XML files with xrefs in book

[_Mikael_Sten_]

Hello,
I have a book with several chapter files in xml format.
The chapters have xrefs to each other, which works fine when working with the FM book.

My problem is saving the book as PDF. I get one big PDF file, but the references are still pointing to separate PDF files.
Example:
A link from chapter_1 to chapter_2 gives an error saying "Cannot find chapter_2.pdf".
If I swap the xml files to FM binary files in the book, it works as it should: the page of chapter_2 is shown in the big PDF file.

Has anyone had the same problem and maybe a solution for it?
I use FrameMaker 8 with all availabvle patches installed.

Best Regards
Mikael

[Russ Ward]

Mikael,

This sounds like one of the many quirks (perhaps bugs) related to how FrameMaker handles non-FM files in books. The current book model doesn't play well with XML files as chapters and this seems like yet another problem. Apparently, if an xref does not target another .fm file in the book, Frame assumes that the target file is not in the book and therefore will not be in the book PDF.

There have been discussions here about this in the past. The solution that I use is to run an API client before publishing that converts all XML files to .fm files, and redirect all xrefs appropriately. Then, book features work as expected and PDFs come out as normal. This is not feasible, however, without the automation from the API client.

There may be some who would say that the best approach is to use XML and books the way that the designers did account for... that is, the whole book becomes an XML document with entity references to the separate chapters. In my work, though, this model was not appropriate... rather, I needed a binary FM book to act like a book, except with XML files as chapters. So, I think I understand your situation.

Is API programming or FrameScript an option for you? I think it may be the only way to get what you are looking for.

Russ

[_Mikael_Sten_]

Thanks Russ,

We have now solved it with API programming: the xml chapters are stored in binary format and the book is updated with those.

Thanks again!
Mikael

[_Marc_Betz_]

Russ, a related question for you:
I am trying to create a script that:
- converts a set of book components from xml to binary
- updates the binary book
- generates a TOC and IX for the book
- saves the whole thing as a PDF
Does all that sound doable? If so, do you have any
advice on exactly how to structure the FrameScript?
In particular, is it realistic to expect to generate
the TOC and IX and get them located correctly in the
book before creating the PDF?

[Russ Ward]

Hi Marc,

I don't use FrameScript personally, but I do use the FDK whose concept is similar. My recommendation for the generation of TOCs and indexes is to have sample templates saved somewhere, then you can (for each file):

- Add the file to the book in the correct place
- Set the book component property to mark it as a generatable file, along with the "extract tags" property if necessary to set up the TOC
- Open the file, maybe "Save As" to get it to the proper location if necessary
- Update the book
- Save as PDF

In summary, it should be completely doable. You'll just need to get the hang of inserting book components and setting the generatable file properties. Unfortunately, I won't be able to help you with the FrameScript syntax, but there are others around here who probably can help if you have specific questions.

Russ

[_Marc_Betz_]

Thanks, Russ, for your advice. I will see what I can come up with. FDK would be another possibility if I cannot get the FrameScript figured out, but I will try the FrameScript first. Thanks again.

[Russ Ward]

Marc, this should be a small task for FrameScript, it's just that I personally don't know the syntax. Consider asking on the Yahoo FrameScript list... I'm sure the gurus there can point you the right way.

Russ

[_systecgmbhnuremberg_]

Hello Mr. Sten,

For the XML dialect DITA there is a very good API client from leximation that can convert XML>FM on the fly, so you would
1. Work with XML files for input
2. convert them to PDF automatically
3. Publish the subsequent book afterwards.

If you wanted the book to have TOC, Title, Index a.s.o, you might use the DITA-Services of SYSTEC, which are exactly for this kind of thing.

Hope this helps,
With kind regardsm
Franz.

[excessive signature removed]