Expert: Wayne Johnson - 2/22/2011

Question
Hi! I'm trying to create an index for a library of books. Each book and chapter files are contained within their own folder. A master file is created which includes all book chapters, so that all index entries are captured in the "master" index. So, the file structure looks like this:

Level 1: Project folder
Level 2: Master folder (includes master.bk and references ALL FM files for all the remaining books, which are included in subfolders)
Level 3: Book 1 (includes book and chapter files for book 1)
Level 3: Book 2 (includes book and chapter files for book 2)
Level 3: Book 3 (includes book and chapter files for book 3)

When the master index and all the book files are converted to PDF, the only way that the links in the master index works is if the individual book PDFs remain in their subfolders.

Is there any tool available that will "strip" the levels in the index entries so that the master index PDF file and the book PDF files can all be saved in the same folder (such that the index entries still work!).

thanks!

Answer
Sue
Sue:
There is only 1 solutions to your problem that I know of:
Due this with a copy of your files:
Save your Index as a mif file.
Then open it with Word or Wordpad - something that you can save the file as a "text" file.
Then do a search for one of your entries and it should look something like the following:
The file will be 100 plus pages and look unreadable - but if you scroll to the end of the file then you will start to find the information you are looking for.
I have enclosed as sample of what you need to look for:
If you look at the line that says MText you will notice that the file named Vol 1 Sec 5-08-05.fm:2 6380. The file is located in the folder called New folder (3)
If you delete the New folder (3)/.
This should change the link to the same folder as the book.

<Unique 454250>
 <PgfTag `TitleTOC'>
 <ParaLine
  <Font
   <FTag `Blue'>
   <FLocked No>
  > # end of Font
  <Marker
   <MType 8>
   <MTypeName `Hypertext'>
   <MText `openObjectId New folder (3)/Vol 1 Sec 5-08-05.fm:2 6380'>
   <MCurrPage `1'>
   <Unique 454249>
  > # end of Marker

You don't need to do anything with any of the other text just the stuff located "in my example" on the line title Mtext.
It may take a few attempts to get what you want - but this is the only way I know of to do a "global" change.
At least with Word you can use wildcard characters as part of your find and replace. Just be careful because the ' and <> have to remain there.

When you save the file BE SURE TO SAVE IT AS A TEXT FILE.

The above will need to be done each time you update the Index.

If you need more help or information you can email me at:
waynejohnson2@comcast.net
Be sure to put Framemaker in the subject area of the email.

Regards, Wayne