Converting newer Framemaker files to an older version?

[Michael314]

Hi,

I am currently stuck on Framemaker 7.2 but have old Frame files from V8 that I would like to open with Frame 7.2. A lot of these files have formatting, tags, and techniques that I would like to be able to reference as needed for my current project.

Word has its Office Compatibility Pack that lets people with old versions of Word open a new version. Is there anything similar for Framemaker? Even if I could convert the newer Frame file to MIF, then I could open that in my V7.2.

I did search this forum for but could not find anything speciric to my problem.

Yours,

Michael F

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

There's nothing like that for older versions - what I would do is take a clean machine (no FM on it) and download the FM10 free trial version. Then open up your FM8 files in it and save them as MIF. I can't remember if FM8 dealt in Unicode or not, but keep an eye of potential issues in 7.2 if it did (I'm sure 7 didn't do Unicode).

[Bob_Niland]

MF: I am currently stuck on Framemaker 7.2 but have old Frame files from V8 that I would like to open with Frame 7.2.

Whenever separating .fm and .book files from the running instance of Frame that created them, always open and re-save as MIF. MIF is the cleanest way to time-travel in reverse. Not everything may work, but at least the files will open.

JC: I can't remember if FM8 dealt in Unicode or not ...

According to Wiki, 8.0 is when Unicode came to Frame.

_____

Someday, perhaps we'll save as XML for back-porting.

[Guest]

Michael,

You will need to convert these files for older format using FrameMaker8. Ther are two routes through which you can accomplish the same:

1. Open the files in FrameMaker8 and save them as "Document 7.0" files. There is option in FrameMaker8 to save FM8 files in FM7 format.

2. Open the files in FrameMaker8 and save them as "MIF 7.0" format. You can open these MIF files in FM 7.2 and earlier versions.

Regards,

Rajat Bansal