At 05:00 PM 4/19/2006, Lin Surasky wrote:
We have a fabulous unstructured template that has 4 different table
formats our writers use to insert alerts (Notes, Tips, Important facts,
and Warnings). All of the table formats are single-row, two-column
layouts, but each table format (named zNote, zTip, etc.) is unique in
two ways: the color of the column rule and the paragraph tag used in the
first column of the table, which corresponds to the type of alert (note,
tip, etc.)....
What's the best way to implement this and still get the same end result?
Should I not be using tables? The closest I can get is inserting a table
with the same paragraph format assigned to both table cells, which I
don't want. How do you specify one paragraph format for one column and a
different format for the second column?
Lin,
You can either use one cell element type with a context rule to
distinguish the two columns, or you can use different cell types. With the
first approach, use something like:
Element (Table): Note
General rule: AlertBody
Initial table format
1. In all contexts.
Table format: zNote
Element (Table Body): AlertBody
General rule: AlertRow
Element (Table Row): AlertRow
General rule: AlertCell, AlertCell
Element (Table Cell): AlertCell
General rule: <TEXT> | Graphic
Text format rules
1. If context is: {first}
Use paragraph format: FirstColumn
Else, if context is: {last}
Use paragraph format: SecondColumn
There are numerous possible variations here. Do all 4 table types use the
same two paragraph formats? If not you can have 8 clauses in the context
rule, with specifications such as
{first} < * < Note
{first} < * < Tips
etc. Or you can use a subrule:
1. If context is: {first}
1.1 If context is: * < Note
Use paragraph format: NoteFirst
Else, if context is: * < Tips
Use paragraph format: TipsFirst
and so on.
Also, the default paragraph format for all cells in the table body is that
defined for the first column in the table format. If that's acceptable, the
EDD need only specify the paragraph format for the second column.
The second approach I mentioned, uses two different element types for the
two columns. One such variation of the above is to change the definition of
AlertRow:
Element (Table Row): AlertRow
General rule: GraphicCell, TextCell
Initial structure pattern: GraphicCell, TextCell
Element (Table Cell): GraphicCell
General rule: Graphic
Text format rules
1. In all contexts.
Use paragraph format: FirstColumn
Element (Table Cell): TextCell
General rule: <TEXT>
Text format rules
1. In all contexts.
Use paragraph format: SecondColumn
Note the initial structure pattern. Without it, when you create a new
table, FrameMaker will use the first cell element mentioned in the general
rule for all cells in the row. Thus, you would get two GraphicCell elements.
--Lynne
Else, if context is: {last}
Use paragraph format: SecondColumn
Lynne A. Price
Text Structure Consulting, Inc.
Specializing in structured FrameMaker consulting, application development,
and training
[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.txstruct.com
voice/fax: (510) 583-1505 cell phone: (510) 421-2284
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