3 Replies Latest reply: Oct 23, 2014 1:27 PM by max_drawdown RSS

    Auto-generating chapter TOCs

    kimy_64@yahoo.com Community Member
    kimy_64@yahoo.com Oct 23, 2014 9:21 AM

      I have been searching around on the Internet to find an automated solution to the following manual process:

       

      1. Generate and update an entire book.
      2. Manually generate each chapter TOC to get the page numbers and headings correct in the chapter TOC. This means open each chapter, generate the TOC,save and close.
      3. Generate and update the entire book again to make sure the imported TOC files were all updated properly in each file.
      4. Spot check to make sure step 3 didn't add pages I didn't expect and thus made the chapter level TOC out of date.
      5. Possibly do steps 1 - 4 a second time.

       

      From what I have read, it seems that I need a Frame script to automate this process. Are there any other solutions? If not, can someone recommend a scripting provider?


      This is for an unstructured book.


      Thanks in advance.


      Kim

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        • 1. Re: Auto-generating chapter TOCs
          Arnis Gubins CommunityMVP
          Arnis Gubins Oct 23, 2014 9:31 AM (in response to kimy_64@yahoo.com)

          Hi Kim,

           

          I would highly recommend Rick Quatro to create such a script for you. For contact details, see: http://frameautomation.com/about/

          • 2. Re: Auto-generating chapter TOCs
            kimy_64@yahoo.com Community Member
            kimy_64@yahoo.com Oct 23, 2014 9:47 AM (in response to Arnis Gubins)

            Thank you, Arnis! I will contact Rick.

            • 3. Re: Auto-generating chapter TOCs
              max_drawdown Community Member
              max_drawdown Oct 23, 2014 1:27 PM (in response to kimy_64@yahoo.com)

              @kimy,

               

              If the chTOC insets are set for auto-update, you can simplify Step 3 to open, then save-on-close, each chapter.

              If the chTOC pages are numbered independently of the chapter content pages, you might be able to skip Step 4 and Step 5.

               

              You could also automate with Extendscript, maybe even with dzbatcher. I haven't tried either.

               

              I also recommend Rick.

               

              My own not-yet-automated approach for making Step 2 go really fast (after this setup time):

              1. Create a book for each chapter. The chapter files either are, or are not, in the same folder as the book. (In my case, it's a different folder.)
              2. Create a TOC within each of those books.
              3. Create a book of those books.

               

              Then the chTOC update process is:

              1. Open the book of books.
              2. Open each of its sub-books (Shift + File)
              3. Update and then save-as-close each sub-book in turn. This updates the TOC file.
                _ For update options, clear everything and select only "Generate..."
                _ Skip past the message offering to renumber the book. (The numbering was set correctly when you updated the real "presentation" book.)

               

              Best,