I set up the paragraph catalog in FrameMaker 8, running on Windows XP. All listings were in alphabetical order, top-to-bottom. After logging on to the computer with a new user account and starting up FM, the paragraph catalog re-ordered itself into an odd mix of forward and backward alphabetical order.
Distinct letter ordering is still forward ("a" is listed above "b" which is in turn above "c"). This occurs for any combination of distinct letter groups ("bab" above "bcm" above "rlm" above "rxxx").
Reverse order occurs with repeat letter groups ("hhhh" above "hhh" above "hh" above "h") and with spaces ("bil" above "bi"). This reverse ordering is stopped by distinct letters (even though "bco" is above "bc", these both are above the following two: "blbn" and "blb". However, "blbn" is above "blb", which is reverse order again.)
This odd mix of reverse ordering inside forward ordering extends to keystroke recognition, which completely negates the use of keyboard shortcuts. When typing F9-h-h (to invoke the tag "hh H2" for Heading 2), the system proposes "hhhh" (tag "hhhh H4" for Heading 4) before tags with fewer h's ("hhh", "hh", and "h"). The system won't recognize the fewer letters.
After originally setting up the catalog, the odd reversing never took place and key recognition worked correctly. This brings up two questions:
1. How can this odd reversing be undone and complete top-to-bottom alphabetical order be restored?
2. Can users control the ordering of catalog listing to increase functionality by decoupling the keystroke mnemonic from the tag name (typically accomplished by entering the keystroke value in a separate field) and/or by decoupling the tag name from the catalog list position (manually move tags up or down the catalog regardless of tag name)?
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