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?

Similar Messages

Adding Conditional-Text conditions in bulk.

We are importing text from excel using XML via XSLT.
We would like to mark certain prices (excel columns or Indesign tags) as conditional text.
We are having a great deal of difficulty in applying conditional text using find-and-replace within Indesign, because of the variation in formatting of prices.
Below two products, where product B includes a thousands comma separater, a Tax Staus marker in the UK and a Truck Shipping marker in the USA all of which need to be included within the conditional text.
Product
UK (X1X)
Europe (X2X)
USA (X3X)
A
£1.99
3.50E
£3.59
B
£1,199.00 XV
3.500.00E
$3,590.00 T
Is it possible to apply conditions to tags?
Is it possible to apply conditions using XML or XSLT?

This problem was solved by a response to a more focussed question about GREP searching.
applying the conditions is straightforward once the correct strings have been GREP'd

How to Create A Conditionally-Texted Paragraph Element

I'm creating a multi-purposed document where I need to add a section of conditional text on each page, but not always in the same place on the page (so I don't think a Master Page solution would work). Rather than have to select the text and manually apply the condition each time, I would like to create a paragraph tag that is already defined with that condition so my users can just select that tag and enter the text. The paragraph designer doesn't provide the ability to specify a condition text setting for newly created paragraphs. I tried creating a new reference page and adding a conditionally-texted text box within a graphics frame, and then specifying that for the Below Pgf setting for a new paragraph element, but it just imports the graphic frame from the reference page and the text within cannot be editing.
Suggestions?
Thanks

I would create a unique paragraph tag and then apply a conditional
text setting to all tags of that type with a FrameScript.
An alternative may be to set up a paragraph tag with the conditional
text settings already applied and then copy-and-insert it with a third
party tool such as ClipMate or Autotext, but I don't know that the
conditional text setting is "sticky" when processed through a
third-party solution. You'd have to test it a bit.
Art
Art Campbell
               [email protected]
"... In my opinion, there's nothing in this world beats a '52
Vincent and a redheaded girl." -- Richard Thompson
                                                      No disclaimers apply.
                                                               DoD 358

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

Selecting conditional text in book crashes FM 9

You never know when it will occur or on which files .... I am in a book file and select several files, select View > Show/Hide Conditional Text, and change my condition settings, then click Apply.
Framemaker crashes. Sometimes three, four times in a row.
Yes I've made new files, etc., etc., and some others in our group have the same problems with conditional text in some books. This is not consistent behavior so that's why we scratch our heads.
I have 4GB of memory and an empty hard drive, so that's not the issue. We work off a network but the same thing can happen if I save a book locally.
What on Earth could be happening?

Some files are new. Some files were ported from previous versions. Because the crashes are always different, it isn't always the same files or books where crashes occur. One never knows what will trigger the crash or when, as I mentioned. I've rebuilt files and had them crash, but someone else can use them (and change the same setting) without problems.
There's no discernible pattern.
Crashes for team members occur consistently at the book level. I seem to be the only person who can set conditions at the book level (though not consistently, as you can see). Crashes can occur for me at the book level or when I have a file open. Typically a file that crashes at book level also crashes with the file open.
I am trying to change one condition for these companion volumes (a set of three books that share some files). I successfully changed the condition a couple of hours ago.
Our network isn't backed up until very early in the morning and it's afternoon here -- that's not the issue. Nobody else is working on this project so that's not the issue.
Our templates have all of our conditions already defined so theoretically there shouldn't be conflicts. As I recall, a conflict triggers a notification when you update a book, and I successfully updated the companion book and printed to PDF a couple of hours ago.
Content doesn't seem to matter. The files in question consist of headings and tables. There are no graphics or linked files. The most sophisticated thing in them is cross-references (some conditional).
I just successfully changed the condition on all of the files in that chapter except one. The file that crashes Frame is very simple (no graphics or linked files, just cross-references) and it is one of the files that successfully switched conditions just a few hours ago.

RH and FM conditional text

I am evaluating alternatives to our old WWP setup. With that
setup, we were able to process our conditional FM source
automatically into various outputs. The WWP project file interacted
with FM to control the conditional settings for different jobs.
With RH 7 for HTML, acccoring to the online help, we must set
the conditions manually in Frame before we run RH. Is this correct?

