Globally reset all cross-references if chapter files move or are renamed?

[TimLMun]

Due to an file organizational error when we initially set up files, we have a FrameMaker 10 book that has most chapter files located together, but a couple of the chapter files are actually located in a different folder. 

For example chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 are all in the same folder on our server that manages the FrameMaker files.  Chapters 4 and 6 are located in a different folder (on the same server).

Then, all cross-references were created, with the chapter files located as described.

Now we want to move the stray chapter files (4 and 6) so they are located in the same folder as their siblings.

To make matters worse, the stray chapter files (4 and 6) also have a different naming convention than the other chapter files. We want to rename chapters 4 and 6.

If we move the stray chapters so they are located with the other chapters, and change their file names, all cross-references will become unresolved.

Is there some global way to reset all cross-references so they are not lost and have to be rebuilt from scratch? 

I have just recently become re-acquainted with FrameMaker after a long absence, so in your answer please consider me to be a novice user.

Thank you in advance!

Tim

[Van Kurtz]

Tim,

The renaming part is easy. Open the book file, and then open all the files in the book. In the book, click the name of a file you want to rename, pause a little bit, and click the name again. This makes the name editable. Edit the name as you want and click on another file in the book (you may be able to press Enter, but I have never tried it). FrameMaker will ask you to confirm; click Yes or equivalent. FrameMaker then udpates all the cross-references to match the new name. You can do this without opening all the files, but FrameMaker has to then open each file to fix the cross-references; opening them in the first place makes this process faster. Save all the files and repeat for each file you want to rename.

Now if you save one of the files you want to move to its new location, all of its cross-references are updated correctly; however, the cross-references FROM other files to this file remain pointing to the old files. But at least this process updates some correctly. Then repeat for the other files you want to move. Then you have to add the new files to the book and delete the old ones (still at their original location). DELETE the old files that you deleted from the book (the ones you moved by saving at the new location) from their original location; if you do not do this, some cross-references will still point to these files. Update the book; there are likely some unresolved cross-references but not all.

If you are daring, you can save the files with the unresolved cross-refences as mif. Then open the mif files with a text editor and search for the cross-references. Take note how the correct ones are coded and edit the other ones to match. Likely you will be deleting strings like "../../folder" which indicate the old location. If this sounds too complex, then fix the unresolved cross-references manually.

Maybe others have better solutions.

Van

[TimLMun]

Thank you Van.

I renamed the files, and the cross-references were retained, as you indicated.

However, when I moved the renamed chapter file from the original, incorrect folder on the server to the correct folder (with all of the other chapter files), the only cross-references that were retained were the ones that were 100% internal to the individual chapter file.  All incoming and outgoing cross-references were broken.

At least it is a bit better than a 100% recreation of the cross-references.

Thanks again!

Tim

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Did you move it to the new location by first doing a Save As? I think that's part of the trick that Van was talking about in that part with the saving the xrefs that point TO the original main files; only the xrefs from the main files to the moved file will now be busted.

[Bob_Niland]

However, when I moved the renamed chapter file from the original, incorrect folder on the server to the correct folder (with all of the other chapter files), the only cross-references that were retained were the ones that were 100% internal to the individual chapter file.

Except where you can maintain an equivalent level in the fs hierarchy, moving Frame files, or copying them with OS commands, often results in broken external Xrefs (and imports).

Open the whole book in Frame. Re-save then close each component file, and the book to the new location. If the Xrefs were working before the re-save, you should be able to open the copies at the new location without errors.

... unless some of the Xrefs are to files not part of the book, and they subsequently move.