Problems opening a .sgm file in FM 7.2

[JoshKBC]

I'm trying to open an .sgm file in Structured FrameMaker 7.2 and I keep getting errors and believe my setting are incorrect.  This is what happens:

1. Open file.
2. Prompt:  "Use Structured Application."  I choose "<No Application>"
3. Error:  "SGML Parser Messages (Document Prolog)"

                    C:\Documents and Settings\............filename.sgm; line 1

                    Could not find external document type VIB (-//Company Name//DTD VIB//EN).

I really don't know where to go with this, so any help would be appreciated.  Thank you.

[TarunGarg_TG_ · Accepted solution]

As I have understood, the file contains a Public ID in the DOCTYPE statement. With FramaMaker, Public IDs do not work directly. Hence, it is giving this error with '<No Application>' option.

You need to create a structured application that matches the public identifier with a system identifer (i.e. with a filename). Following is the simple set of steps for creating a minimal structured application in your case:

1. Goto 'File->Structure Tools > Edit Application Definitions'. A StructApp file gets opened. From the structured view, you can see that it contains some SGML & XML Applications. Since, you are using a SGML file, you need to create a new SGML application.
   
2. Add a new <SGMLApplication> element. Provide the ApplicationName (say - mySGML).
3. In <SGMLApplication> element, insert <Entities> element. Inside it, insert <Public> element. The Public element has two children: <PublicID> and <FileName>. In <PublicID>, mention the Public ID as mentioned in the DOCTYPE statement. In <FileName>, mention the complete system path of the corresponding DTD file to be used (downloaded & kept there). This needs to added for the various Public IDs that may get referenced.
   
4. Save the file and use 'File->Structure Tools > Read Application Defintitions' to process it.
5. Now, open your SGML file in FM.
6. Choose the appropriate application (mySGML, as set in step-2 above) from 'Use Structured Application' dialog.

Regards,

Tarun Garg (TG)

Adobe Certified Expert, FrameMaker

[JoshKBC]

Thanks so much TG, you really helped me out a lot.  The document now opens, but is unformatted b/c I can't seem to find the correct DTD file to reference for the <FileName>.  I haven't downloaded a DTD file and have never used one, so I'm not sure where to start.  I can understand if this goes above and beyond your already copious helpfulness.

If you haven't guessed yet, I'm not trained in FM and my job requires it which is a problem.  My training isn't until mid-June, which is also a huge problem, haha.

Thanks again.

[Russ Ward]

JoshKBC,

This is a complicated subject that can't really be addressed in a forum thread. It typically takes a person weeks or months to really understand this process and get it working. There is a whole manual written about it called the Structure Developers Guide, found in the OnlineManuals folder. I'd suggest having a look at that delightful tome for some basic study on the subject. We can answer specific questions here, but your inquiry is moving in a very broad direction that we can't really address properly in this format.

Russ