Conversion of FrameMaker 5.5.x Cross-File Links to Acrobat

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1 FrameMaker-to-crobat Conversion of FrameMaker 5.5.x Cross-File Links to crobat The issue of preserving FrameMaker cross-file links when converting FrameMaker files and books to crobat touches on several aspects, which you must be aware of when producing the PostScript files to be distilled, if links are to be consistently valid. The following table describes various combinations of cross-file relative links, and the resulting target PDF file name and path. Key aspects are discussed in the following pages. No. relative link (cross-reference or hypertext) is: target PDF file name relative path 1 file1 file2 file2.pdf retained 2 file1 file2 that is part of an open book, book2 book2.pdf retained 3 book1, output as multiple files using * specification file2 file2.pdf 4 book1, chapters output individually file2 file2.pdf retained 5 book1, output as multiple files using * specification file2, that is part of an open book, book2 file2.pdf 6 book1, chapters output individually file2, that is part of an open book, book2 book2.pdf retained 7 book1, output as a single file file2, that is part of an open book, book2 book2.pdf retained 8 file1 file2, both part of an open book, book1, printed as a single file n/a n/a 9 file1 file2, both part of an open book, book1, output as multiple files using * specification file2.pdf 10 file1 file2, both part of an open book, book1, chapters output individually book1.pdf Version 1.0. Copyright 1998 by Shlomo Perets, MicroType (Israel), ll rights reserved. This guide may not be used for any commercial or fee-based work without express written permission from the author; however, it may be downloaded and used freely by individuals as long as this notice is retained and no fee is charged. FrameMaker is a registered trademark of dobe Systems Inc.

2 FrameMaker-to-crobat Conversion of FrameMaker 5.5.x Cross-File Links to crobat 2 Target filename: book vs. chapter In FrameMaker, cross-reference and hypertext links are always between individual documents; these documents might be part of books or not, but this does not affect the nature of the link. In FrameMaker: When converting FrameMaker files to PDF, however, there are two possible scenarios: (1) all book chapters are converted to a single, consolidated PDF, or (2) book chapters are converted to individual PDF files. (Depending on your needs, there are advantages and disadvantages to both approaches, but this issue is outside the scope of this article). The same cross-reference or hypertext link in FrameMaker can be converted to the corresponding crobat link in several different ways only one of which will be valid in your final PDF document collection. Your hypertext links and cross-reference will be valid in crobat only if your final PDFs match what FrameMaker had in mind when producing the PostScript files..book x.fm 1.fm 2.fm If you have cross-book links, you must know in advance how are you planning to convert the book files which are the target of links to PDFs one consolidated PDF or individual chapters. If you will be producing a consolidated PDF for each book, then as a general rule, the target books must be open when you create the PostScript files for the other books. You don t need to open the book chapters, just the book itself has to be open. This signals to FrameMaker to use the book file name as the target PDF file. In crobat: 1.pdf If the target books are not open, FrameMaker uses the chapter names as the target for the links. Notice that when printing a book to multiple PostScript files using the * specification, cross-book links use the individual file names as the target, and not the book, even when target books are open. To have the book as a target, rather than the individual chapter, print each file in the book individually, with the target book being open. (Or use the ook2pdf free plug-in from Mekon to print all book chapters in one step, see details on next page). or x.pdf 2.pdf.pdf x.pdf

