Alphabetize conditional text tags

Is it possible to rearrange the tags in the Conditional Text pod so that they are alphabetized?

Assuming that they are presented in the same order as they appear in the data structures, it should be possible to save the document as MIF and reorder all the
<Condition ... > # end of Condition
tags inside
<ConditionCatalog ... > # end of ConditionCatalog
then re-save the MIF, open and re-save as .FM.

Similar Messages

Removing conditional text tags in a batch

Hi everyone, using TCS2 on Win-7 64-bit.
We have been using some conditional text tags in our writing, and now we are looking at adding a few new ones and taking a few away. Is there a way to remove a batch of conditional text tags from a whole bunch of FM documents, all at once? It is a tedious process to do it manually, doc per doc, tag per tag... wondering if there is a script, or anything like that?
Thanks,
Adriana

I believe there are a couple of utilities to manage conditional tags; you might try searching Leximation's tool list:
http://www.leximation.com
And, there could definitely be Framescript-based scripts, either generic or written customized for your requirements. Here's the FrameScript group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/framescript-users

Multiple Conditional Text Tags on One section

I'm composing a document with 3 conditional text tags. There
are instances where I need to conditionalize something as Tag 1 and
Tag 2 but doesn't apply for Tag 3. Robohelp seems to allow me to
apply 2 tags to one section of text, but when I generate my .chm it
doesn't include anything that has been given two tags. Is there a
way for robohelp to support this?
Is there something I should be doing differently?
I'm using Robohelp 5X.
Thanks,

Harvey,
I think you may have misunderstood me. If you apply tags A
and B to some text, and you build an exclusionary expression like
"NOT A," the text will
not appear in the output. (See rule #1 in my exclusionary
list: any text tagged with an excluded tag will be excluded, even
if other tags are applied.) If you build an inclusionary expression
like "B," the text
will appear. (See rule #1 in my inclusionary list: any text
tagged with an included tag will be included, even if other tags
are applied.)
So I don't think "include trumps exclude" in this sense. But
consider the following expressions in a 3-tag environment:
* A OR B
* NOT C
Logically, these might seem equivalent. But they aren't, and
RoboHelp doesn't treat them as equivalent. Let's assume that you've
created every possible set of tag combinations for this project: A,
B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, all 3 tags (A, B, and C), and
untagged. Here's a look at what would be included in the output for
each build expression:
A OR B:
A
B
A and B
A and C
B and C
A, B, and C
Untagged text
NOT C:
A
B
A and B
Untagged text
When people say that RoboHelp's boolean operators "don't work
right," I think they mean that expressions that seem logically
equivalent (such as these two) produce different output. Without an
understanding of how the rules are applied, a user can easily build
expressions that seem right but produce the "wrong" output. In
fact, the output is correct according to the rules.
Again, I wouldn't say that "include trumps exclude," although
I think I understand what you're getting at. The difference lies in
the application of rule #1.
I tested a simple 3-tag environment yesterday with printed
documentation and CHM files, and the expressions worked as
indicated. I didn't try WebHelp, but I've used similar expressions
before, and I feel comfortable saying that WebHelp will also work
as I've described it. Also, note that we're dealing with very
simple expressions here; complicated expressions require more care.
But most RH users can generate the desired output with a few simple
expressions. Especially inclusionary expressions.

FM 10 Crashing when applying conditional text tag

Hello everyone.
For some reason, FM keeps crashing when I try to apply a conditional text tag to a table (entire table). The funny thing is I have been doing this same thing for three months now with no problems before today, even have two tables in the same document with different tags applied to them and they are working fine. But when I try to add this one, I crash. I have rebooted my computer and made sure all my drivers are up to date, but now I'm at a loss. Any help?
Thanks.

Yes, I can apply the tag to the pictures in the document, its only when applying to the table. I am selecting all rows in the table with the mouse and then selecting the tag, clicking the radio button "in" and then clicking the "Apply" button. It then asks "apply condition tag settings to all rows in table?" I hit "ok" and then it freezes, screen shots provided.
Pic 1: My project at table causing problems.
Pic 2: Me selecting the table and choosing to apply tag.
Pic 3: Me affirming I want to apply the condition to all rows.
Pic 4: Program stops responding.

