FM 8: Xref markers keep breaking and re-breaking

[Fred Ridder]

I'll only comment briefly about the use of "empty" paragraphs, which is to say that they are seldom an optimum solution to issues or document model shortcomings in FrameMaker. I cannot imagine a situation where it makes any real sense to be linking to an "empty" heading paragraph. What is it that you are attempting to accomplish with empty headings?

But the real point I want to make is that FrameMaker does not link to paragraphs; it *only* links to markers. When you create a cross-reference, FrameMaker gives you the option of viewing a list of all paragraphs of a particular style so that you can choose the targtet. But when you tell FrameMaker to make the cross-reference, it does *not* link to the paragraph itself. Instead, it links to a uniquely numbered marker that is located within that paragraph; and if no suitable marker exists, it automatically creates one for you. Whether the paragraph is empty or not can determine what is displayed at the referring end of the cross-reference (e.g., the autonumber and/or the text of the paragraph); but as far as the link itself is concerned, the only thing that matters is the location of marker with the matching ID. 

You can edit the text in the referenced paragraph to your heart's content--even deleting all of the text--and the link will remain intact and functional as long as the marker is still there. If you move the marker to a different paragraph, that's where the link will now point. But if you accidentally delete the marker (or conditionalize it and set that condition to hide), the cross-reference will be broken and the referring document will report it as unresolved.  

-Fred Ridder

From: TechSubs at VibrantLivingMinistries.org
To: wreng at tycoint.com; Framers at Lists.FrameUsers.com
Subject: RE: FM 8: Xref markers keep breaking and re-breaking
Date: Tue, 1 Oct 2013 09:09:48 -0700

Great suggestion, thanks Winfried. I have been working with all files open, because some have that font error message upon opening, and I haven’t taken time yet to fix that. And … as time goes by, I think/suspect increasingly that this problem has to do with linking to empty target paragraphs. Ergo, my request for input on nonprinting characters I might use to trick FM into thinking that those paras are not really empty. 

Thanks again!
Elchanan From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Reng, Dr. Winfried
Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2013 8:36 AM
To: Framers
Subject: RE: FM 8: Xref markers keep breaking and re-breaking Hi Elchanan, If FrameMaker cannot open the target file, this may causeunresolved cross-references.Could it be that you have a file in the book which is closedand which triggers error messages when opened (e.g. missingfonts). Does it make a difference, if you open all files of the book? Best regards Winfried From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of VLM TechSubs
Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2013 12:42 AM
To: Framers
Subject: RE: FM 8: Xref markers keep breaking and re-breaking Perhaps I should add that this just happened when I added an index to the book. The process called for a generate, which I did. And now, lots of broken xrefs. I did change the index suffix, but I can’t imagine that would cause the problem … would it? From: VLM TechSubs [mailto:TechSubs at VibrantLivingMinistries.org] 
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2013 3:41 PM
To: Framers
Subject: FM 8: Xref markers keep breaking and re-breaking Greetings! I put xref markers in throughout a book. These markers are simple xrefs to other chapters, nothing fancy. I generate the book, all is well. After working for a while, I do another generate (sometimes with intervening generates that were fine), and all of a sudden, lots of broken xrefs. I fix them all, generate, and all is well. Several generates later, poof! A large number of broken xrefs again.  Has anyone else encountered something like this?  Thanks,Elchanan 
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