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Requesting thoughts on Documentum, Sharepoint, and CMS with FrameMaker

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:42:38 GMT

My company is considering getting a CMS to be used with structured FrameMaker. We now have version 9 but willing to upgrade to version 10. I know that version 10 has the ability to connect to Documentum and Sharepoint.

I would like to know others' experiences with FrameMaker and a CMS...any CMS.

At the present, we work from shared drives, copying all imported illustrations (eps) by reference.

A few years ago I worked at a company that had Documentum. At that time, the writers had to check out all the illustrations and the Frame files to their desktops, copy the illustrations in by reference, make the PDF, and then check all back into Documentum. At the time, the rule was that one could not link to files within Documentum, only file on the desktop.

So, I am wondering if the above is still true. Moreover, how do others handle the need to link to illustration files that are in the CMS without (if at all) checking them all out. We create large manuals (200-300 pages) with many illustrations that are used in multiple manuals.

Any thoughts about Documentum, Sharepoint, or any other CMS is appreciated. I am not looking for dissertations on the subject, just indications whether it can be done and if not, how it is done.

Thanks in advance,

Van

Dead Cross-References

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:40:35 GMT

I recently noticed some dead cross-references in a PDF I was reviewing. In the FrameMaker files, FrameMaker sees the cross-references as RESOLVED but Ctrl-Alt clicking them does not move the focus to the target. With the structure view open (so I can see the IDref attribute), I select the cross-reference element. The cross-references pod shows that the element has NO target. I update the reference to the correct element; however, the value of the IDref attribute in the cross-reference element did NOT change. All the element and attribute information is present (resolved cross-reference) but the actual link is dead.

If saved the file to mif before and after correcting the cross-reference. I could see NO difference between the two files.

I have see this problem in the past, but that was when I was using conditional text. The cross-references typically went dead when I changed the show/hide settings. At the time, I blamed the problem on the flakiness of conditional text. The current files do NOT use conditional text. However, I do use West Street Consulting's AXCM for attribute filtering. But I always filter to duplicate documents, and the problem exists in the unfiltered files as well.

I am using FrameMaker 9.0p255 on XP.

The problem is easy, though tedious, to fix....IF I happen to notice a dead link. If they were at least unresolved, it would be easier, but FrameMaker sees them as resolved.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Van

Strange things when saving to XML, disappearing tmp files

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:44:43 GMT

I am losing my mind with this one and am hoping someone has a clue to what the problem is.

I do not normally save files to XML but have done a lot of experimenting with the process. Several months ago I had a good workflow that saved my structured documents to XML with no problems. All the elements came out as expected.

Now I am trying to do the same thing but apply an XSL transform as post processing. The idea is to transform my structure into one that satisfies a different DTD. In most cases, the end result is correct, but many errors are generated in the process. Most errors are things like expected an element name and expected enumeration separator or missing parenthesis. The odd thing is that FrameMaker is referencing a tmp file in a particular folder, but I cannot find it. So, it is difficult to see what the problem is. I have even tested the process using a blank template file with just a root element in it and maybe a child inside that. I get the same set of errors at what appears to be the same line numbers. BUT no tmp file. For the record, I have hidden files and folders showing.

In most cases, the result is OK. The ONE exception I have found is related to cross-reference elements. My cross-reference elements appear in the XML without termination, even though the EDD requires that they have no content.

I even tried using a different structure application, one that worked a few months ago, and the results are the same. I checked some XML output that I did a few months ago, and all the cross-reference elements were properly terminated as <XReference/>.

If I can find a way to see those missing tmp files, maybe I could see a solution. There is a need to solve this problem, because we need to export to XML to then import that XML into a CMS system that uses a different DTD.

I am using FrameMaker 9.0p255.

Thanks for any clues that anyone might have,

Van

Cannot publish comments to a shared review

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:59:27 GMT

I created a shared review from a PDF located on a shared network drive. The storage location for the shared review is on ANOTHER shared network drive (Drive 2). According to our IT department, all members of the shared review have write access to Drive 2; however, some members CANNOT publish their comments to Drive 2. On the other hand, some CAN publish comments.

Upon opening the PDF on Drive 2, one user gets the following message: Adobe cannot connect to the Review Server: Drive 2. If he clicks Keep Tryping, the PDF opens. He then saves it to HIS computer, adds a comment, and clicks Publish Comments. He gets the message: Could not publish comments. Acrobat cannot access the network. IT cannot figure out why he cannot publish his comments.