3 FrameMaker-to-crobat Conversion of FrameMaker 5.5.x Cross-File Links to crobat 3 Let FrameMaker be in charge of file names! When producing PostScript files, let FrameMaker be in charge of the output file name: If you are printing the whole book to a single PostScript file, accept the default file name in FrameMaker s print dialog box. If you are printing multiple PostScript files from a book, specify the path where you want the PostScript files, followed by a * (not *.ps), for example: c:\project\output\* Notice that when you re-visit the print dialog box you ll find out that FrameMaker added a.ps, for example: c:\project\output\*.ps You have to delete.ps again, so that the c:\project\output\* specification is reverted to. If you need to print all chapters of a book individually because of the path problem (see below), accept the FrameMaker default name for each chapter. When you follow these guidelines, all PostScript files automatically receive the FrameMaker file name (without the extension, eg chapter1.fm is printed to chapter1.ps, etc.). When the PostScript files are prepared this way, all links should work in PDF assuming that they are valid in your FrameMaker source files. Note that the path is when you print PostScript files from a book, specifying * for the file name. If you convert all book chapters to individual PDFs and you have links to chapters of other books, residing in different folders, you must print each PostScript file individually, so that path is retained. Watch out! Individually printing a TOC file (or any generated list), with crobat Data turned on, causes FrameMaker to crash (see page 5 for a workaround). free plug-in from Mekon The ook2pdf plug-in from Mekon ( enables you to print a book to multiple files and have FrameMaker retain path information use a book target file, if the target book is open when outputting the PostScript file. Notes

4 FrameMaker-to-crobat Conversion of FrameMaker 5.5.x Cross-File Links to crobat 4 Do cross-linked books reside in same folder or in different folders? If book files are in the same folder, and link target is a file that is part of a book, and that book is open, and you are printing chapter files individually (not outputting multiple files using the * specification),... then the filename in the link command is automatically changed to the book name. If book files are in different folders in the same disk drive (volume), and the path in your hypertext command is relative (crossreferences to files in the same volume/drive are relative), and the target book is open,... then the book name is used as a target, prefixed by the relative path. The directory structure must be replicated in the target environment (disk or CD) for such links to work. If the cross-reference/gotolink is to a file in a different volume/drive, then an absolute address is specified for the link; most likely, this will not work in other computers or on a CD. If you output each book as a consolidated PDF, have the books in different folders, and you are interested in PDFs without a relative path, you can keep all chapters for all books wherever they are, but move all book files to the same folder. This involves some work, but you don t need to recreate the books with all their settings; use the following procedure: 1 Move the book file to the common folder. 2 dd one test file from the folder where your chapters are. 3 Save the book file as MIF. 4 Open the book.mif in a text editor, and update the path for all chapters, using FrameMaker cross-platform notation as seen for the test file you added. (MIF files for books are typically small, and the operation is usually fairly simple). 5 Open the book.mif file in FrameMaker, remove the test file you added and save as normal book file. TOC or Master TOC Presentations Literature ppnotes CatalogSheets C If printing from file (and book is closed) path/file is: Literature/ppNotes/.pdf.pdf If printing through book (multiple, * specification), path/file is: This way, links and cross-references between the different chapters will be valid in FrameMaker, and also valid when the PDFs are created each book as a single, consolidated PDF.

5 FrameMaker-to-crobat Conversion of FrameMaker 5.5.x Cross-File Links to crobat 5 FrameMaker Crashes when printing a TOC file with crobat Data individually FrameMaker crashes when individually printing a generated list (such as a Table of Contents) with Generate crobat Data turned on (or using the Save as PDF function). Generated indexes do not cause this problem This is described in dobe Tech Note 1be56 and the relevant workaround suggested ( Solution 1 ) is to print the generated list from a book. When printing from a book, however, relative path is, and if the book includes chapters in different folders, and the directory tree is replicated on a distribution CD, invalid links will result. n alternative workaround involves a one-time change in the reference page of the generated list: Change the first line in the TOC, LOT or LOF specification from: openobjectid <$relfilename>:<$objecttype> <$ObjectId> to: gotopage <$relfilename>:<$pagenumonly> For all practical purposes, the end result will be the same, but FrameMaker will not abnormally quit when printing the generated list individually. If your chapters are advertently set to be displayed at magnifications where only a portion of the page is shown, when clicking the TOC entry in the PDF the top part corresponding page will be displayed; if the target heading falls at the bottom of a page, it will be necessary to scroll down to see it. Notes

PDF-Related Aspects of FrameMaker 6.0

PDF-Related Aspects of FrameMaker 6.0 By Shlomo Perets FrameMaker 6.0, released April 2000, is labelled as a Multichannel Publishing tool. Among other new functions (mostly related to book functionality),