RE: Phantom index entries
I'll second this one. I've spent literally hours pulling my hair out about phantom index entries, only to find that there were multiple, invisible index markers that were stacked one atop the other. I'd remove one, only to find there was another one there. And once you think you've got them all, sometimes you have to go back and remove even more. It's crazy making, but I did finally get my index to work. Karyn From: Stamm, David-P45904 [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Murray Moore [EMAIL PROTECTED],framers@lists.frameusers.com Subject: RE: Phantom index entries Date: Thu, 3 Aug 2006 13:45:54 -0400 2006-08-03-04T17:45Z Murray - I just saw Frank Stearns' posting as I was finishing my missive, below. I agree with Frank's projection about what I refer to as LAN interference, network collisions, and network congestion. I've seen FrameMaker do some mighty-odd things here that, apparently, our colleagues don't experience. At least, they don't discuss such intermittent, oddball behaviors on this list. Believe you me: I feel your pain. I recently relearned that FrameMaker sometimes stacks markers one on top of the other. The only thing visible is one marker, but there might be more than one marker at the same place. I have found six markers stacked atop one another on the reference page named BookHTML. I think you might find an Index marker that contains an entry such as 16 or 18 or 24 - without the quotation marks. Notice that each number is preceded by at least one blank ( ). I believe that in such a situation, FrameMaker detects the blank or blanks, recognizes it or them as symbols, and quite happily sorts the contents to appear as you have reported them. Try this. 1. By whatever means, go to the marker that you believe is the offender. The marker appears highlighted. Remember that the marker might be very hard to see. It might be at the very end of a bit of text that is next to a text frame or a line in a table. 2. If necessary or desired, zoom in on the file until you can see the marker that is highlighted. The marker becomes more-readily visible. 3. Press the left arrow key ( - ) once. The insertion point moves to the left. If the marker is at the right side of a letter, the point moves to the left side of the letter. 4. Press the right arrow key ( - ) once. The insertion point moves into an invisible place between the right side of the letter and the left side of the marker. The insertion point remains visible. 5. Press the spacebar once, twice, or thrice. (Hey, you can go crazy here because you can't really hurt anything, and hitting the spacebar is better than biting the edge of your work surface.) One or more blanks appear to the left of the marker. 6. Press the right arrow key ( - ) _only_once_, and press the spacebar _only_once_. 7. If this movement produces only one or more blanks - and nothing else - you're dealing with only one marker. 8. If this movement produces a blank _and_ another marker begins to appear, repeat steps six and seven until no more markers appear. 9. If FrameMaker's Marker dialog box is not displayed, display it. Press Alt+S+M. The Marker dialog box appears. 10. Highlight each marker one-at-a-time and examine both its type (such as Index or TopicAlias or Author in the title bar) and its contents. Again, I think you might find an Index marker that contains an entry such as 16 or 18 or 24 - without the quotation marks. Notice that each number is preceded by at least one blank ( ). I believe that in such a situation, FrameMaker detects the blank or blanks, recognizes it or them as symbols, and quite happily sorts the contents to appear as you have reported them. Good luck! Dave Stamm Publications Specialist, Senior Staff General Dynamics C4 Systems, Inc. Command Systems 1700 Magnavox Way, Suite 200 Fort Wayne, Indiana 46804-1552 US tel: 260-434-9620 fax: 260.434.9601 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.gdc4s.com/ -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Murray Moore Sent: 2006-08-01-Tuesday 09:55 To: framers@lists.frameusers.com Subject: Phantom index entries FM 6.0p405 XP Pro Version 2002 Service Pack 2 In my book's index, page numbers are appearing under the Symbols heading; 16, 18, 24, etc. I traced each of these numbers to its source index marker, e.g. one of the page numbers under the Symbols heading, 34, is the A Year Ago This Month button heading on page 34. On page 34 I deleted and recreated the index marker. But when I updated the book and the index, 34 continues to display under Symbols. On page 34 I deleted the index marker. I updated the book and the index. Not only does 16 continue to display under Symbols, but A Year Ago This Month 34 continues to display under the A heading. Our IT Dept. head suggested I might have exceeded the maximum size for a FM file. I do not think so because I have produced thicker books. /\/\ Murray Moore Documentation Department CSDC Systems Inc. Mississauga, Ontario
