deleting tags before updating template - consequences?

[Rick Quatro]

Hi Karen,

Every paragraph in FrameMaker is "tagged" with a paragraph format name, even 
it that paragraph format does not exist in the document. So when you delete 
the paragraph formats, each paragraph is still tagged as it was before. When 
you click in a paragraph, you will see an asterisk next to its name. An 
asterisk can indicate an override, but it can also mean that the paragraph 
is tagged with a format that does not exist in the paragraph catalog. The 
same is true for characters and tables; they can be tagged with formats that 
don't exist in the document.

The logic behind deleting all tags is to make sure that, after you import 
formats from the template, only formats from the template are present in 
your document. In other words, it ensures that there are no obsolete formats 
in your document.

Note that you can't do this with some FrameMaker formats. For example, you 
cannot delete a cross-reference format if that format is in use in the 
document. If you do, the cross-references using that format will be 
converted to text. The same applies to variables.

Rick Quatro
Carmen Publishing
585-659-8267
www.frameexpert.com


> Hi
>
> I just came across some Frame Tips here:
> http://www.hikaripub.com/tips.htm or
> http://www.hikaripub.com/MaryAnnsFavFMShortCuts.pdf
>
> The one about deleting all tags before applying new template puzzled
> me. It is not something I want to experiment on, so in cowardice, I
> ask the experts here:
>
> What happens to text when you delete their tags?
>
> I mean, you have Heading 3. You delete that tag. You apply a new
> template (and its related tags, I assume - not clear about this). How
> will its Heading 3 know it should apply itself to that particular bit
> of text. Wouldn't you just have a huge pile of body text?
>
> I thought you could leave tags as is. Apply a new template. A new
> Heading 3 can overwrite the old Heading 3. Done. No big deal. In my
> case, I even use a standard script that came with the FrameScript
> bundle that changes pgf format. I can change Heading 3 to Heading 3,
> and all are definitely cleaned up.
>
> Comments, anyone?
>
> Thanks.
>
> regards, Karen Mardahl