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Standard answer from Adobe: Oh, we have fixed that in the latest version.
Translation: spend more money with Adobe.
Unfortunately for you, I went from the FM 7.x group to FM 10, so I don't
know any quirks with FM 8. With FM 10, I usually import my graphics with
the import file icon on the toolbar. It then prompts for size (DPI) before
it goes in. If you are not getting a prompt, maybe you can reset settings
that may fill that in automatically. I'll have to look at work to see what
settings may be affecting you.
As to graphic formats, we use .jpg, .tif, .png, .bmp, and occasionally .gif
files. Whatever someone sends, we use. Most older docs used .tif files since
the main guy back then thought those were necessary. Now most are .jpg since
we get those from the camera or .png since SnagIt is popping them out in
that format and no one has bothered to reset our output settings, meaning
all of us, me included. Lazy, I guess.
If could be your issue is a Windows update. Since there are so many, they
could slide something in without you knowing. And with no support for XP
now, it is possible that an update has a compatibility issue with an XP
program.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lynne Wright" <Lynne -dot- Wright -at- tiburoninc -dot- com>
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2014 12:45 PM
Subject: issue with graphics imported into FrameMaker 8
Hullo people...
For the past forever, I've been using screenshots taken as .gifs and figures
as .wmfs to illustrate my Frame documents.
First issue: For figures used in Frame, I import a .gif into Corel Draw,
then export as a .wmf file. Starting recently, à propos of NOTHING, when I
import a .wmf into a Frame graphic frame, rather than appearing at its
original size, it is displayed at 0.01" x 0.01" as a speck. I have to open
the Object Properties, and change the dimensions so that the width = the
width of my text frame; then tweak the depth by clicking and dragging the
top of the image from within the Frame graphics frame. I CANNOT figure out
why figures are no longer imported at their original dimensions.
Second issue: I've been wondering if I should switch to .pngs for both
screenshots and figures (export figures @ 96 dpi, and import them at a 1:1
ratio). Although the resolution of pngs starts to get mushy + text falls
apart if I change the display size of a page in Frame or RoboHelp 7, the
images look ok when I output to pdf and in the Help .chm file.
I realize that .wmf is becoming an obsolete format; and recognize that my
versions of Frame, Corel Draw X4 and RoboHelp are way out of date and need
to be upgraded.
Can anybody comment on the optimal formats to use for Frame, RoboHelp, and
Word?
And recommend whether I should just upgrade the apps I'm using, or switch to
some other combination of apps (I know ya'll love Flare, but does it just
replace RoboHelp, or can it be used to create source docs à la Frame?)
So many decisions.... So little knowledge in me.
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