Thanks. At this point, I'm trying to figure out what to do
first.
The Help says to apply FrameMaker Conditional Text Build
Expressions before adding any FrameMaker files. Since I haven't
added any FM files, RH can't have any information about the
conditional tags we've defined in FM. Does this mean I have to
define some conditional expressions in RoboHelp to match the ones
we're using in FM, and then use these RH expressions when importing
the FM files?
The RH Help says that when I select the "Apply FrameMaker
Conditional Text Build Expression" option, "only the filtered
content is imported into RoboHelp, based on the conditional text
build expression." This suggests that I can use one expression to
load one "flavour" of my FM document into the RH project. It
implies that if I want a separate flavour for a separate output, I
will have to change the expression and add the FM files again. Is
that correct?
Does it make a difference how the conditions have been set in
the FM files when I add the files to RH?
What is the FrameMaker Conditional Text Build Expression? Do
I need to create a build expression named "FrameMaker" for use when
adding FrameMaker files?
Sorry for all the questions, but I'm having a hard time
following the Help.

A Script for Conditional Text Batch Export

Hi, I was directed into this subforum with this question:
I have a document with nearly 200 versions of conditional text that has to be individually swapped out and exported to pdf. I genearlly just do this one at a time all the way though.
Is there a way to batch the export of these pdfs? I've been scouring the internet for a soultion but can't seem to find one. I am on CS4 still if it matters. Thanks!

Hi,
no Problem Take a look at the exportline too. you can choose between backgroundexport and normal export.
var nameOfThePDFExportPresetYouWantToUse = 'MyPdfPreset' //please don't forget to set!
var currDoc = app.activeDocument;
var currFilePath = currDoc.filePath.absoluteURI + '/';
var currFileName = currDoc.name.replace(/.indd/, '');
var currConditions = currDoc.conditions;
//set all conditions visible to false
currConditions.everyItem().visible = false;
l = currConditions.length;
//cycle thru conditions
while(l--){
currCondition = currConditions[l];
//set actual condition visible to true
currCondition.visible = true;
currConditionName = currCondition.name
//set pdfName
var exportTo = File(currFilePath + currFileName + '_' + currConditionName +'.pdf');
//Have a look here:
//export PDF. to choose backgroundexport. use the second line of code
currDoc.exportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, exportTo,false, nameOfThePDFExportPresetYouWantToUse);
//currDoc.asynchronousExportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, exportTo,false, nameOfThePDFExportPresetYouWantToUse);
//set actual condition visible to false
currCondition.visible = false;
Sunny Day
Hans-Gerd Claßen

Condition Text Editor

Is it possible to check for blanks or nulls in the Condition Text editor?
I do not want to send messages to a receiver if certain field are blank.
Any help appreciated.

hi Michael,
you can use EX (for exists)
reference & description - <b>Available Operators</b> section on:
http://help.sap.com/saphelp_nw04/helpdata/en/67/49767669963545a071a190b77a9a23/content.htm
Regards,
michal
<a href="/people/michal.krawczyk2/blog/2005/06/28/xipi-faq-frequently-asked-questions"><b>XI / PI FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions</b></a>

Condition text in purchase info record

Hi,
How to maintain text for condition in purchase info record.
Business users would like to maintain the reason/details for price change of condition record in info record.
I am refering to the in the PIR condition screen, there is a Text check box besides scales check box.
Please let me know the steps to maintain condition text in PIR.
Thanks in advance
Raj.

Hello Raj,
I may have faced the same problem.
-Go to VOTXN.
-Select Radio B : pricing cond --> condition / change
Choose application M
-Design a text procedure: in standard you may have some
Go to Text procedure assignement
You need to affect the:
Text determination procedure (standard example 01) T685A-TXTGR and
Text ID for text edit control (standard example 0001) T685A-TDID_TEC
to the Basic price off you info record (standard PB00)
If your basic price is no longer PB00 you may identify with this:
T685A-KNTYP = H and T685A-KALSM = pricing procedure for additionnal condition type present in you FIR.
If you affect the text procedure to a additionnal condition instead off the Basic price, this will not work.
Regards
Théophane
Edited by: TWM_TDU on Nov 30, 2010 3:09 PM

