atw: Re: FrameMaker: Problem with cross references

Hi Reena,

One explanation could be that the files containing the x-ref targets are
not open at the time you generate the pdf.

Note also that x-refs across files in FM are addressed relatively. In the
resulting pdf, if the target pdf file does not have the same relative
address as the target FM file did, the link will not work.

X-refs between chapters of the same book generally work because we
commonly put the all the chapter files for one book into the same
directory.

X-refs between books often do not work because the books are in different
directories, with their chapters. When the book PDFs are generated, and
put into the same directory (on a web site, for example), the PDF links
will not work.

I work around this phenomenon by putting:
1. all the .book files in one head directory, then
2. the chapter files for different books in their own book directories.

For example, a product which has a quick reference guide, user manual and
technical manual exists in this structure:

/Documentation
/Documentation/QR.book
/Documentation/User.book
/Documentation/Tech.book
/QR
/QR/Section_1.fm
/QR/Section_n.fm
/User
/User/Chap_1.fm
/User/Chap_n.fm
/Tech
/Tech/Chap_1.fm
/Tech/Chap_n.fm

Generate the ToC, Index etc in /Documentation. Also generate the PDFs
from this directory. You now can (in fact must) put the PDFs for the
various books in the same directory for the PDF links to work.

You can also make .MIF files and hack them to adjust the link addresses,
or hack the .PS file by search and destroy, but this tedious and prone to
error, suitable only for a one-off fix, unless you are a script-jockey.

Reg



On Mon, 05 Apr 2004 19:28:13 +0530, "Reena" <reena@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
said:
> Hi,
>=20
> I have a .fm file that contains cross references. When I convert the
> file to pdf, a few cross references do not work. (These work in the .fm
> file!)
> Any idea what could be the reason?
>=20
> Reena
>=20
>=20
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--
R=E9ginald Hardman
R=E9dacteur Technique
Paris, France=20=20=20

Reginald Hardman
Technical writer
Paris, France
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