Book and File Conditional Text Tags Don't Match

In Framemaker 10 (TCS 3, Windows 7 64-bit), when I click on a document in a the book (& View>Show/Hide Conditional Text), an extra conditional text tag shows up that doesn't exist in the document Show/Hide Conditional Text.
For example:
In the book, My Book.book, I select Chapter1.fm (but don't open it).
Then I open the Show/Hide Conditional Text panel (View>Show/Hide Conditional Text)
I see these two condition tags, Hide Text and HideText. I use Hide Text but not HideText.Apparently, at some point I changed the name of the condition tag.
Then I open Chapter1.fm.
When I open the Show/Hide Conditional Text panel, HideText isn't there.
What I want to do is to delete HideText (the one I don't use), but I can't find ourt how to do it. any ideas out there?
One more bit of information that might help figure out what's going on:
I select Chapter1.fm in the book.
Then I select Show as per condition in the Show/hide Conditional Text panel.
Select HideText in the Hide field.
Click the left arrow (<--) to move HideText to the Show field.
Click Apply.
I get this error message in the Book Error Log:
Cannot show the following tags because they do not exist in this document
So, can anyone tell me how to get rid of HideText from the book files?
Thanks!
John N.

John, some troubleshooting questions:
1. did all of the file(s) originate from FM10 or were any from previous versions? Did you import previous version content? Slight naming differences between FM versions is an insidious problem that many of us here can relate to ... If any of the files were from previous versions, I would start with testing FM10 original content itself, to see what naming convention FM10 starts with.
2. if you want to dive into the innards of your problem files, you might use the venerable MIFBrowser, a freebie from
http://www.wideman-one.com/gw/tech/framemaker/mifbrowse.htm
Although it hasn't been updated in a loooooong time, it should still work perfectly with FM10 MIF files. It's just a viewer, not an editor, but it will help you get a handle on both the conditional tags in-situ, in comparison to the tag as defined in the condition catalog section.
MIF is a bit daunting if you've never looked at it, but with MIFBrowse the various sections of content are more easily viewable.
3. With copies of your FM files safely backed up you could then edit the conditions in the.MIF files in a text editor (or by using FM itself, although this takes some special care to ensure that the file remains as text. I personally fine text editors (e.g. NotepadPlus or EmEditor) easier to use because viewing line numbers helps when trying to sync between what you see in the MIFBrowse display vs. actually edit the content.
4. It's also possible to save the .book file as .mif to then examine/edit the conditional tag catalog with a text editor. You could copy the "missing" conditional definition from one of the chapters into the .book file.
Sheila

Can't select more than ONE conditional text tag in FrameMaker 10?

Hi, I work with lots and lots of Conditional Text (CT) tags in FrameMaker. We moved to v10, and now I can't select more than ONE CT tag at a time---this means when I need to apply 10 CT tags to one item, I have to select the item, click one tag, click In, and then click Apply---3 clicks, 10 separate times = 30 clicks! (I used to be able to select the item, select all the CT tags I wanted applied into the In box, and then click Apply.) This is very frustrating. I've tried to click all the Ctrl, Shift, and Alt keys separately and then try and select more than one tag, but nothing works. Please help---this is going to be a nightmare for me if this can't work!
Please help and show me that I can add more than one tag to an item at a time. Thanks so much!!!

Unfortunately, this capabiliy wasn't carried over to the Conditional Text pod when the new interface design was created. You're stuck selecting the tags one at a time and then applying a condition. It's a bit faster if you select the conditions sequentially, then you have fewer clicks for applying subsequent tags to the same content.
I fully agree that this sucks.
Please fill in a bug report and a wish list item at: FrameMaker Bugs & Wish List
You can also add/vent to the following thread (that is monitored by Adobe):
Seeking inputs on desired features in FrameMaker

