Another Stupid Framemaker Question

[Peter Gold]

Precise language is needed here.

>  > Also, I'd like to change a Header format in one
>>  place and have it "update all" across the whole
>>  book, but that doesn't seem to work either :-(
>
>Now...that should work. but only within the file. When you make the
>change, are you clicking "Update All" To do it book wide, you have to
>copy that format to all of the other files in the book. Display the
>book, highlight all the files in the book, then import the format
>from the file in which you made the change.

If by "Header format" you mean a paragraph format, then importing 
paragraph formats from the modified file to all other files in the 
book will work.

However, if modifying a "Header format" means changing the layout of 
a background text frame and/or background graphic, on a master page, 
then you need to import master pages from the changed file to the 
others. Master pages are called "Page Layouts" in the import formats 
dialog box.

Be aware that any importing action replaces items in the receiving 
files with the similarly-named incoming items. If identically-named 
master pages, reference pages, and other formats in all your files 
are not defined or formatted identically, then importing across a 
book will replace your idiosyncratic items. It's a good idea to use 
Shift+File from the book window to open all files in a book, then 
save them all, before importing formats. The import isn't undo-able, 
but you can use Shift+File to close all files in the book and choose 
not to save them, then start over.

There has been a lot of discussion on this and other lists, about 
best practices in defining and maintaining formats for single files 
and books of files. Everybody has an opinion, though most fall into 
one or the other of two main camps. Search for the past threads to 
get a sense of history and perhaps some guidance in making your own 
choice.

-- 
Regards,

Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices
peter at knowhowpro.com