Moreover, if he SAVES the PDF to the location in Drive 2, closes the PDF, and opens it again, his comments are there, but NOT comments published by others. AND when I open my local copy of the review, I cannot see his comments, only the comments by others.

I hope IT can figure it out, but in the meantime, does anyone have any suggestions.

Thanks,

Van

How do I delete a color swatch?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:27:54 GMT

I am using Illustrator CS4. I do not know when this behavior began. When I drag a swatch to the delete button, the name of the swatch (a PMS) remains in the swatches list and the color box displays a red diagonal line. The named item remains in the list without a color. When I try to drag it to the delete button, Illustrator will not allow me to delete it.

Is this a bug? Or is there some setting to change in order to delete color swatches. Online help says to drag to the delete button, but it is no working.

Thanks,

Van

What is the correct way to format file paths and names in the structapp file?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 20:58:08 GMT

I am trying to create a structured application to export fm files as xml, and probably read the xml back to fm.

In the structured application file (structapp), I need to specify the locations of the various files (DTD, read/write, template, etc). I would like to place these files on a shared server so others can use the same structapp file (that is, a cop of it). What is the correct way to format the file paths and names? Can folders folder names and file names have spaces in them? I tried the following, for example:

\\serverName\shareName\folder 1\folder 2\file name.dtd

I use the same format for the template file and the read/write rules file.

When I try to save an fm file to xml, FrameMaker says that it cannot read the DTD; however, the resulting xml file appears to be well-formed. The DOCTYPE element in the resulting xml is formatted with forward slashes and spaces replaced with %20.

I tried using forward slashes and replacing spaces with %20, but then I get an error about reading the read/write rules.

NOTE: I have another structured application to read xml into fm. This application does not have a DTD file. The template and read/write rules files are specified as above. Except for complaining about a lack of a DTD, the application works fine; it even applies an XSLT in the process. Again, when I DO add a DTD to this latter application, I get the same complaint about not being able to read the DTD.

I am using fully patched FrameMaker 9 in Windows XP.

Thanks,

Van

Mac Captivate does not show workspaces. How do I show the workspace?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 21:13:51 GMT

I just downloaded the trial version of Captivate 5 for the Macintosh. When I start a project, the workspace does not display. In fact almost nothing displays except the menu bar. I created a project from a powerpoint presentation. It seemed to create but did not display. I could even save it and reopen it, but nothing displays. When I close the project, the save dialog appears half off the screen on the left side. It appears as if Captivate thinks I have a second monitor to the left of my monitor. I DO have a second monitor but it is NOT connected; even when it is connected, it is set to be to the right of my primary monitor.

If I try changing the workspace, some things display but slightly off the screen.

What can I do either in Captivate or the Mac OS system itself to pull the user interface back onto my screen. The screen size is 1440 by 900 on a Macbook Pro 15" running Mac OS 10.6.6.

Thanks

Van

FrameMaker 10: First Look

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 21:07:30 GMT

Today I downloaded the trial version of FrameMaker 10 and looked at a few features. Here is my opinion:

1. I like the attribute editor. No need to click a Set Value button.

2. I like the ability to apply background coloring to text; however, I believe many will be disappointed by the fact that it color ONLY the text, not any interline spacing nor end-of-line blank space. For example, suppose a paragraph is set with 10 point font on a 24 point baseline, left justified. Selecting the entire paragraph and applying a background color does NOT result in a square box behind the text. Background color is more like applying a marker to each line of text with empty spaces in between the lines.

3. I like the ability to open and close elements in document view (element boundaries as tags), like one can do in structure view; however, the online help touts the feature of being able to close all elements at the same level, but does NOT explain how to do it. Playing around, I discovered that one needs to hold down the Shift key while clicking an element to close its sibling elements.

4. I like the feature of highlighting misspelled words as one types...very much.

5. The filter by attribute remains somewhat of an enigma to me and seems to be a work in progress. Maybe it is because I have been using the AXCM plugin for several months.

- The filter expression builder includes a Contains Only option, which inserts an operator(?), namely the pound symbol #, but does NOT explain it in the online help.

