TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: question from a newbie From:Brian Martin <bmartin -at- NMO -dot- GTEGSC -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 25 Feb 1997 12:11:16 -0800
>Actually, I am talking about an 8 volume set. Each volume contains
>approximately 150 separate documents. I am really hoping that there is a
better >way than building one book that has over 1200 different files in it.
I'm not >even sure if Framemaker will let me build a book that big.
Ouch! I don't thind my idea would work very well. Please let me know what you
come up with.
Something that comes to my mind is manipulating the IX file in the MIF format.
If you can open it up with a text editor and come to an understanding of its
x-ref and update functionality, you may be able to find a way to merge them.
I've used some UNIX scripts and fmbatch operations to do a variety of things:
merge glossaries, change x-references, change master pages and reference pages,
toggle locked and unlocked files, cut files into smaller chunks. Certainly
there are many other things you could do. If you are not an expert in writing
scripts using fmbatch, sed, awk, vi, and other UNIX features, you may need some
help. I am not an expert, but have found developers and other geeks willing to
lend a hand.
Good luck.
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html