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This sounds like a good idea - one question though - I've found that if
I keep a file (let's say used for Product B only with Product B
conditional text in it and nothing else) in a book that I'm generating
for Product A, I get blank pages at that point in the book. Am I missing
something basic?
From: voxwoman [mailto:voxwoman -at- gmail -dot- com]
Sent: 19 November 2008 12:56
To: Laura Fergusson
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: FrameMaker 8 books advice please
My colleague here (who also lurks on this list) implemented a very
clever technique for handling file formats: he created a regular Frame
(.fm) file that contains the all the variables and conditional text
settings for a particular book set. The conditional text and variables
are then defined for each "flavor" of book that you have to produce in
separate "formatting files". These are applied to the entire book as
part of the release process, before creating the PDF.
Not only does it eliminate the need for multiple book files using the
same chapter files, you can see at a glance in the formatting files
which conditions are visible, and what all the variables are set to.
-Wendy
On Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 7:20 AM, Laura Fergusson
<l -dot- fergusson -at- codestuff -dot- net> wrote:
Dear all
This is my first message to the group so I hope it is okay.
I have started using FrameMaker again after a break of over a year (now
version 8). I am using conditional text heavily as we have three sets
of product literature to maintain.
There are a few files which are specific to only one or other of the the
products. Should I
a) Stick to having one book file and add/delete the files as
necessary depending on which product I am dealing with
b) Have a separate book file for each of the product sets, with
just the relevant files for that set contained in each?
I tend towards the latter solution myself but I am just getting the hang
again of FrameMaker and I am not sure it's the correct approach.
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ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing
solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or
HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. http://www.doctohelp.com
Help & Manual 5: The complete help authoring tool for individual
authors and teams. Professional power, intuitive interface. Write
once, publish to 8 formats. Multi-user authoring and version control! http://www.helpandmanual.com/
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