- Although one can create several filter expressions in the builder, which are saved with the document, it appears that the only way to remove a filter from a document is to DELETE the filter expression from the list, which deletes the filter expression from the document. Hence, to apply the filter again, one must recreate it. It would be nice to be able to store filter expressions within the document, or better yet within some kind of filter designer. Maybe I missed something.

- I DO like the ability of applying color to the content that a filter hides. This allows you to preview the effect of the filter before you actually apply it. Very helpful for lowering the learning curve.

- My previous explorations into filtering by attribute using FrameMaker 9 typically resulted in a FrameMaker crash. My version 10 explorations resulted in NO crashes.

6. During two hours of use, FrameMaker 10 DID NOT CRASH ONCE. This has to be a good sign.

7. I did not look into using conditional text, because I have moved away from using it. FrameMaker 9 had a lot of problems in this area.

I hope that others will chime in with their experiences with FrameMaker 10.

Namespaces in an XSLT

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 20:16:12 GMT

Some where in the Spry documentation, I found that one may have to add xmlns:spry="http://www.adobe.com/spry/" to the html element in order to resolve namespaces when using a dataset with a widget. I am trying to create an accordion widget from an XML dataset. This all works fine in a standard HTML page.

However, I want to create an XSLT that transforms an XML file into HTML. The resulting HTML document needs to have the accordion widget used as indicated above. That is, the accordion widget is included in the XSLT. But it does not work. In the browser, I get the XML lparsing error "prefix not bound to a namespace" at the first instance of the spry: prefix. I have included xmlns:spry="http://www.adobe.com/spry/" in the html element generated by the XSLT but that appears not to be enough.

I am guessing that the XSLT itself needs something similar, but I cannot figure out where to specify the spry namespace.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Van

What is the role of the lookup function?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:39:43 GMT

I am calling the following function in a spry if attribute, as inspry:if="function::allowProduct"

I understand that the function needs to be passed a region. From the documentation, I understand that the function requires a lookup function. But from my playing around with this, the name of the lookup function is arbitrary and I do not have to write it.

I do not understand this. Is this a feature of JavaScript, namely that myFunction(x) returns the value of x? Can someone please explain this to me.

By the way, the allowProduct function works as I expect it to.

Thanks,

Van

Printing threads

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:14:49 GMT

On occasion I have found a particularly interesting thread with much information provided by several users and wanted to print the thread for future reference. When I print the thread, only the first one or two posts print, which amounts to about one page. The remaining posts do not print. I have tested this in both Firefox for Windows and Internet Explorer.

If this is a bug, please try to fix. If this is a feature lacking, can you provide it?

Thanks,

Van

Incorrect cross-references

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:33:39 GMT

This appeared within the last week (to the best of my knowledge) and has me stumped.

Using FrameMaker 9.0.3 on Windows XP SP3. All updates to Frame and the Windows Hotfix installed. Adobe PDF is the default printer with all applications.

First instance: I ran an expression to show a certain set of conditions and updated the book...twice. Created the PDF of the book with bookmarks and links (with the oft-discussed settings in the PDF creation dialog, named links, etc). When I skimmed the PDF, I noticed several HIDDEN cross-references, even though their targets WERE showing. I opened the structured Frame files. Searching for invalid cross-references showed NONE. Each "HIDDEN" cross-reference had an IDRef value. When I selected the cross-reference with its target open, the cross-reference pod did not indicate the target. When I re-established the link, the IDRef value did not change; it was already the correct one. Thus, updating the book found NO invalid cross-references, each cross-reference pointed to the correct target, but the book update did not change the content of the cross-reference, that is, the page number, only HIDDEN. I had to relink each HIDDEN cross-reference to get what I needed.

Today, working on the same book, the book update found one invalid cross-reference whose target was in the same file. When I clicked it in the error log, the file opened but nothing was selected. Searching the file for an invalid cross-reference found nothing. Displaying ALL conditions and searching for an invalid cross-reference found nothing. Ignoring this, I created the PDF. Upon skimming through it, I noticed a cross-reference that had the wrong page number as the target; and the PDF link would not work (the cross-referenced flashed but did not take me to the target).

I tried updating the book again and the page numbers for these incorrect cross-references did not change. Opening the files and checking the links, I found as before that if I selected the link and re-established the link, the page number was corrected to the right one. Again, it appears that the book update is not seeing these bad links as invalid, but as valid and then not updating the page number to the correct one.

