Getting to Know FrameMakers Chapter and Volume Numbers
- True Meaning of Volume and Chapter Numbers
- Combining Volume/Chapter Numbers with Other Features
- Summary
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Through many versions and improved features, FrameMaker has become an indispensable tool to users creating various types of documentation. FrameMaker offers a variety of robust automation tools that allow you to focus on writing content rather then fuss with the manual updating of paragraph and page numbers, running headers/footers, revising cross-reference information, and much more.
In documents, autonumbering does just what its name implies: It automatically numbers your paragraphs so you don't have to. With autonumber features included in documents, the task of manually renumbering any numbered paragraph is eliminated.
In previous versions of FrameMaker, autonumbering was created and defined in the Numbering property of the Paragraph Designer. Using this standard autonumbering method, numbered items are implemented as a paragraph or set of paragraphs. Each type of numbered paragraph can either be numbered independently of other types of numbered paragraph or have its numbers relate to other numbered paragraphs.
FrameMaker offers three possible ways to specify how a standard autonumber is to be calculated within a particular document file:
Number is the same number as that of the previous item in the series.
Number is one greater than that of the previous item in the series.
Number is equal to the nth number in the selected number style.
With this autonumbering method, including autonumbers in cross-references, running headers/footers and generated lists is only possible if paragraphs are formatted with paragraph tags containing autonumbering. That is, numbering in paragraphs constructed with the Numbering properties in the Paragraph Designer.
Along came FrameMaker 6 and the addition of volume and chapter numbering features. Volume and chapter numbering allows you to include these numbers in cross-references, running headers/footers, and generated lists—regardless of whether or not paragraphs are formatted with paragraph tags containing autonumbering.
In this article I present the principles and techniques behind FrameMaker's chapter and volume numbers. I also investigate some practical uses for integrating volume and chapter numbers in your documents.
True Meaning of Volume and Chapter Numbers
Standard autonumbering is applied to paragraphs and increments within a particular document. For instance, if you create a numbered list that begins with number 1, each subsequent item in the list increases in value by 1. If you create numbered sections in a document that begin with 1.1, each subsequent tagged section paragraph may increment by 1, making the next number in the series 1.2.
Volume and chapter numbers do not increment within a particular file. Volume and chapter numbers increment across files, thus maintaining the assigned number when used anywhere in that particular file.
Working with Numbering Properties
Standard paragraph numbering value and style is defined in the Paragraph Designer Number property. Although volume and chapter numbers ( and may be included in the Paragraph Designer Numbering property, you must set volume/chapter number value and style in the Document Numbering Properties window.
To access Document Number Properties:
Select Format, Document, Numbering. The Numbering Properties window is displayed.
Do either of the following:
Click the Volume tab to access Volume number settings.
Click the Chapter tab to access Chapter number settings.
Here's a rundown of chapter/volume number properties:
Volume (Chapter) #: Sets the volume (chapter) number for this document file. This field accepts numbers, not letters or Roman numerals. Therefore, if you want your chapter or volume number to be D, type 4 in this field, and set the format to ALPHABETIC. If you want the number to be VI, type 6 in this field, and set the format to ROMAN.
Format: Set the number style. For instance, if this file is to be Appendix D, select ALPHABETIC (N) in the Format drop-down list. You also have the ability to set the format to text, and type text in the # field rather then indicate a number.
Continue Numbering From Previous File in Book: Select this option if the file is included in a book, and you want the volume (chapter) number to be one more than that of the previous file in the book.
Use Same Number As Previous File: Select this option if the file is included in a book, and you want the volume (chapter) number to be the same number as the previous file in the book. Use this setting if you set the volume (chapter) # and format toText.