Change defaults for New Document in FM 9? WORKAROUND

[Stuart Rogers]

Thanks Penelope, and also Richard for suggesting shellnew.fm.

The FM9 Help topic basically repeats John Bevan's instructions, below.
I tried that method (and now I'm pretty sure it was the "Custom" 
document that I had modified in FM7), but it does not work in FM9.  When 
I create a new blank document now, I do see in the catalogs all the 
formats I created/modified as instructed below; but the ruler remains 
stubbornly in metric.  Oddly, both the custom file and the shellnew.fm 
file, when dragged into the FM9 workspace, open with the ruler 
displaying inches. But File > New > Document opens with the ruler in 
metric, whether I choose Portrait, Landscape, or Custom (even with the 
Units set to Inches in the Custom dialog box that appears).

I'm beginning to think this is something that got broken along the way
from ver. 7 to ver. 9, and I give up.

I have saved a new template called PortraitBlank.fm in the Templates
folder.  All I have to do now is break my habit of choosing the Portrait 
button and retrain myself to select PortraitBlank when I reach the New 
Document dialog box.

Thanks anyway!

Stuart


On 01/11/2011 7:02 PM, Penelope Perkins wrote:
> Stuart,
>
> We're still on v8, so I can't be certain of what works in v9, but
> check the v9 help for the topic "Changing templates for blank paper".
> I think that is what you want. I'm also copying in a really old post
> on this topic from Debbi Fortney Correia, which goes over the same
> info (but seems more complete than my v8 help). Caveat: I've never
> actually done this, but I agree the need is there, so I have a "New
> doc setup" Framescript that I wrote for this purpose. Good luck!
>
> Regards, Penelope
>
> Copied post:
>
>> "John W. Bevan"<cal49 at ozemail.com.au>  writes:
>>
>>> How do I make A4 page size the default for new documents? I
>>> looked through the .ini file for clues but couldn't find it
>>> there.
>
>
> Actually, there are a couple of other ways to accomplish this.
> Remember it is ALWAYS a good idea to make a copy of the config file
> you are going to change, just in case!
>
> From the v6 online help (Templates, Changing templates for blank
> paper and text files):
>
> To change the template for blank paper:
>
> 1  Change a document so it contains the formats and settings you
> want [note this could include xref formats, color definitions,
> variable definitions, etc.]. Leave existing master pages empty and do
> not create custom master pages.
>
> 2  Remove all text frames from both the left and right master
> pages-even if a document is single-sided. (If the document is
> single-sided, choose Format>  Page Layout>  Page Size, click
> Double-Sided, and click Set. Then select and delete the text frames
> on the master pages.)
>
> 3  Choose Special>  Delete Pages and delete all body pages.
>
> 4  Save the document, using one of the following filenames and
> locations:
>
> .   (Windows) The Custom file in the FrameMaker fminit folder (When
> you choose New>  Adobe FrameMaker document from the context menu in a
> folder or on the desktop, the Shellnew.fm file is used.) .
> (Macintosh) The Custom New Document file in the FrameMaker Modules
> folder .   (UNIX) The NewTemplate file in the
> $FMHOME/fminit/language/CustomDocs folder (language is the name of
> your user interface language-for example, usenglish or ukenglish.)
>
> You'll have to restart Frame after modifying the file to see the
> change. Note in Windows the file is named "custom" with no
> extension.
>
> In the maker.ini file, there is a setting in the [Files] section
> that allows you to use a different file for new docs. I haven't
> tested this, but I would assume you would need to create the document
> in the same way as listed above.
>
> CustomDoc=fminit\custom
>
> Of course if what you want is NOT a blank page, you would create a
> "regular" FrameMaker file and choose it as the template to use when
> creating a new document, rather than clicking one of the "Blank"
> options. To make it easier to access this file, you can either save
> it in the FrameMaker\Templates directory, or modify the location of
> templates in the .ini file (TemplateDir=templates in the
> [Directories] section.
>
> Now get back to work. :)
>
> Debbi Fortney Correia Technical Trainer/Consultant Adobe Certified
> Expert, FrameMaker&  Photoshop Bothell, WA 98011 425-482-2617
> debbi.fortney at verizon.net
>
>
>
> -----Original Message----- From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com
>  [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Stuart
> Rogers Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2011 3:08 PM To:
> Framers at lists.frameusers.com Subject: Change defaults for New
> Document in FM 9?
>
> Years ago, in FM 7,  I was able to change the default options (ruler
> units, etc.) that would apply to the blank document that opens from
> the File>  New Document command.  I seem to remember that it
> involved opening, revising, and saving a file that was located
> somewhere in Application Data or fminit or the like (a file that had
> no extension, IIRC).
>
> I need to do the same thing now in FM 9 (TCS 2, Win XP), but cannot
> remember the file name or location.  Can anyone help me out?
>
> thanks,
>


-- 
Stuart Rogers
Technical Communicator
Phoenix Geophysics Limited
3781 Victoria Park Avenue, Unit 3
Toronto, ON, Canada  M1W 3K5
+1 (416) 491-7340 x 325

http://www.phoenix-geophysics.com