This week computers were given new account names along with some behind the scenes IT work, but I cannot figure how that would change anything.

Has this happened to anyone else? If so, what was the resolution?

Thanks,

Van

Characters changing when saving as XML

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:24:31 GMT

I am new to roundtripping between Frame and XML, so I hope this question is easy.

I have an element SymbolText that formats its text content according to the attribute font. That is, it formats its content in the font selected by the font attribute. I use it to set short strings in a font different from the normal paragraph font. The allowed values of font are Symbol, Wingdings, Wingdings2, Wingdings3, and ZapfDingbats. Suppose the content of SymbolText is the character 4 and I save the file as XML. When I open the XML file with NotePad, all instances display the correct content (4), except Wingdings and ZapfDingbats. In the latter cases, the content displays as a box. Opening the XML with Firefox indicates that these boxes are some unicode character, and the character is different in the two cases: with Wingdings, the character is F034; with ZapfDingbats, the character is 2714. I may not be expressing the unicode characters correctly, but Firefox displays boxes with these numbers in them.

So, why is Frame converting the 4 to some other character when the font is Wingdings or ZapfDingbats? The DTD sets the encoding to UTF-8. Do I need to set something else in Frame or in the structure application?

I am using FrameMaker 9 on XP SP3.

Thanks,

Van

Can an XML snippet be inserted into a structured Frame document?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:08:09 GMT

I am trying to import an Excel spreadsheet into a structured Frame document by exporting the spreadsheet as XML then importing into Frame, preferrably by copy.

Of course, the spreadsheet is mainly a Table element, which is what I want to import. I have created the XSLT stylesheet and the read/write rules. If I edit the XSLT to create a basic document (chapter root element with a title element, then the table) that includes the table, then it all works correctly when I open the XML file. The result is a document file with a title and the table.

If I then edit the XSLT to output just the table and try to insert the XML file by copy into an existing structured Frame document, at a point where a Table element is valid, then nothing is inserted. I get bunches of errors about Cell elements not being allowed. Note that no dialog appears from which to select a structured app. I tried removing the DOCTYPE to force the dialog, but it still does not appear.

My guess is that inserting XML files into an existing Frame document is not allowed, but I am not sure why. It seems like it should, considering that structured Frame snippets can be imported as text insets.

If this can be done, please let me know if anything special needs to be done to make it work.

I am using Frame 9.0.3 on Windows XP SP3.

Thanks,

Van

How do I specify file locations in a structure application?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:10:48 GMT

I want to export a structured Frame file to XML, using a structure application that I create. I have a DTD, a read/write file, and a template file, all stored on a network drive. I would like to specify the locations of these files using the notation \\MyServer\folder\...\folder\name.dtd, etc to make the application independent of the drive mapping. I can do this for the read/write file and the template file, but FrameMaker complains when I specify the DTD file in the same way. If I change the path for the DTD file to be R:\...\folder\name.dtd, then FrameMaker does not complain about it but apparently sees the read/write and template files just fine.

Why is this? Am I doing something wrong in the path specification?

I am using FrameMaker 9.0.3 on Windows XP with all service packs.

Thanks,

Van

Problems with Bridge and FrameMaker

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:44:38 GMT

We are using FrameMaker 9.0.3 and Creative Suite CS4 on Windows XP, with 3 GB of RAM and 150 GB hard drive space. One of us typically runs FrameMaker and Bridge CS4 simultaneously, usually with Illustrator and maybe also Photoshop open at the same time. A few weeks ago, he began having problems. Typically he (1) opens FrameMaker, (2) opens a .fm file located on a network drive, (3) opens Adobe Bridge, then (4) selects a folder located on the network drive in Bridge. At some point, he gets an error (apparently a Windows error) that there are insufficient resources. Sometimes he is able to save his work and sometimes not, but he always has to reboot to be able to work again. He typically reboots 4 or 5 times a day.

Any suggestions as to why this might happen?

Thanks in advance,

Van

Why does Dreamweaver change characters?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:00:43 GMT

I create structured content in FrameMaker, then save the file as XML. When I open the file in Notepad, the DOCTYPE statement has the form <!DOCTYPE ... >. If I were to open the file in Dreamweaver instead, Dreamweaver displays the statement in the form <?DOCTYPE ... ?>. I am using Dreamweaver to add the XSLT statement. When I save the XML file from Dreamweaver, the statement is changed to <?DOCTYPE ... ?>. I am using Dreamweaver because I am also editing the XSLT file.

