When you import FrameMaker files, the autonumbers in those documents are retained in Flare. You can then edit future content for your project (including autonumbers) either in Flare or in FrameMaker.
If you are an experienced FrameMaker user, you will notice many similarities and differences between Flare and FrameMaker when it comes to autonumbers.
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Similarities
- Many of the commands (i.e., building blocks) for autonumbers are much alike.
- You can uses series labels in both Flare and FrameMaker.
- The basic steps are similar. In both Flare and FrameMaker, you need to (a) create autonumber formats, (b) apply styles with autonumber formats to content, and (c) specify how autonumber formats work in volumes and chapters.
Differences
- User Interface There are some commands in Flare that are not seen in FrameMaker.
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Workflow Although some of the basic steps might be similar, the way to accomplish them in Flare is sometimes different.
Example In FrameMaker, you specify an autonumber format for a paragraph format in the Paragraph Designer. In Flare, however, you can do this in cascading stylesheets, which let you provide numerous other settings for a style, as well as share the CSS file with others. You can also create autonumber formats for individual paragraphs only.
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Numbered Lists FrameMaker requires you to create two distinct paragraph tags to handle numbered lists. Because Flare uses standard HTML code for ordered lists and list items, content developers frequently choose not to take the extra steps to create distinct paragraph styles to handle list numbering. Because FrameMaker handles list numbering using paragraph tags, Flare converts those tags to the to the standard p style during the import. You then apply the desired ordered list and list item tags to the existing numbered steps in Flare.
Example In FrameMaker, you must create two distinct paragraph tags to handle automatic list numbering—one tag to apply to the first step in the list and another tag to apply to the remaining steps.
Because Flare uses standard HTML code (where an ordered list starts with the <ol> tag and each list item starts with the <li> tag), there is no need to create distinct paragraph styles to handle list numbering. You simply apply the desired numbered list format using the quick list drop-down menu shown below.
Once the list numbering is set, you don't need worry about it again. The example below shows you a simple numbered list in the Flare XML Editor:
The Flare Text Editor lets you see how ordered lists and list items are formatted in HTML:
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Autonumbers In Flare there is no need to update numbering manually, as there is in FrameMaker. All numbering in Flare is automatically updated when you generate the output.
- CSS In FrameMaker, you need to import paragraph formats from one document to another in order to use them. In Flare, the topics just need to be associated with the same stylesheet; they can then use the same paragraph style containing the necessary autonumber format.