Question on conditional text design

I have a relatively large book (230 pages) with dozens of tables and 100's of graphics. I need 4 versions of this book. One for each grade level (3) and one if content for all 3 grades is sold as a "master course." Other than implementing the conditional text, the book is ready to go. I have tried a couple different ways to approach the tables conditionally (some of which are in Text Frames, some just anchored to a page ) but I don't get very far. Applying the Conditional Text tags ( with different colors and markers for each)seems to make it crash (i.e. almost duplicatable unlike the "normal" 3-4 crashes I experience on a daily basis the last month that are just random). Sidenote: I was very happy to see that they are going to fix the book printing crash...
Cross reference markers are involved in these conditional sections, and I have my suspicions that they are a root culprit of my other crash problems, but then FM crashed when applying conditional text to a section that *didn't* have a x-ref, so I don't know what to think.
I need to get this out by Monday. So my question is this, if I need 4 tables in a page (one for each version) am I better off just making 4 copies of the book and compiling that way? I sold the client on FM mostly because of the ability to compile multiple docs from one base book..so I really hate to have 4 copies when I give her the source. I know you can highlight individual rows in a table for a version (so I could make one really big table for 3 of the versions and just choose different rows), but this is a thing that seems almost certain to make it crash as well. And the master tables have an additional column as well as a row so I would still need 2 tables per doc if I could get the conditionals to quit crashing. Is there some better way to "design" this that an experienced FMer could suggest? Some custom utility that works?
Just in case someone asks this:
System Config
FM 11
new install in August, not upgraded
Files are all new and native to FM11
Windows 7-64 bit
20 gig of memory
2 TB drive - local C:/
Thanks for any suggestions on this.

I think you picked the wrong thread - this one deals with importing or linking FM content into RoboHelp with the TCS.
I haven't heard of anybody talking about conditional text crashing their FM11 - only issues with Track Changes and Conditions. Have you been reporting these crashes to Adobe Support? Have you submitted your crash logs? Can you reproduce the crashing with a sample book or is it only with this project? Have you tried MIF-washing your content?

Conditional Text in Headers

I am using FrameMaker 7.2 and trying to insert conditional text into page headers. According to FrameMaker Help, the <$condtag> building block should find and apply conditional text in a page header. However, FrameMaker 7.2 seems unable to find the text with the conditional tag ("2nd edition") that I want in the header. FrameMaker IS able to find the "2nd edition" conditional tag when I use the Find/Change utility.
This is the the definition of the page header in my document:
<$paratext[Head2,Head3]><$condtag[2nd edition,\ ]>
The header that is generated shows a second level or third level heading followed by the text "2nd edition," for example:
2.1-Storing Files2nd edition
. . . which is NOT what I want. I want the 2.1 text that I've conditionally tagged "2nd edition" to appear in the header, for example:
2.1-Storing Customer Files
Is the syntax that I've used incorrect or is this problem a software bug?

Arnis, Thank you for your patience and assistance. GOAL From a second edition and third edition document that is one document with conditional tags: * Generate second edition page headers (based on Head2 and Head3 paragraphs) for the second edition document or generate third edition page headers (based on Head2 and Head3 paragraphs) for the third edition document. * Hide second edition page headers on the third edition document. Hide third edition page headers on the second edition document. DEFINITION 2nd edition number: 2.1 3rd edition number: 201.1 <$marker1> building block is for 2nd edition header. <$marker2> building block is for 3rd edition header. Header/Footer $1 marker is for 2nd edition header. Header/Footer $2 marker is for 3rd edition header. I am putting the 2nd edition and 3rd edition section numbers on the same line with the section title, for example (with visible delimiter): 2: 2.1 | 201.1-System Administration In the previous example, the tagged heading looks like: (Conditional text tags) <2nd edition>2.1 | <3rd edition> 201.1 |-System Administration (Marker tags) <Header/Footer $1>2.1 |<Header/Footer $2>201.1 |-System Administration Here are the page headers that are generated after Running H/F 5 headers are defined with <$marker1> and <$marker2> building blocks: <$marker1>: 2.1-System Administration <$marker2>: 201.1-System Administration Here is the Running H/F 5 header that is generated after conditional text is hidden: (2nd edition hidden) 201.1-System Administration (3rd edition hidden) 2.1-System Administration Here is the Running H/F 5 header that is generated when the header is defined with: <paratext[Head2,Head3]>: 2.1201.1-System Administration <paranum[Head2,Head3]>: blank <paranumonly[Head2,Head3]>: blank <paratag[Head2,Head3]>: Head2 (or Head3) Right now when I define the Running H/F 5 header with the <$marker1> building block, only second edition headers show on pages. When I want third edition page headers to show, I must edit the Running H/F 5 header by defining it with the <$marker2> building block. Those are the results that I want! But I am wondering if there is a simple way to hide second edition or third edition headers without having to constantly edit (redefine) the Running H/F 5 header.

