Template Question (1 of 3) - Splitting out the Title Page

[Bill_M.]

I'm using a report template and think I've grown beyond its initial intentions. I like the style with the side heading bar as it works well for my technical documents and is much more interesting to the reader. The Mini TOC tip from Barb Binder's Generated Documents video proved to be a blessing as I used to create a stand alone TOC and force it up-front when updated.

After a hiatus, I'm back with FM. I'm stuck with a couple points. I'll split the three queries into separate posts to keep things easier for the team here. 

1. Unless quite complicated, how would one go about separating the title page and blank page into a separate file in my book, have the TitlePage paragraph tag pass-through to my Running H/F 1 in the main report/body file and generated files, plus have all my Reference and Master Pages edits exist in the new separate title file as that would then be the first non-generated file in the book--needed for the generated files?

[Winfried Reng]

Hi,

Admittedly for me your questions is difficult to understand. Therefore it could be that I am wrong. Could you provide more info?

Are your title page and the following blank page in the first file? And you want that the blank page is in a separate file?

Of course you can do this, but it's easier to just have the title page with something on the first page. And then let the next file start on a right page. Then the blank page between page 1 (title) and page 3 (first page of file after title) is automatically added, when you update the book.

The text of the TitlePage paragraph should be in the Running H/F1 variable of the first file after the title file? Should it be in all headers of this file? Or only until another heading paragraph is there?

The paragraph text of a paragraph before the actual file cannot be used in the Running H/F variables. Of course there are other means like cross-references or a general variable for the TitlePage text and then also for other variables in the following files.

Reference pages and master pages should be available in all other files of the book? Then just import these formats into these files.

Best regards, Winfried

[Bill_M.]

I recognize that if I started with FM today, some of the nicer enhancements would be easier to grasp. I wrote my first document with it in 1993, so I have engrained practices that I am happy to optimize after being away from this tool for several years. I appreciate your patience. 

Let me be succinct from here. I have four pages in my Master Pages view: Left, Right, Plain and FirstPage. The latter two are utilized for the title page.  Currently, the main/first file has all the pages of the document, except the generated files cited in my other ticket, but let me remain focused. I was being creative in extrapolating from the Mini TOC that if I could split the FirstPage and Plain Master Pages into a separate file, make that the first file in the book, add whatever reports the client wants a front matter, I would not disturb the first body page's intent of the Report template. This ticket is about possibilities so I can learn about whether my thinking is a good idea or not, beore I commit hours on a fool's errand. 

If I separate the FirstPage and Plain into a file, I would want that information to be included in the running footer of the main document. If this is complicated, I probably can just re-use the Title on the first page, within the report as a variable and try that.  

Let me know if this helps, or if I confused you further. I appreciate your assistance.

Kindest regards,

--Bill

[frameexpert]

In unstructured FrameMaker, Running H/F variables can't pick up paragraph format content from other book components. You could use a Running H/F variable that refers to a Header/Footer marker that you would insert on the first page of your main body file. The Header/Footer marker would contain the text of the TitlePage paragraph in your title page document.

[Bill_M.]

Helpful. Let me think about how that might work. Appreciate the perspective.

[Matt-Tech Comm Tools]

I've had success with two methods...

1. Set a variable in all files and insert the variable in the title page as well as the master pages as needed
2. Enter your title content, then cross-reference the title on the master pages as needed