the answer.]