Re: Porting DOS Text Files into FrameMaker

[Bob Perrey <rperrey@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The old trick back in the early days of DOS word processing (WordStar, 
etc.) to import text files with CR/LF at the end of each line, with the 
supposition that "paragraphs" were separated with two CR/LFs, was as follows:

Search for TWO returns in a row (/p/p), indicating the paragraph break. 
Replace with two non-letter symbols that do not have editing or text 
meaning, such as ++ or !!, that are not likely to be present in the text at 
any rate. THEN replace single returns (/p) with nothing, or more properly, 
a space, typed into the Replace box with the space bar. Finally, replace 
the double item with two returns again (/p/p) to restore the space between 
paragraphs.

The only problem with this, from a FrameMaker perspective, is that 
paragraphs are more properly defined with space before or after, rather 
than two returns. But at least the job of identifying paragraphs in text 
inserts is made easier, and a strategy for applying a specific FM 
formatting tag can be applied, depending on whether the insert is into a 
regular "Body" format or into a citation or quotation insert.

Bob Perrey


// Bob Perrey, Publisher
// R. Travers Press
// rperrey@sbcglobal.net
// Outgoing mail scanned for viruses.
// Sisyphus, too, was happiest between gigs.



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