That is very weird. Why should Dreamweaver, which is basically a text editor, change simple code like that?!?!?!

Is there a reason for this? Is there a setting or workaround, other than do all coding in Notepad?

Thanks,

Van

How should the DOCTYPE statement appear when saving as XML?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:59:53 GMT

This seems so trivial, but I cannot figure it out.

When I save a Frame file as XML, the DOCTYPE statement is written as

<?DOCTYPE ..... ?>

instead of

<!DOCTYPE ..... >

I noticed this because Frame exports the content of empty table cells as the nobreaking space entity. When I try to open the XML file in a browser, the browser cannot parse the nobreaking space entity, even if I include its definition in the ?DOCTYPE statement. Changing the DOCTYPE statement to <!DOCTYPE ... > makes the ENTITY definition visible to the browser.

What am I missing?

Thanks,

Van

Can I use some JavaScript in an XSLT stylesheet?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:05:28 GMT

I have two related (I think) problems.

I am using Dreamweaver CS4 in Windows XP, Service Pack 3.

I have created an XSLT stylesheet that transforms a simple XML file into HTML. I have a very short JavaScript that writes the day's date into the document. It is a script that I have used in many other HTML pages. The XSLT stylesheet also has a Spry widget, an accordion, in one of its DIV elements. Originally, I developed the accordion as part of a Dreamweaver template, and it works fine there. I cannot get the scripts to work completely in Firefox and Internet Explorer.

If I just link in the external JavaScript files, the XML document displays correctly in both browsers. Note that MY external JavaScript file is the definition of one function, today(). The other JavaScript file is the Spry js file for the accordion widget. Of course the widget displays, but is not functional.

If I add the script to display the date (document.write(today()); document.close();) in one of the DIVs, Internet Explorer(7) displays the date correctly in the correct location AND displays all the other content correctly, including the accordion, which of course is not functional. However, FireFox (latest version) displays ONLY the date in a white background and NOTHING else, such as background image, other DIVs with content, the accordion widget, etc.

If I add the script to instantiate the accordion widget, FireFox displays the date and nothing else, as before. Internet Explorer displays the date, the other content, and the accordion widget, as before, but the widget is still not functional, that is, the accordion does not close or open when the panels are clicked.

So, do I have to be extra careful on where I place scripts in an XSLT? Or is there some reason why scripts in an XSLT file do not work? It seems that once the browser transforms the XML file into HTML, which includes the scripts, it should display correctly.

Thanks,

Van

Can I have JavaScript in an XSLT stylesheet?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:41:25 GMT

I posted this first on the Dreamweaver forum, and it was suggested that I post here instead...

I have two related (I think) problems.

I am using Dreamweaver CS4 in Windows XP, Service Pack 3.

For now, I am trying to create a whole page XSLT, not fragments.

Thanks,

Van

Question about XML and XSLT

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:58:53 GMT

My experience using XSLT is in FrameMaker, where I wrote an XSLT sheet that is applied to an XML document when it is read into FrameMaker, creating a FrameMaker document. There is one XSLT file, which can be used to read/import many different XML files.

Reading the use of XSLT and XML in Dreamweaver, I am a little confused. To create the XSLT file (I think it is really an HTML file with an XSLT inside, but not sure), I have to attach the XML file, so that I can bring in the elements from the XML file. Once done, I have to attach/bind the XSLT file to the XML file. So there appears to me to be a one-to-one relationship between the XML file and the XSLT file.

So, can I bind the SAME XSLT file to another XML file, or several XML files, that uses the same DTD as the first XML file? Or do I need to create a copy of the XSLT file for EACH XML file that I have?

If I am confused about any of the above, please clarify.

Thanks,

Van

Roundtripping tables between Fm and XML

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:17:23 GMT

I am trying to roundtrip my structured documents between Fm and XML. I have working under the assumption that any formatting done in Frame that survives the reimportation of the element definitions with the removal of format overrides can also survive roundtripping to XML and back.

But I cannot figure out how to do things such as custom rules and shading, which DO survive element definition updates. Is there a way to do this using the read/write rules and or XLST, without resorting to Framescript or an API client?

My table structure does NOT include tgroups, but can be altered to use CALS structure and naming if that will do the trick.

