atw: Re: cross-references in FrameMaker (was re: austechwriter Digest V7 #178)

Hello Dave,

I've just enlarged my first FM dialog ... and what a boon. Thanks again for
alerting us to this now-indispensible tool.

I was wondering if you might like to write a small article on this topic for
the February 2010 issue of my company's e-bulletin for technical writers.
You could, if you like, just elaborate on the steps you gave in your email
(along with a few screenshots). Or expand the discussion further (perhaps
with an MS Word example too). I don't really mind how you approach it and
what you include. But I do think that I our readers would find the topic
fascinating.

You can see copies of our e-bulletin (called "Words") at
www.abelard.com.au/bulletin.html

You would, of course, be acknowledged as the author, and all copyright in
the article will be retained by you.

Cheers
 
Geoffrey Marnell
Principal Consultant
Abelard Consulting Pty Ltd
T: +61 3 9596 3456
F: +61 3 9596 3625
W: www.abelard.com.au

-----Original Message-----
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Dave Reynolds
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 7:02 AM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: cross-references in FrameMaker (was re: austechwriter Digest
V7 #178)

I've also had problems in the past with inserting cross-references to 
target paras with similar text.  The worst case of this was with a 
service manual where I was inserting cross refs to steps in fault 
finding procedures.  Many steps started with the same text, and it was 
almost impossible to select the correct para from the limited text that 
appeared in the cross ref dialog.

My solution was to use a little program called Resource Hacker.  This 
allowed me to edit the fmdlg.dll file to enlarge the cross reference 
dialog to expand the field in which the text of the target paras 
appears.  I made the field big enough to display the whole first line of 
text from each target para, which made my job a whole lot easier.

Here is the text of the email about Resource Hacker that was posted to 
the Framers list some time back:

************************
- Download Angus Johnson's Resource Hacker (TM) from
  <http://www.users.on.net/johnson/resourcehacker/> (541KB)
- Make a backup copy of the file fminit\fmdlg.dll
- Start Resource Hacker and open fmdlg.dll
- Find the appropriate dialog resource under Dialogs:
  - XREF_MAIN/1033 is used in unstructured FM7
  - XREF_MAIN_ELEM/1033 is used in structured FM7
- Adjust the dialog and the listbox to your needs in the dialog editor
- Click on the "Compile Script" button
- Save fmdlg.dll

************************

I've since enlarged several Frame dialogs to display more text, and now 
they are almost indispensable.  If anyone wants more information or more 
specific instructions, please let me know.  I'm happy to take you 
through the editing process, or provide a sample edited dll.

Cheers

Dave


Graeme Worth wrote, on 21/07/2009 8:27 p.m.:
>
>>
>> No that's not quite the problem.   One common problem that can arise 
>> may be a consequence of having
>> similar text being used in cross reference markers (eg, similarly 
>> worded headings etc).
>> FrameMaker gives you an available list of possible target markers, so 
>> it's easy enough to pick one
>> from the immediately available list without having been forced to 
>> change to the other file.
>>
>> More to the point, perhaps, is the fact that if you haven't opened 
>> the target file in advance +and kept it open+,
>> the selection dialogue will only show you markers from your currently 
>> open file(s).
>>
>> It's easy enough then if headings are similar etc. to see a list of 
>> cross reference headers and see the one you think you want
>> in the Current display -- which allows you to create a cross 
>> reference to the wrong place.
>
> Ah - I see. Thanks Peter. I was a bit confused and thought you were 
> referring to a 'bug' in FM that would allow bad cross refs to be 
> created, but now I see that it is a workflow/operator error problem. 
> In my situation the cross ref text is always specific, so if it ain't 
> in the list I know I don't have the file open. The possibility of 
> creating bad cross refs the way you describe hadn't occurred to me. 
> Now it makes sense and I'll keep it in mind if I ever need to use 
> similar cross ref text in different files.
> cheers
> Graeme
>
>
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-- 
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Dave Reynolds                         Phone: (64) (3) 358 1029
Senior Technical Author               Fax: (64) (3) 359 4632
Tait Electronics Ltd                  Email: dave.reynolds@xxxxxxxxxx
PO Box 1645
Christchurch
New Zealand


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