Managing FrameMaker Graphics Imported by Reference

Purdue Engineering Computer Network

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When you open a document containing a graphic file imported by reference, FrameMaker looks for the graphic file using the pathname that was specified when the file was imported, and then displays the graphic in the document. For information on the pathname, see How FrameMaker locates imported graphic files.

FrameMaker may not be able to find the graphic for several reasons:

• The document was moved to a new location, but the graphic files weren't.
• The graphic file was removed or moved to a new location.
• The graphic file was renamed.
• The directory containing the graphic file was renamed.

If FrameMaker can't find the graphic file it's looking for, you can specify its new location. You can also skip that file and continue opening the document.

At other times, a document may contain an imported file with a name you can't remember. As long as the file was imported by reference, you can look up its name.

To organize graphic files

You'll find it easier to maintain your graphic files and the FrameMaker documents that contain them if you follow a few simple guidelines for organizing the files.

• Keep all graphic files for a document in one directory.
  It's easy to move or copy files in a single directory.

• Put graphic files in the same directory as the document or in a subdirectory below the document directory, and import them by reference.
  If you move the document directory (and its subdirectories) to another location, FrameMaker can still find the graphic files when you open the document.

• Use a filename extension to indicate the graphic file type.
  For example, you could use the extension .xwd for xwd files and .eps for Encapsulated PostScript files. You may even want to create different subdirectories for different graphic file types.

• Put graphic files that may be used in several documents in a central directory, and import them by reference. If a graphic file is changed, all documents containing the graphic are updated.

To locate a graphic FrameMaker can't find

If FrameMaker can't find a graphic file, it displays a dialog box. At this point, you can tell FrameMaker where to find the file, or you can decide to skip the graphic and proceed with opening the document.

1. Indicate whether you want to display the graphic.

Purpose				Action			Notes

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Find and display the       Use the scroll list        FrameMaker creates
graphic.		   select it and click        a new path to the file.

			   Update Document to
			   Use New Path.


Skip the graphic file.	   Click Skip This            FrameMaker continues to 
			   Graphic File.	      look for other graphic files
                                		      imported by reference.


Skip other graphic files   Click Ignore All	      Use this option if you
if FrameMaker can't 	   Missing Graphic	      copied a document (but not
find them.		   Files.		      the graphic files) to 
						      another location and you
						      just want to edit its text.

If you click Update Document to Use New Path, FrameMaker will continue to use the new path if it can't find other graphic files while opening the document. That way, if you move your graphic file directory, you have to tell FrameMaker the new path only once.

If you choose to skip the file, the skipped graphic appears as a gray rectangle in the document. The next time you open the document, FrameMaker will try to find the file again.

2. Click Continue.

Additional Information:
More on Importing Graphics in FrameMaker