Getting rid of conditional text

Hi. I inhereted an HTML help project that has WAY too many conditional text tags. The project spans several major releaes and a few Service Pack releases. What I need to do is get rid of the conditional text and have a clean, whole help project for the next release. Is there any way of consolidating the conditional text into the project, so we are not working with a project that has 8 conditional text tags?
I'm not even sure where to begin. YIKES!
Thanks for your help!
Lynn

Hi Lynn,
As Colum says it is hard to know how to tackle this without knowing the history of the project. When I leave a project behind for people to work with I leave very clear instructions about conditional build tags. Removing tags can leave you with heaps of content that should not be included in the project when it is generated. Someone may well have stripped out content using CBTs because they were unsure whether it would be needed in a future release. The only way of consolidating the project is working out why these tags were set up in the first place. Your 5.1 and 5.2 tags may well have been used in thsi way. I'd be very careful about just deleting the CBT, you'll may lose that backtrack of what was marked for which release.
If possible, can you spake to the author who created the project?
And don't forget that you can run a report to see which CBTags have been used in which files. Tools, Report - Conditional Build Tags.
Kind Regards
Craig

In RH9, random conditional build tags appear within topic text

I have assigned conditional build tags to text within a topic. After closing the topic and re-entering at a later time, other (additional) text now has the conditional build tag assigned as well. However, I did not assign the tags to those other sections of text.
I do not have any trouble assigning a conditional build tag at the topic level. The issue only occurs when a tag has been assigned to text within a topic.

There is another thread running on this. See http://forums.adobe.com/thread/58834?tstart=0
I am locking this thread so that all replies go to the one above.
See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips
@petergrainge

Text coded with conditional build tags still showing up in TOC even if tag is "excluded"

I am using TCS2, Windows XP.
After creating a book in FM and coding with conditional build tags, I imported into RH. When I generate, I have the output tag set:
NOT NoOUtput AND NOT Internal AND NOT Print - I want to generate my External, Online Help webhelp. And it works like a charm. Except that:
In the TOC, I can still see headings for things that are "internal" - when I click on it, they don't go anywhere... but I don't want them to appear in the TOC!!
It seems to be excluded from the index and the search. I am sure I am just missing a step or something...
In looking through the forums I found this... http://forums.adobe.com/message/751847#751847 -- I don't know if it is still applicable since it seems to be referring to RH6 (which is a bit away from RH 8 that I am using)...
Any help is appreciated!
TIA,
Adriana

Hi Daggins,
Thanks - that is good info to have. But as we all agree, that does take away from the point of single-sourcing.
You aren't misunderstsanding exactly... I am doing all my conditional tagging in FM and it works like a charm in terms of the PDFs that I generate from FM, and even the conditionally tagged text in RH shows/hides correctly. The issue is I am also importing my index and TOC from FM... and even if I have an entire file in FM tagged as conditional (all the text is tagged as conditional, I don't know if you can tag a file as conditional), the file name as a heading it still appears in the RH TOC. There is no text... but in my view it shouldn't appear in the TOC either (it looks like just a broken link when I generate my online help) - this is not ideal.