Thanks,

Van

Connecting to an Microsoft Access database

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:56:52 GMT

Can I create an HTML page or equivalent from which I can connect to an Access database that is on my computer or a drive connected to the computer WITHOUT having my computer run a server application? I have read the online help and not sure if I can do it and what has to be done.

The goal is to create a Web page that is an interface to an Access database that resides on a shared drive that anyone in the company can map to. I realize that the Web page connects using an ODBC driver, but does the user's computer also need to be running some kind of server application?

If it can be done without a server application, how do I set up the testing server, etc.

Thanks,

Van

Sorting a filtered Spry dataSet

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:32:52 GMT

I am sure I am not understanding something simple, but help is needed.

I create a dataSet from an XML file and display it in a table inside a region. Each column head has the sort attribute. When I click any column head, the table resorts by toggling the column's sort order. This is what is supposed to happen.

Then the dataSet is filtered nondestructively and some rows are not displayed in the table. The filtering happens when the user selects an item in a drop-down list; the drop-down list's unchange event handler applies the filter to the dataSet.

Now when I click any column head, the table resorts but hides one of the existing rows and displays a previously hidden row. The newly displayed row does NOT satisfy the filter. With some investigation, I discovered that the filtering function is executed after a column head is clicked, even though the drop-down list is NOT touched, which is the only place I know that calls the filtering function.

So, what am I missing? Once the dataSet is filtered, shouldn't the user be able to resort the filtered table just as it is?

Thanks,

Van

Thread moved to Spry Framework forum

Where are the Spry Javascript files located in Dreamweaver CS4?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:40:32 GMT

I am sure this is a trivial question but I cannot find them.

The Adobe Web site states that Dreamweaver CS4 ships with Spry 1.6. I am trying to create a SpryNestXMLDataSet, but cannot find where the js file is stored, to copy it to my site. I do not see anything in the insert Spry data set wizard that allows me to create a nested XML data set. Thus, I can get Dreamweaver to add the xpath.js and the SpryData.js files, but I cannot figure out how to add the SpryNestXMLDataSet.js file, nor find a copy within the Dreamweaver program files.

Thanks,

Van

Why not MIF?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Tue, 19 May 2009 15:41:37 GMT

The question is rhetorical. There is no need to respond.

I just spent over an hour trying to print selected files from a book to the AdobePDF printer. FrameMaker 9.0p237 crashed seconds into the operation. I tried printing individual files in the book. I tried printing to file. All resulted in crashes. Yesterday printing was fine, except for some muddled PDFs, but no crashes.

Finally I saved each fm file in the mif format, opened the mif files, and saved each to fm. I also mifed the book file. I then opened the book, updated it a few times, and printed the selected documents to the AdobePDF printer. It worked just fine!

I have seen so many times on this forum the suggestion of cleaning files by saving them to mif and back to fm. If this is such a good process, maybe Adobe should consider making the mif format the standard format for FrameMaker files. I know that the file size is larger, but if it solves so many problems, why not! Or maybe FrameMaker's save process should include a background mif wash to minimize problems.

Editing an XML file

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:33:13 GMT

I export XML files from FrameMaker files. If errors occur, FrameMaker lists the line number at which each error occurs. Of the applications I have, Dreamweaver is the only one that can show line numbers in its code editor. I would have thought that Dreamweaver's code editor should be able to open and display any text document, such as an XML file; however, when I open an XML file in the code editor, Dreamweaver displays the first third and the last third correctly but messes up the middle third---not really garbled but more like randomly ordered snippets or strings. The file displays correctly in WordPad, but WordPad does not display line numbers.

I do not need Dreamweaver to validate the XML but just to display the line numbers and maybe allow minor editing. Is there some preference I need to set in order to display the file correctly?

I am using Dreamweaver CS4 and Frame 9, XP with SP3.

Thanks,

Van

Specifying file paths in a structure application

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:33:42 GMT

I am beginning work on round tripping between Frame and XML. I would like to place the files associated with my structure app on a server and have the structure app point to the server. That way, all the writers will be using the same files. In general, I use the path name in the form:

\\server\share\directory1\directory2\filenames

Then each writer can map the server to which ever drive is most convenient. This works just fine for the read/write rules, the template, and the XSLT file, but not for the DTD. Using the above path name, the application cannot find the DTD file. If I use something like A:\directory1\directory2\filenames, then the DTD is found and everything is fine.