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

Conditional text and text inserts in FM 10

A perfect scenario, I thought, for conditional text: user guides for versions A and B of the same product, where most of the content is the same for both and some specific to one or the other. Some of the variants – such as "Connecting the power supply" – are at chapter level, others at paragraph level … so I've set prepared two .book files, and two chapter files which contain a single sentence plus the condition settings: show A, hide B or show B, hide A, respectively.
Extra finesse, just sprung on me: one chapters, which exists in an A and a B version, uses a text insert for some common paragraphs and one of these paragraphs now needs to be hidden util development is completed.
Long context, then. Short problems:
selecting all the files in a .book and using File > Import formats (with only Conditional text settings selected) doesn't seem to be working
the conditional text in the insert refuses to go away, even with the relevant condition defined, and set to Hide, both in the insert and in the chapter that calls it
Final question: do I need to brush up on conditions, or is FM 10 not as reliable as it might be here?
Windows 7.0, one single FM installation of 10.0.2.419

Niels,
When you imported the text insert, what did you set for its properties behaviour, i.e. to stay as per the source or to use the properties in the currrent document?
Are you using "Show as per Condition" or "Show as per Expression" to control the appearance of the conditional text?
In the insert source document, does the relevant paragraph hide when the condition is applied?
Is the condition name spelled identically (capitalization and spaces) in the inset and document?

How to build conditional text from a data merge

Hi there
I'm hoping this is not a long shot but I do have a rather large ask (I think).
I cannot figure out how to create conditions on values.
We have two areas that require conditional text. See these areas on the attached image.
Features offered - up to 6. These are identified by defining each feature with a letter, eg 'n' stands for tent site and 'L' stands for seasonal work, and
Room type offered - four colour codes with this. These range from "not made up", "made up", "ensuite/madeup" and "ensuite".
The tab delimited file contains numerous columns for each room type - single, double, twin, share and dorm rooms that offer the 4 room type categories - see point 2 above.
I cannot figure out how to clarify the conditions I require for the conditional text.
Do I start with making 4 conditions for each room type colour and so-on for the rest of the room types ie single not madeup, single madeup, single madeup ensuite and single ensuite?
And if so, how do I create these using the correct conditional code?   Does GREP have anything to do with this and do I need to use its metacharacters like \?
Can someone perhaps start me off?
The same goes for the features. The features are displayed in the spreadsheet per column with either a 'yes' or a 'no' displayed.
I hope I have provided enough information to get some assistance.
Thanks so much.

Tag Design wrote:
Hi there
I'm hoping this is not a long shot but I do have a rather large ask (I think).
I cannot figure out how to create conditions on values.
We have two areas that require conditional text. See these areas on the attached image.
Features offered - up to 6. These are identified by defining each feature with a letter, eg 'n' stands for tent site and 'L' stands for seasonal work, and
Room type offered - four colour codes with this. These range from "not made up", "made up", "ensuite/madeup" and "ensuite".
The tab delimited file contains numerous columns for each room type - single, double, twin, share and dorm rooms that offer the 4 room type categories - see point 2 above.
I cannot figure out how to clarify the conditions I require for the conditional text.
Do I start with making 4 conditions for each room type colour and so-on for the rest of the room types ie single not madeup, single madeup, single madeup ensuite and single ensuite?
And if so, how do I create these using the correct conditional code?   Does GREP have anything to do with this and do I need to use its metacharacters like \?
Can someone perhaps start me off?
The same goes for the features. The features are displayed in the spreadsheet per column with either a 'yes' or a 'no' displayed.
I hope I have provided enough information to get some assistance.
Thanks so much.
Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't see why you need conditional text. I can see that you may want to color each property in each category differently, to stand out for quick visual communication.
If each feature (attribute) of each property or venue is represented in one spreadsheet row (record,) you can use data merge to create the whole entry for each property. For example, a property may offer two types of rooms - single and double, and the single may be available as "not made up" only, while the double is available as "ensuite/madeup" and "ensuite."
In the spreadsheet, in the row for the Acme Inn property, which only offers single not-made-up and single ensuite/madeup rooms, and for the Ajax Hotel property which offers single made-up, single ensuite/madeup, and single ensuite rooms, the cells that contain the data for the merge fields would look like this:
Property ID
single not-made-up
single made-up
single ensuite/madeup
single ensuite
Acme Inn
$50
empty cell
$75
empty cell
Ajax Hotel
empty cell
$65
$75
$85
On the data-merge layout, each room type's label would be followed by all four data-merge field placeholders, with colors applied, so the single would look like:
Sgle: <<single not-made-up>> (red) <<made-up>> (yellow) <<ensuite/madeup>> (green) <<ensuite>> (blue)
NOTE: The colors are applied with named character styles to the data-merge layout in InDesign.
[EDIT] BAH! I applied colors to the text when composing this post, but they were removed when I posted. [/EDIT]
When you set up the merge with Remove Blank Lines for Empty Fields enabled (checked) so the empty cells are ignored, the result resembles this:
For the Acme Inn:      Sgl: $50 (red) $75 (green) $85 (blue)
For the Ajax Hotel:    Sgl: $65 (yellow) $75 (green) $85 (blue)
The separator character between the prices in your example is a special issue. It could be solved in the spreadsheet by creating calculated columns between the price columns, with "IF" formulas that test for values or empty cells and display the separator or nothing. If you choose this method, you'd need to insert fields between the placeholder fields, to hold the calculated fields' contents.
Another approach here would be to follow the data-merge process with a GREP script that inserts separators where they're needed.
Search Google for terms like "InDesign data-merge tutorial," "InDesign data-merge remove blank lines," "InDesign multiple records per page," and similar phrases without quotes.
HTH
Regards,
Peter
Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices
Message was edited by: peter at knowhowpro

