FrameMaker10: Cause of difference between actual display and element setting

Question

Hello, everyone
In using FM10 in Windows7, I've experienced the problems below.
1) A black square(■) is displayed while an ASTARISK element is set in the structure view. ("*1" is displayed on another computer )
2) Different BODY elements are used but no return is inserted between the sentences.
Acutually, I already know the solution to the problems: import an element definition to the file.
If you know the (possible) "cause" of the problem, please let me know.
[Message moved to FM Structured Forum by moderator]

Answer 1

I'm starting to grasp, where your problem might come from.
You're saying, that when you create a new document and use those elements you mentioned, you are getting those weird results?
And, after you import the element definitions, everything is as it should be again?
Then all you need to do, is to get your system administrator or whoever is responsible for your FM setup to update the standard templates you are using to include the latest element definition file (EDD), as it seems you are using an outdated or incorrect version of it.
The issue, that you are receiving a square bullet instead of "*1" means, that the ASTERISK element is mapped to some other text brick (the square bullet) than in the current version of your EDD (which is embedded in your template file).
The BODY element seems to be mapped to a character style instead of a paragraph style in this outdated version - meaning you will have no line breaks, as it is treated as an inline element.
So, in short terms: get in contact with the guy that did set up your structure definitions/ templates. He should be able to fix your problems in no time.
If the guy isn't in the company anymore or if those structures were created by some 3rd party company, you are going to need to do some more research on how to change templates and their respective element definitions.
It is most important for your work, that at least one person in your company has the knowledge how to fiddle with those things, or you might be facing more serious issues in the future.
On a side note: binary FM files are the ones using *.fm as an extension. Those files include everything the document consists of: your document, the template, the element definitions and everything else.
As a counterpart, XML files only contain your document and the structure markup. Templates, element definitions and almost everything else is applied to those files upon import in Framemaker, or excluded upon export.
-Alex