Re: A Solution to the Master Page Switching Problem

["Rick Quatro" <frameexpert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Framers,

I think there are two kinds of issues being discussed here. One, is changing
the master page based on page content. When the page content moves, the
correct master page is reapplied to fit the content. As Dan mentioned, this
is very possible with FrameScript (or an API client plug-in).

The other issue is the ability to have mixed column layouts ON THE SAME
PAGE. Beyond multi-column text frames and straddle paragraphs, this is much
more difficult with FrameMaker. Mixing column layouts involves splitting
text frames, using anchored frames, tables, etc. If your documents require
alot of this kind of layout, you may want to consider another program. It is
my understanding that there are word processing programs that can switch
between different column layouts on the same page.

I do have a working prototype FrameScript script that applies the correct
master page based on page content. The criteria for switching pages is the
presence (or absence) of designated paragraph formats. You could use markers
if necessary, but usually paragraph formats are sufficient. The document is
updated everytime you run the script, and it is fast enough to be run
whenever necessary during an editing session. Or, the script can be run at
once on an entire book or folder full of documents.

If you have an interest in this type of script, e-mail me a small document
and tell me which master pages should be applied to what formats. I will
modify my prototype to work with your template. The cost would depend on the
complexity, but it would be very reasonable. I am not going to give this one
away at shareware prices, but if your job requires a lot of switching
between master pages, the script will pay for itself in a matter of DAYS.
Note: FrameScript ($149US, www.FrameTools.com) is required to run
FrameScript scripts.

Rick Quatro
Carmen Publishing
716 659-8267
frameexpert@mindspring.com
FrameScript Information at http://www.mindspring.com/~frameexpert

> At 02:46 PM 7/26/99 -0700, Snavely, Deborah wrote on the subject ofhow to
> make a table in 2 columns?:
> >-----------------------Snip
> >The problem is that if you use master pages, then you either have to
assign
> >the master pages manually (and thus you have all sorts of other problems
and
> >maintenance), OR your entire document/chapter must use the 2-column
master
> >format.  If your other text is otherwise full-page-width, you can use a
> >2-column master page and set the paragraph properties of all other tags
to
> >be
> >"across all columns".
> >--------------------Snip
> >HOWEVER, if any aspect of this is not possible for you, then your only
> >option
> >is to manually create anchored frames which contain 2-column text frames
> >where your tables are needed. Note, however, that there is ZERO ABILITY
to
> >flow from one anchored frame to another.>>
> >
> >VENTING: THIS IS A MAJOR FAILING OF FRAMEMAKER.  <snip>
> >Again, this a major failing of FrameMaker.  We do a lot of books that
> >require
> >this kind of switching back and forth and have a terrible time with this
> >problem.  It is almost (but not quite) enough to cause me to consider
using
> >another program.
>
============================================================================
> I believe a FrameScript could solve this problem by applying the correct
> master page of a left/right pair, based on the insertion of a particular
> marker type in each page that specifies the "stemname" of the desired
> left/right pair.
> The presence of a marker on a page in which the marker text is "Default"
> would indicate that the default Left/Right pair is to be used. The absence
> of any marker on a page would indicate that it is to use the left/right
pair
> specified in the most recent marker occurring on a previous page. In other
> words, markers are only required on pages where there is a transition to a
> different left/right master page pair.
>
> Let's say, for instance, I have a left/right master page pair named:
>         Landscape-Left and Landscape-Right
> where the "stemname" is "Landscape", and the master page naming convention
> requires that the suffix be "-Left" or "-Right".
>
> Now, I insert a marker having the marker text "Landscape" in the page I
want
> to make landscape, and initially apply (manually) the Landscape-Right
master
> page to it.
>
> Whenever required, the script would be executed that finds each occurrence
> of the marker, checks whether the current page number is even or odd, and
> applies the appropriate one of the marker-specified left/right pair, just
> like FrameMaker does for the default Left/Right pair.
>
> Also, when the last page of a document file is blank, the script would
apply
> a master page named Blank without the necessity to specify that in a
marker
> (since the book generation produces the blank page).
>
> Such a script could produce real productivity gains, particularly in
> database publishing applications requiring different master pages for
> different data types. UniMerge, for example, could embed a marker at each
> master page transition. Then, upon opening the merged FrameMaker output
> produced by UniMerge, the script would be run to apply the
marker-specified
> master pages to each page in the document.
>
> Actually, it would be better if the script did not require the most recent
> marker to physically appear on the page where the next master page
> transition begins. That is, suppose there are two markers on the same
page.
> The first one on the page specifies the left/right pair to be used on that
> page. The second one specifies the left/right pair to be used on
subsequent
> pages that do not have markers.
>
> I talked to Rick Quattro about developing such a script. He said it was
> doable, but wasn't interested in developing it unless there was an assured
> market for it. Maybe if enough of us would tell him we'd buy it, he'll
> develop it.
>      ====================
>      | Nullius in Verba |
>      ====================
> Dan Emory, Dan Emory & Associates
> FrameMaker/FrameMaker+SGML Document Design & Database Publishing
> Voice/Fax: 949-722-8971 E-Mail: danemory@primenet.com
> 10044 Adams Ave. #208, Huntington Beach, CA 92646
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