[Framers] Single Doctype, Multiple Applications

[Scott Prentice]

Hi Rick...

In DITA-FMx, the way I handle that is with a feature I call "component 
templates." Each top-level topicref (or topicref-based element) in the 
root map becomes a chapter in the book that's generated from the map. 
Each of these topicrefs can have an outputclass value assigned that 
specifies a different template applied to that component. This only 
happens at "publish" time, and the default template is applied while 
authoring, since you likely don't care about formatting while authoring.

If, however, you're trying to apply a different app in order to achieve 
a different transform or structure for authoring, this technique won't 
work. If this is the goal, I'd consider creating a specialization for 
that topic type and set that up to open with the correct app.

You're probably aware of this, but keep in mind that one of the problems 
of having multiple templates/apps assigned to different doctypes (or to 
the same doctype), is that this will cause conflicts when you publish 
multiple topics as one FM file (as is often the case), since each FM 
file can only have one template, the last one applied will win.

Or .. if you have multiple apps defined in your structure app definition 
file that all have the same doctype, when you open a file that matches 
that doctype, you should get the "app disambiguator" dialog .. no? If 
you open by clicking the topicref in a map, the "default" app for that 
DITA doctype may get applied, but if you open the topic directly, you 
should get a dialog listing the available apps.

Good luck!
...scott


On 7/31/18 5:20 AM, Rick Quatro wrote:
> Hi All,
>
>   
>
> I have a bunch of DITA concepts, but about a dozen different templates. I
> want to have a structured application for each one, so I can specify
> appropriate templates and transforms for each concept. If I have multiple
> applications with the same doctype, can I get FrameMaker to prompt me for
> which application to use when I open a ditamap or concept? Thank you very
> much.
>
>   
>
> Rick
>
>   
>
> Rick Quatro
>
> Carmen Publishing Inc.
>
> rick at frameexpert.com
>
> 585-729-6746 NEW!
>
>   
>
>   
>
>   
>
>   
>
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