So, why does the server-share form for the pathnames work for all the files, except the DTD?

Using Frame 9.0p237 on XP service pack 3.

Thanks,

Van

Errors trying to apply a Boolean expression for conditional text

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:52:21 GMT

I have been trying to create some Boolean expressions to filter conditional text, with mixed results. The Boolean expression is three conditions separated by ORs followed by four conditions preceded by AND NOTs. When I apply the expression, FrameMaker exhibits and error and has to quit. The numbers in the error message are:

9004, 4908044, 6134440, 5459515

The hidden log file appears to be nothing more than a stack dump.

Do the numbers listed above indicate anything?

Are there any known limitations on how long a Boolean expression can or should be? One expression with one fewer OR worked.

Does there need to be a space between an AND and a NOT? The builder does add one, so I assume it is not necessary.

Does anyone have some general rules of thumb when working with Boolean expressions for conditional text?

Thanks,

Van

Problem with an index of markers

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:06:30 GMT

In FrameMaker 7.2, I developed an elegant method for compiling an index of warnings, which is an alphabetical list of all the warnings in the book, each followed by the pages at which they occur in the book. Thus, warnings that used the same content were listed in one entry. This was required by a regulatory agency. The previous workflow created a list of warnings followed by a manual correlation of warnings with the same content.

My method involved the addition of a marker of type warning in each warning element. The content of this marker was the building block <$elemtextonly>, which "pulled in" the content of the element, in this case the warning. This worked beautifully. It also worked in unstructured books by replacing <$elemtextonly> with <$paratextonly>.

In FrameMaker 9.0p230, it no longer works. The index of warnings consists of one entry: <$elemtextonly>, followed by the list of pages for all the warnings.

I tried replacing $elemtextonly with $elemtext, which does not work.

Replacing $elemtextonly with $paratextonly, also does not work.

However, replacing <$elemtextonly> with <$paratext> in each warning marker yields the required results, almost. $paratext pulls in the element's prefix, which is the word "Warning" followed by a line break. $elemtextonly (in 7.2) excludes the prefix. If I changed the prefix to an autonumber, then $paratext would work as I want, but I cannot put a line break in an autonumber.

So, what was once a beautiful feature in FrameMaker 7. 2 is now broken in version 9.

Short of reformulating my element structure, does anyone have any suggestions? Or is this a bug that Adobe intends to correct?

Thanks,

Van

Why does a document filtered by attribute show blank pages?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:03:13 GMT

Unless someone can offer an explanation or a fix, this seems like another reason not to use filtering by attribute.

I have an 8 page document, which when filtered by attribute has content on only two pages. I have set the document to have an even number of pages. When I save the filtered document, the blank pages are not deleted, as they are with conditional text. If I delete the blank pages, save the file, and open it again, the six blank pages reappear. Even if I do not reopen the file, but print it from a book, the blank pages are reinserted.

So, what is the good of filtering by attribute if one is left with many blank pages?

Am I doing something wrong? Or need to set some flag somewhere?

Thanks,

Van

Filter by attribute

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:49:55 GMT

I am trying to implement filtering by attribute in my EDD. Suppose I have four products A, B, C, and D. I would like to mark an element as applying to products A and B, but not C and D. Conceptually it could be done by selecting two of the four choices for an attribute named "product"; but I do not believe this can be done.

Has anyone devised a scheme to do what I am trying to do?

I am working in FrameMaker 9 p230.

Thanks,

Van

No print progression meter

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:15:22 GMT

Began using Frame 9 with the p230 update this week. When I print to the Adobe PDF printer, the dialog box that shows the progression of the printing does NOT display the percentage of the selected documents printed NOR the progress bar itself; however, it displays the file that is currently printing. This is not a show stopper, but just a little glitch that should really be working by now.

Is this a known bug, or do I need to do something to fix this?

Thanks,

Van

Can documents be opened from the book without updating references?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:08:10 GMT

I just received FrameMaker 9 and have found that documents open rather slowly. The user guide says one can Ctrl-click the Open button in the open dialog box to open a file without updating the references, which causes the file to open quicker than normal. I almost always work within a book file, but I cannot find a way to open files from a book without updating the references. Has anyone found a way?

Thanks,

Van