Re: Phantom index entries
Hi Murray... If you do need to modify your markers en-masse another option is to use our MarkerTools plugin .. http://www.leximation.com/tools/info/markertools.php One of its features allows you to export, modify, then import the markers back into your files. If you do find some consistent problem with the marker text, you may be able to use Perl of some search/replace tool to process the exported marker list before importing. The 30-day trial should give you enough time to clean up your files without needing to buy it. Good luck! ...scott Scott Prentice Leximation, Inc. www.leximation.com +1.415.485.1892 ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send list messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
RE: Phantom index entries
karyn hunt wrote: I'll second this one. I've spent literally hours pulling my hair out about phantom index entries, only to find that there were multiple, invisible index markers that were stacked one atop the other. I'd remove one, only to find there was another one there. And once you think you've got them all, sometimes you have to go back and remove even more. It's crazy making, but I did finally get my index to work. You can move from one marker to the next with the Find command. David Stamm's procedure works if you don't use smart spaces. But, IMHO, life is too short to suffer through this kind of nonsense. FM's marker manipulation functionality is just plain inadequate for any serious work. Why put up with it? Do yourselves a favor and try the several plugins for making this stuff easier -- IXGen, Index Tools Pro, Marker Tools, ... (I'm sure I'm forgetting something). I like IXGen (fsatools.com), but I'm certain they're all huge improvements over plain FM. Pick one that works for you and buy it. Richard -- Richard G. Combs Senior Technical Writer Polycom, Inc. richardDOTcombs AT polycomDOTcom 303-223-5111 -- rgcombs AT gmailDOTcom 303-777-0436 -- ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send list messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
RE: Phantom index entries (fwd)
2006-08-03-04T19:25Z Frank - Thanks for following up. Your service to me has always been prompt, courteous, and effective. aside to all I have, use, and hardily recommend using IXgen; I'm a satisfied customer. /aside to all Murray, it was evident to me that you do not have IXgen. Not all of us are fortunate enough to have it. Hence, the procedure I posted. Having some time ago used the procedure Frank presented below, I was mystified when (after I deleted the offending marker) from the source file, FrameMaker still showed a marker in the same place. Being curious, I sorted things out for myself and do my best to avoid having stacks of markers. Through entropy (that is, human error, LAN interference, and whatever) strange things happen, so (from time to time) I remind myself that: There are certain practical limits to the application of technology. Regards, Dave Stamm Publications Specialist, Senior Staff General Dynamics C4 Systems, Inc. Command Systems 1700 Magnavox Way, Suite 200 Fort Wayne, Indiana 46804-1552 US tel: 260-434-9620 fax: 260.434.9601 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.gdc4s.com/ -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Frank Stearns Sent: 2006-08-03-Thursday 15:06 To: framers@lists.frameusers.com Subject: RE: Phantom index entries (fwd) (oops -- I forgot to reply to the list... Sorry, David, for the dbl post to you! g-Frank Stearns) On Thu, 3 Aug 2006, Stamm, David-P45904 wrote: Try this. 1. By whatever means, go to the marker that you believe is the offender. The marker appears highlighted. Remember that the marker Maybe I missed something here, but you can also always turn on hypertext linking when doing a generate/update. Then from the new index doc go to the whacky entries and control-alt-click on their page numbers one by one -- the control-alt-click will jump you back to the source doc and that marker will be selected, whether you can see the selection or not. Press DEL. Unless it really is the horror marker from Brimstone Regions, it oughtta go away. If not, we'd still like to see the doc. (One shameless plug of a side note: IXgen can make clustered markers very easy to see, either in context in the body text, or in a sorted or unsorted listing document that you can edit and then return to the source markers.) Frank Stearns Associates | makers of IXgen(tm) for FrameMaker(r) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] TOLL FREE Voice (USA and Canada): 800-567-6421 USA Voice: 360-892-3970 USA FAX: 360-253-1498 http://www.fsatools.com ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send list messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/dave.stamm%40gdc4s.c om Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info. ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send list messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