Conditional Build Tags for Text Blocks Applied to Entire File

RoboHelp 8.0.0.203. This post also deals with conditional build tags, but in this case the conditional build tags have been associated with sections of text and text blocks within a topic. The design was implemented originally in RH7 and the project has since been updated with RH8.
For example, you could have three blocks: Purpose, Procedure, Tips, and a Notes block. They are disabled by applying blocks Tag A, Tag B, Tag C, and Tag D respectively. If Tag A is applied to the Purpose, it is cross-hatched in the design window and does not appear upon generation.
The problem is that tags that are seemingly unrelated to blocks, such as Tag C and Tag D, are spontaneously applied to those blocks -- by the software. In fact, they would be spontaneously applied to all of the blocks and text in a some of the files (for no apparent reason), cross-hatching every element and every block of text in the file. When we unapply the tag and store the file, when we re-open the file, the tag is mysteriously re-applied to all the blocks -- again by the software.
Has anyone seen this type of problem in RH8?
Below is further detail about the problem
An example of how tags shold be applied involves a block involving three banners
<div class="banner">
 <?rh-udv_start name="Banner A" ?>BANNER A NAME<?rh-udv_end ?>
 <?rh-udv_start name="Banner B" ?>BANNER A NAME<?rh-udv_end ?>
 <?rh-udv_start name="Banner C" ?>BANNER A NAME<?rh-udv_end ?>
</div>
Under normal conditions, an associated tag would be applied to "unselect" two classifications, thus selecting the third by default. This is done by highlighting the associated banner, right-clicking and selected the "UnselectedBanner" tag, Below, banner C is selected by unselecting Banners A and B. T
<div class="banner">
 <?rh-cbt_start condition="UnselectedBanner"?>
 <?rh-udv_start name="Banner A" ?>BANNER A NAME<?rh-udv_end ?><?rh-cbt_end ?>
 <?rh-cbt_start condition="UnselectedBanner"?>
 <?rh-udv_start name="Banner B" ?>BANNER A NAME<?rh-cbt_end ?><?rh-udv_end ?>
 <?rh-udv_start name="Banner C" ?>BANNER A NAME<?rh-udv_end ?>
</div>
The <?rh-cbt_start condition="UnselectedBanner"?> indicates that the section is de-selected.
Note, that the "<?rh-cbt_end ?><?rh-udv_end ?>" are in opposite order in the example (but that's how it appears in the file).
In the cases where this problme occurs, we the html riddled with "Tag D" and "Tag C" condition tags for all the elements.
<?rh-cbt_start condition="Tag C, Tag D"?><div ....... </div><?rh-cbt_end ?>
I cannot attach any files because these files are on a classified system.
Thank you much.

Hi Tammy
It will also be helpful if everyone that encounters the issue reports as a bug. It's like a voting system. The more reports of bugs that are seen, the more weight is given to the priority. This directly translates to the fix being posted sooner rather than later.
So even though the bug has been "reported", you and others should take a moment and report as well!
Cheers... Rick
Helpful and Handy Links
RoboHelp Wish Form/Bug Reporting Form
Begin learning RoboHelp HTML 7 or 8 within the day - $24.95!
Adobe Certified RoboHelp HTML Training
SorcerStone Blog
RoboHelp eBooks

Automatically assign conditional text to xml tag

Hello,
is there a way to automatically assign a "conditional text" to a xml tag. Either on xml import or with a script?
Thank you all for your help.

If you've got 10.2.0.2 or above you can use EVALNAME in your xmlelement statement...
SQL> select xmlelement(evalname job, ename) from emp;
XMLELEMENT(EVALNAMEJOB,ENAME)
<CLERK>SMITH</CLERK>
<SALESMAN>ALLEN</SALESMAN>
<SALESMAN>WARD</SALESMAN>
<MANAGER>JONES</MANAGER>
<SALESMAN>MARTIN</SALESMAN>
<MANAGER>BLAKE</MANAGER>
<MANAGER>CLARK</MANAGER>
<ANALYST>SCOTT</ANALYST>
<PRESIDENT>KING</PRESIDENT>
<SALESMAN>TURNER</SALESMAN>
<CLERK>ADAMS</CLERK>
<CLERK>JAMES</CLERK>
<ANALYST>FORD</ANALYST>
<CLERK>MILLER</CLERK>
14 rows selected.In 10.2.0.1 you would get:
ERROR:
ORA-19039: Keyword EVALNAME reserved for future usethough it can be switched on for that version (an alter session statement) if you raise a support call with Oracle explaining why you can't upgrade yet.
edit to add:
if you need to convert the data you can just use an appropriate decode statement e.g...
1* select xmlelement(evalname decode(job,'PRESIDENT','TOP BOSS','OIK'), ename) from emp
SQL> /
XMLELEMENT(EVALNAMEDECODE(JOB,'PRESIDENT','TOPBOSS','OIK'),ENAME)
<OIK>SMITH</OIK>
<OIK>ALLEN</OIK>
<OIK>WARD</OIK>
<OIK>JONES</OIK>
<OIK>MARTIN</OIK>
<OIK>BLAKE</OIK>
<OIK>CLARK</OIK>
<OIK>SCOTT</OIK>
<TOP BOSS>KING</TOP BOSS>
<OIK>TURNER</OIK>
<OIK>ADAMS</OIK>
<OIK>JAMES</OIK>
<OIK>FORD</OIK>
<OIK>MILLER</OIK>
14 rows selected.

