Permanantly unresolved cross references?

[Susan305351693t3o]

I have some files in a book that ALWAYS have unresolved cross references, and I don't understand why.

When I open the files, I get this message:

This happens for several files in the book. Always the same ones.

So I fix the unresolved cross references using the Find/Cross References-Unresolved tool and repairing them on the Cross References menu. After the "Find" yields no more unresolved cross references, I save all of the files. Then I update the book.

But despite saving ALL of these files, once they are closed and opened again, they once again have the SAME unresolved cross references, even though NOTHING has changed since I repaired the unresolved cross references and saved the files.

How is this happening and how do I fix it, permanantly?

Thank you.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Have you tried the older way of creating a list of unresolved xrefs & hunting them down that way? Do you have any source or version control at play here? Maybe you're not actually saving the fixed copy of the files.

[Susan305351693t3o]

Hi Jeff,

I am new to FrameMaker, so I don't know about "the older way." Do you mean generating a pdf document, testing all of the links, and re-doing cross references for the links that don't work? Because yes, I have done that, and the result is the same: I fix them, they don't stay fixed.

I just don't understand why I keep fixing the same unresolved cross references and they don't stay fixed, despite my saving my work and then not making any further changes.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

No, I was talking about doing the old Special > List Of > References and then choosing "Unresolved Cross-Refs" and hunting them down that way.

Where are the files located? Are "regular" changes to the content saved? Is there anything special about these xrefs that aren't saved?

[frameexpert]

Are the unresolved cross-references internal to each file or are some of them to other files in your book? Do you get any other messages when you open files in the book? For example, missing fonts, or graphics?

Here is what happens when you open a FrameMaker document: if it has cross-references, FrameMaker automatically tries to resolve them. If there are any external cross-references (cross-references to other files), FrameMaker has to open the target files in order to resolve them. If the target file or files aren't already open, FrameMaker attempts to open them invisibly. If the target files have any issues that would prevent them from opening without warnings (missing fonts, missing graphics, etc.), then they won't open and FrameMaker will give you the unresolved cross-reference message.

To permanently resolve external cross-references, first make sure that every file in the book can be opened without any warnings.

[Winfried Reng]

You can also open all files in the book and then update. I expect that this will fix your issue.

If this helps. then FrameMaker was not able to open the target file invisibly.

[Susan305351693t3o]

No, it doesn't work. I fix all the cross references, save the documents, and when I reopen them, the unresolved cross references come right back.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Do you get any error messages in the Console when you open all the docs in the books?

[Matt-Tech Comm Tools]

Once you have all the files open, and have updated your book (preferably after fixing any any Book Error Report messages), can you please use the Edit > Update References to get a list of the unresolved cross-references, and then post the result here?

If no errors appear when updating references, then the issue is what was mentioned in an earlier post...you have an error message upon opening a file that is preventing FrameMaker from confirming and updating the cross-reference when you open one or more files.

To get rid of this issue permenantly, you'll need to address the missing resource message(s) that are preventing your book from functioning optimally.

-Matt

**Also check your preferences to ensure that missing resource messages are not being surpressed.

[Susan305351693t3o]

Thank you, Matt. When it happens next, I will do these things and post the results here.

[BelindaLebbink]

Hello,

I do have the same issues as the poster. Unavailable fonts and unresolved cross-references.

Fonts

I resolved these by replace all those with available one. Check by closing and opening while book is still open, save all files, no errors anymore.

Cross-references

All cross-references to other files in the book are unavailable. I find them via Find (or per file a LOR) and replace them. They are available when I open all the files. Check via Find and LOR states there are NO unresolved cross-references anymore.

Save all files, update book (yes, everything works!), save book and close Framemaker.

I'll open Framemaker 2022 again, and surprise... there are missing fonts and unresolved cross-references.

What! is! happening?! I'm using Windows 11 and Framemaker 2022, and the files are in the cloud (did assign a drive letter to the OneDrive). Also, the files are made in the previous version.

BTW, I'm not a newbie; using Framemaker since edition 5.

With regards, Belinda

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

@BelindaLebbink I'd suspect that your issues are caused by the OneDrive location. Test that out by fixing up all the files again and saving them to a local drive location (that's NOT being included in the OneDrive scoop up). Then see if they still misbehave. 

[Matt-Tech Comm Tools]

It's best to address the fonts and xrefs separately...

are you saying that the cross-references are all valid once all your referenced FrameMaker files are opened? If so, that indicates a missing resource that is preventing FrameMaker from resolving the references while opening one or more files. Manually opening any files mentioned in the console to allow you to address the missing things often resolves these issues. 

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

@Matt-Tech Comm Tools  It sounds like she can fix up all the files for both issues, save them, and when she reopens them again in FM, they are busted still. All of which sounds more like a saving issue - like rights or location or caching.

[Matt-Tech Comm Tools]

So, we agree that it's an issue with Fm's inability to open the referenced file and resolve the xref. Sounds like we need to bet a drink on the ultimate cause...

@BelindaLebbink , let us know who's buying the next round! 🤪:party_popper::party_popper:

[Winfried Reng]

And I would guess that the target file cannot be opened, as there are missing fonts. Therefore this must be fixed.

Missing fonts can not only be in visible text, but also be on a master pager or reference page or in a table format or in an EPS graphics file.

Did you change the preferences to _not_ remember missing fonts? Then FrameMaker will replace the missing fonts with the replacement font permanently.

[BelindaLebbink]

Sometimes I want another font FM suggested. But FM replaces only automatically the Times font. Not the other fonts. So after saving (and following your suggestion above) FM should only pop up the Times font missing error. But FM doesn't...

[Matt-Tech Comm Tools]

You can change the automatic font mapping by editing the maker.ini file. 

While it takes some time to tweak the exact changes, it's a useful trick when you know the font that is used, and what you want to use instead.

[BelindaLebbink]

Yes, @Jeff_Coatsworth is right. I indeed fixed them up. No errors anymore. So, I save the document. I thought 😉

[Matt-Tech Comm Tools]

Sorry, I wasn't sure if you got your problems solved...were you able to permanently correct the files?

[Susan305351693t3o]

Problem remains unresolved. I haven't tried every suggestion in this thread yet though.  Stay tuned.

[Matt-Tech Comm Tools]

There's a section in my book, FrameMaker - Working with Content on the maker.ini that covers the mapping needed.

[Susan305351693t3o]

So this error might be the reason why I can't permanently correct the cross references? How do I resolve this error?

[Matt-Tech Comm Tools]

Yes, this is almost certainly your problem.

You need to fix the catalog entries to use an available font, then reimport into the other docs.

I (or others) can help you do that via Zoom, with a short online session.

If interested in details, click on my name and send me a message.

[Susan305351693t3o]

That would be great! But it would need to be sometime next week. Monday perhaps? Thank you so much!