PDF incorporation into Documentation Set

[Combs, Richard]

You should keep this discussion on the list so you can benefit from others' ideas. 

It's going to be more work, one way or another. I mentioned scripting as a way to automate importing of the PDF pages into FM. Note also that, if the pages are imported by reference, you only have to do it once (unless the number of pages in the referenced PDF increases, and then you have to add the new ones, of course). Updating the referenced PDF also updates the imported pages. 

Combining the PDFs can also be automated, I'm sure. But it takes mere seconds to insert a PDF into another PDF in Acrobat 9. Document > Insert Pages > From File > Select File > Insert After Last > OK, and you're done. I'm sure you at least do a quick check of each of your 15 PDFs. The insertion process would add maybe 15 seconds to each, or less than 4 minutes total. 

Richard

> -----Original Message-----
> From: kgrace4715 at aol.com [mailto:kgrace4715 at aol.com]
> Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 8:53 AM
> To: Combs, Richard
> Subject: Re: PDF incorporation into Documentation Set
> 
> I am using Framemaker 7. My final deliverable would be a pdf fle. I am
> aware of the portfolio...but that again seemed like a lot of work when
> i have to generate the same file like 15 times with different
> conditions turned on to make them plant specific.
> 
> I would like to import by reference the entire document i.e., is make
> it fit inside my stuff like one complete document. This is better than
> having them go on the intranet to find the document when I can insert
> iti into an attachment of appendix. Everytime I would generate the
> document I would get the file. overwrite the old pdf and then generate
> the document the standard way. I am trying to make it easier on the
> reader and want to make sure I have the lastest. I also dont want to
> get into dealing with pdf portfolios each time to make sure I have the
> latest and greatest. I was able to bring in one page at a time....but
> this is like work and I am on a work reduction plan/production increase
> plan :-).
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Combs, Richard <richard.combs at Polycom.com>
> To: kgrace4715 at aol.com <kgrace4715 at aol.com>;
> framers at lists.FrameUsers.com <framers at lists.FrameUsers.com>
> Sent: Thu, Jan 6, 2011 10:42 am
> Subject: RE: PDF incorporation into Documentation Set
> 
> 
> kgrace4715 at aol.com wrote:
> 
> > I was wondering if anyone ever needed to incorporate a pdf into a
> > documentation set. There is another department that is in control of a
> > few documents. I would like to be able to incorporate that latest
> > version of their documents when I generate my sets. Is there anyway to
> > incorporate this "foreign document" into my workflow?
> 
> Um, yeah, I'm sure there is. But it kind of depends on what you mean by
> "incorporate." And "documentation set." And "workflow." And what your
> deliverable is. More information would really help.
> 
> I assume you're authoring in FM (version?). A PDF can be imported into
> FM, page
> by page. But that's not a practical solution for a long doc (unless you
> script
> the process).
> 
> If you're delivering PDFs (Acrobat version?), you can merge PDFs,
> insert one
> into another, or combine them into a portfolio.
> 
> 
> Richard G. Combs
> Senior Technical Writer
> Polycom, Inc.
> richardDOTcombs AT polycomDOTcom
> 303-223-5111
> ------
> rgcombs AT gmailDOTcom
> 303-903-6372
> ------
> 
> 
> 
>