Re: Phantom index entries
On Tue, 1 Aug 2006, Murray Moore wrote: FM 6.0p405 XP Pro Version 2002 Service Pack 2 In my book's index, page numbers are appearing under the Symbols heading; 16, 18, 24, etc. I traced each of these numbers to its source index marker, e.g. one of the page numbers under the Symbols heading, 34, is the A Year Ago This Month button heading on page 34. On page 34 I deleted and recreated the index marker. But when I updated the book and the index, 34 continues to display under Symbols. On page 34 I deleted the index marker. I updated the book and the index. Not only does 16 continue to display under Symbols, but A Year Ago This Month 34 continues to display under the A heading. Our IT Dept. head suggested I might have exceeded the maximum size for a FM file. I do not think so because I have produced thicker books. Were the source files perhaps originally created in MS word? We've seen such markers sourced in word as having a leading and trailing char 020 -- it's a non-printing char, but one that FM sees when the index is generated (and thus the entry under Symbols). About the only way to check (and fix) is to save the doc as MIF, search for the text of the affected markers, then check the MIF statements of each affected marker for numerical character values that don't belong. Delete them (careful not to break the structure of the MIF -- check to see what a good marker looks like if you're not sure), save the MIF doc, reload into FM to convert back to FM binary form (overwrite the original FM file), and regen your index. The problem should then be gone. Hope that helps. Frank Stearns Associates | makers of IXgen(tm) for FrameMaker(r) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] TOLL FREE Voice (USA and Canada): 800-567-6421 USA Voice: 360-892-3970 USA FAX: 360-253-1498 http://www.fsatools.com ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send list messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
RE: Phantom index entries
-Original Message- From: Frank Stearns [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2006 10:29 AM To: Murray Moore Cc: framers@lists.frameusers.com Subject: Re: Phantom index entries On Tue, 1 Aug 2006, Murray Moore wrote: FM 6.0p405 XP Pro Version 2002 Service Pack 2 In my book's index, page numbers are appearing under the Symbols heading; 16, 18, 24, etc. I traced each of these numbers to its source index marker, e.g. one of the page numbers under the Symbols heading, 34, is the A Year Ago This Month button heading on page 34. On page 34 I deleted and recreated the index marker. But when I updated the book and the index, 34 continues to display under Symbols. On page 34 I deleted the index marker. I updated the book and the index. Not only does 16 continue to display under Symbols, but A Year Ago This Month 34 continues to display under the A heading. Our IT Dept. head suggested I might have exceeded the maximum size for a FM file. I do not think so because I have produced thicker books. Were the source files perhaps originally created in MS word? We've seen such markers sourced in word as having a leading and trailing char 020 -- it's a non-printing char, but one that FM sees when the index is generated (and thus the entry under Symbols). About the only way to check (and fix) is to save the doc as MIF, search for the text of the affected markers, then check the MIF statements of each affected marker for numerical character values that don't belong. Delete them (careful not to break the structure of the MIF -- check to see what a good marker looks like if you're not sure), save the MIF doc, reload into FM to convert back to FM binary form (overwrite the original FM file), and regen your index. The problem should then be gone. Hope that helps. Frank Stearns Associates | makers of IXgen(tm) for FrameMaker(r) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] TOLL FREE Voice (USA and Canada): 800-567-6421 USA Voice: 360-892-3970 USA FAX: 360-253-1498 http://www.fsatools.com Thank you, Frank. The situation that I describe is a FM book being updated to match the current version of the software. Screen shots are updated, and a bit of text added. No Word files were imported. Besides, I have been importing Word files and saving as text since mid-1999 and I have not seen this situation until now. /\/\ Murray ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send list messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