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

(FM8p277) Crashes when saving first doc in book after changing conditional text display

That was a mouthful :-)
Okay, this happens with any of the books that I work on --- it never happened with Frame 7.
I have a book containing several documents.
The documents contain several conditional text segments.
Start new Framemaker session, open book, open all documents.
Change conditional text display (from Show All to Show Selected, or vice-versa).
From the book, choose Save All (or from the *first* document, choose Save). The following text appears in a 'FrameMaker dialog': "File <filename of first document>.fm has changed on the disk since you last opened or saved it. Someone else has probably modified the file. Do you want to save it anyway?
Click OK. All of the files save properly. (If I had clicked Cancel, the first file would be skipped and all other files would save.)
Change conditional text display again (note: this could even be for a different book at this point, I believe, but will have to verify).
(Repeat step 3): The same text appears again in the dialog.
Click OK. FrameMaker crashes while trying to save the first file. (If I had clicked Cancel, the first file would be skipped and all other files would save. However, if I attempt to save the first file afterward, FrameMaker still crashes.)
Anybody have any insight into this? Am I the only one this happens to? Argh :-)
Thanks.

Sorry, the only answers I got were on the forum and nothing worked
That being said, at least now I know I'm not crazy! (Sorry it had to
happen to you, though.)
As it stands, I've been training myself to make sure that after the
first time I toggle the settings, I do the save, and then make sure to
save all, quit, and restart FrameMaker before I attempt another toggle.
On the odd occasion that I don't do that and get the warning message, I
select Cancel (which lets the rest of the files save), quit, restart,
and then make sure I update the first document appropriately.
All the while cursing and swearing, of course
As an aside... if you find a solution, please let me know about it if
you remember.
Thanks.
John

Conditional Text in Table - Problems with row height adjustment

Hey there,
I’m german but I try to express my problem in english as good as I can. Not always easy with the different menu names. Hope you get what I want to say! :-)
As you can see in my attached screenshot, I placed text in a table.
Text height is set to: minimum 1,5 … so it adjusts to the amount of text.
This is what I want - it should adjust the height to the marked/aktivated conditional text.
It always adjusts the hight when I blind out the first line oder lines in between (e.g. line 2+3 of 4).
But if I want to blind out the last line(s), there is a ¶ at the end and a extra blank line with the #.
I know, the # stands for the following hidden Text, but why does it work with the red/green text.
There is also text hidden (green), but the mark # is right after the last word - not in a new line.
Has anyone a solution for this?
Thanks in advance!

That's ok so far. A paragraph sign at the end of a text forces a new line.
To change that do the following:
For every condition you need another condition just for the paragraph sign that comes immediately after the condition. Not after every paragraph of one condition, but at the end of every consecutive numbers of paragraphs of the same condition.
So in your third example you'll need two conditions more:
1. One for the paragraph sign at the end of condition "meaasurements"
2. One for the paragraph sign at the end of condition "price 2"
Whenever you make the other conditions invisible, you also have to turn off the new conditions that only control the paragraph signs.
See the following screenshots:
Uwe

Question on conditional text design

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