Conditional build tags with character styles and ignored text

RoboHelp HTML v8.0.2.208
Windows XP Professional Version 2002 Service Pack 3 with 2 GB of RAM
Output: WebHelp and HTML Help
I have recently moved my projects from RH HTML X5 to RH HTML 8 and this is when the following problem appeared. I use lots of conditional build tags within the help projects. Some of these tags are for my own use for reference and I combine these with character styles containing a coloured background (highlight) so that they show up in the WebHelp or HTML Help output (e.g. text to identify the software version that the field/feature/text was added, reminders to check details, insertion of bug ID numbers, design document names, etc.). These areas of text are stripped out of the final build for customers by using a conditional build expression.
What I have noticed is that if a paragraph contains text with a conditional build tag applied AND that tagged text has a character style applied AND an unknown word within the conditional build tag is ignored (with the HTML tag <?rh-ignored text="word_to_be_ignored" ?>), saving the topic, closing it, then re-opening it shows that the conditional build text has stretched to the next conditional build tag, or to the end of the topic if there aren’t any other conditional build tags. This also happens by switching from Design View to HTML View. Note that this doesn’t happen if Ignore All is applied to the unknown word.
This doesn’t just apply to projects converted from RH X5. I created a new test project in RH8 and the same behaviour was observed. Similar behaviour occurred very occasionally in RH X5 but that seemed to be down to HTML tags being nested incorrectly.
The largest project contains around 1200 topics and with many hundreds of conditional build text areas this now causes a problem. I’ll probably have to locate every ignored word in an area of conditional text within each project, set it to Ignore All and then manually remove and re-apply the conditional build tags, unless someone can come up with something clever. Can anyone else replicate this and should it be logged as a bug?

Hi Daggins,
Thanks - that is good info to have. But as we all agree, that does take away from the point of single-sourcing.
You aren't misunderstsanding exactly... I am doing all my conditional tagging in FM and it works like a charm in terms of the PDFs that I generate from FM, and even the conditionally tagged text in RH shows/hides correctly. The issue is I am also importing my index and TOC from FM... and even if I have an entire file in FM tagged as conditional (all the text is tagged as conditional, I don't know if you can tag a file as conditional), the file name as a heading it still appears in the RH TOC. There is no text... but in my view it shouldn't appear in the TOC either (it looks like just a broken link when I generate my online help) - this is not ideal.

Show/Hide conditional text at a book level

I am using TCS2 on Windows XP.
FM 9.0 p250
I have several files as part of a large FM book. Each file has the same text conditional tags. Can I, at a book level, set my conditions to show/hide, etc. and then update the book? So far, I only know how to open each file, set the SHOW/HIDE CONDITIONAL TEXT as I need it (not to show conditiona indicators and according to my built expression) and then save and close each file.
Is there a way to do all my files at once? Note- I want them all set the same way... so that might make it easier..
Thanks,
Adriana

adrianaharper wrote:
I am using TCS2 on Windows XP.
FM 9.0 p250
I have several files as part of a large FM book. Each file has the same text conditional tags. Can I, at a book level, set my conditions to show/hide, etc. and then update the book? So far, I only know how to open each file, set the SHOW/HIDE CONDITIONAL TEXT as I need it (not to show conditiona indicators and according to my built expression) and then save and close each file.
Is there a way to do all my files at once? Note- I want them all set the same way... so that might make it easier..
Thanks,
Adriana
I don't have FrameMaker available right now, so I'm working from memory, using the traditional FrameMaker menus, rather than the FM 9 tools.
Select all the files in the book window. With the book window active, open the View menu and look for Conditional Text. Your settings here apply to all selected files in the book window, so it's possible to set conditions on all or some files files. Ctrl+Click to select non-contiguous files; Shift+Click to select a range of contiguous files.
HTH
Regards,
Peter
Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices

Alphabetize conditional text tags

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for