[Framers] FM2019 and gremlins

[Simon Buch]

Hello,

In all the years I have been using FrameMaker, I have only ever 
experienced files that couldn't be opened in the following cases:

1 - files saved on USB drives, and Windows deciding to save energy 
putting computer to sleep
2 - files saved on network locations
3 - files located on a failing drive

#1 was very irritating.  A combination of Windows 10 and HP hardware 
actually corrupted not just FrameMaker documents, but also other files - 
with no identifiable pattern to it.   As a result, I avoid using USB 
drives for everyday working.

#2 has been frustrating.  If the network drive, or the network 
connection speed is slow, I've experienced FrameMaker crashing when 
attempting to update books, or worse, when attempting to access 
referenced PDF files.

#3 was experienced by our FM trainer who thought his computer had caught 
a virus.  I diagnosed [using "CrystalDiskPortable"] the hard drive was 
in fact failing to read and write files ... occasionally!    After using 
the Linux utility ddrescue, I was able to retrieve 99.99% of his files.

If I remember correctly, FrameMaker files are always written out in 
multiples of 1024 bytes [1kb].

If I'm working on a big project, I get in to the habit of using a 
frequent backup strategy to store FM and other documents in a ZIP 
archive file with a timestamp reference.  Just in case.

I hope this helps.
/// Simon BUCH