Re: Warning re: importing by reference

[Marilynne Smith <marilyns -at- QUALCOMM -dot- COM>]

If you keep the graphics in a folder in the same folder as your document,
then import by reference, it should be a fairly simple thing to keep
graphics and documents together.

Marilynne


At 12:04 PM -0700 8/27/98, Elizabeth Kane wrote:
>     Suzette,
>     Just a few words of warning about "import by reference" -- I NEVER use
>     it, because copying the graphics into the doc is so much simpler,
>     safer and (in my case) really doesn't add an intolerable amount of
>     size to my files. The trouble with importing by ref is that any time
>     you copy or move those chapters to another location, you have to make
>     sure to also copy every one of the graphic files that are imported by
>     ref. You might also have to redefine the path to them. It's a pain!
>     What if you lose one of them, or they all get deleted by mistake? The
>     only way to make the file usable again is to recreate the captures.
>     That's too much work to take a chance on, for me.
>
>     These days I'm having quite a time coping with a really bad situation
>     caused by import by ref: our graphics guy was laid off, and I offered
>     to maintain his huge archives. Right after he left, the MIS guy backed
>     up his art docs onto tape. Then his Mac's hard drive died.
>
>     So we had to use the tape to restore all his files onto my machine.
>     But every time I open a doc, I get an error message saying associated
>     graphics files are missing. He used import by ref in every one of his
>     docs, and sometimes there are 6 or 8 files I have to track down.
>     Because the path to the files the doc was dependent on cited his hard
>     drive name, and it's dead now, every file has to be fixed! I'm working
>     unpaid overtime as a result.
>
>     Beth Kane
>     bkane -at- artisoft -dot- com in Tucson
>
>
>______________________________ Reply Separator
>_________________________________
>Subject: Screenshots in FrameMaker
>Author:  Suzette Seveny <sseveny -at- PETVALU -dot- COM> at Internet
>Date:    8/27/98 12:11 PM
>
>
>(Cross-posted to Techwr-L and Framers)
>
>Thanks for all the excellent responses!  I'm sorry I cannot respond to
>everyone
>individually, but I'd like to summarize.
>
>Some people use one program to capture and another to edit.  Others use a
>"multi-purpose" program to do both.  The recommendations I received break down
>as follows:
>
>Paintshop Pro - 12 recommendations
>Photoshop - 3 recommendations
>Full Shot - 2 rec.
>Hijaack - 1 rec.
>Hypersnap - 1 rec.
>SnagIt32 - 3 rec.
>Snapshot - 1 rec.
>Capture Pro - 1 rec.
>
>I also received some excellent advice on how to manage graphics in my
>FrameMaker files.  Here's my plan of attack:
>
>I have a program called Halo Desktop Imager.  I will use that to capture and
>edit my screenshots.  Backup choice is Photoshop (which I also have - just
>don't know how to use it).  Last resort will be Paintshop Pro.  I am fortunate
>that I can select whatever tools I want.
>
>I will capture my screens at 72 dpi, reduce to 16 colours and save them in a
>TIF format (recommended by most - only one person recommended BMP).  Each
>manual will have a separate graphics folder in it's directory, holding all TIF
>files used.  I will import the TIF file into FrameMaker, using Reference (to
>keep the size of the documents reasonable).  My manuals will eventually end up
>in PDF format.
>
>I will use the "Pen" feature in Frame to outline my graphics if necessary
>(stole this from someone else's posting - thanks whoever you are!!).  Someone
>else posted some really good advice about importing graphics into frame and
>gave the math to determine resolution (pixels divided by dimensions in inches
>or something like that).  I wrote it down and will definitely refer to it if
>necessary - thanks to you too!!!
>
>I could have spent a lot of time figuring this out, so thanks to everyone for
>saving me so much valuable time.  I am doing my first manual in Frame, and
>learning as I go along.  So far, it's going very well, and I don't even miss
>Word!!!
>
>You people are absolutely fabulous!!
>
>Suzette Seveny
>Markham, Ontario, Canada
>sseveny -at- petvalu -dot- com or suzette -at- yesic -dot- com
>
>From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000==
>
>From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000==

~!~  ~!~  ~!~  ~!~  ~!~  ~!~  ~!~  ~!~  ~!~  ~!~  ~!~  ~!~ ~!~
Marilynne Smith                   marilyns -at- qualcomm -dot- com
Sr. Technical Writer              (619) 651-6664
QUALCOMM, San Diego, CA  AE-203B
              "We'll have the whole world talking"

 From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000=