Inserting a blank page (in middle of document)

[Patrick Deweese]

Hello: I am very new to FrameMaker and I am using FrameMaker 5.5 (due to customer specs) on Windows 2000.

My manual is 11x17 and on my left body page I place a graphic frame (15.5x8.375) and import a graphic into it. I then have the Figure Number below it and the Figure Title below that. In order to get the Figure Number and Title below the frame, I created a paragraph tag called GraphicBody with Line Spacing of 620 pt. I click below the graphic frame to set my insertion point (which is at the top of the page underneath the graphic frame) and call up the GraphicBody tag. Then I call up my Figure Number and Title. This all works just as I want (all Figure Numbers and Titles are in the correct places). My right body pages have corresponding tables on them with Table Number and Title above the table.

Everything was going so smoothly until I tried to insert a new page after one table and before the next graphic. On my right body page I place my insertion point at the last carriage return and chose Special-Page Break-At Top of Next Available-Left Page-Set. Now, my graphic frame (unanchored I believe) and graphic stay on the same page but the Figure Number and Title move to the next almost blank page, but the table that was on the next page is gone.

Does this make sense to anyone???

The whole reason for this is because I forgot to include one of my graphics and it happens to be right between two graphic/table combinations.

Thank you in advance for any help anyone may be able to offer!

[Arnis Gubins]

First problem, you must be using a minimum of FM5.5.6 on Windows 2000
(and FM6 on XPs) in order for it to function properly. You can always
save as MIF for backwards compatibility.

The next problem is that you shouldn't be adding pages to a FM
document. Just add the graphic in an anchored frame at the required
location and FM will take care of the pagination. You broke the flow
by manually inserting a new page. This has all sorts of downstream
implications in how generated lists (e.g. Table of Contents) appear
(i.e. items may be out of order, since FM processes things in flow
order).

[Tim Murray]

I'm trying to visualize the situation, but it's hard. I don't see how you can "click below the graphic frame to set my insertion point" and then end up "at the top of the page", yet still be "underneath the graphic frame".

But in any case, here it something I do in similar situations.

If I want to insert a few things between other elements and am having problems with things moving all over the place, I will insert several -- maybe five or six -- plain vanilla body style paragraphs. I insert my new stuff in the middle of those paragraphs, and then follow up with deleting the extra paragragraphs before and after my new material.

I would also take a look at the need for GraphicBody to have a fixed line space of 620 points. A nonfixed setting would allow for any size of graphic, if (1) GraphicBody is where you intend to place your graphic, and (2) it's an inline anchored frame.

Finally, I would try to define things so that you don't need to use manual page breaks, as it's good practice avoid any kind of manual override at all costs. A combination of "keep with previous" and "next" settings, or even a specially named tag that forces a new page, would be the way to go.

[Patrick Deweese]

Thank you for the responses!

Tim:
I will try to explain better. On my master pages, I placed a text frame that is 15.5x9.0 (because a few pages do have text on them). I now go to a body page and, using the tools pallete, I draw a rectangle with the Place a Graphic Frame button.

I then go to Graphics-Object Properties and size my graphic frame to 15.5 x 8.375 with Top Offset of 1", Left Offset of .75", with 1 column and a Gap of .25" and select Set. Once this is done, if I go down to the bottom of that page, and click lower than the graphic frame (around 9.5" lets say to account for the frame and the margin)I will then see my insertion point blinking at the top of the page where the only paragraph is.

Now I use the GraphicBody tag (as opposed to having to keep hitting enter to get to the bottom of the page) to get me lower than the frame so I can call my Figure Number and Title.

I just tried to call the GraphicBody tag in the middle of several plain body style paragraphs and the Figure Number and Title, along with all of the table data moved, however, the graphic just stayed put.

What are the properties of a special tag that forces a new page? That sounds like more of what I am trying, or looking for.

I apologize for my newness.

Patrick

[Arnis Gubins]

Patrick,

If you import your graphic with the File > Import (and always use the
By Reference option), your graphics will be automatically placed into
appropriately sized anchored frames.

The pagination properties of a paratag are found in the "Start" drop
down list on the "Pagination" tab of the Paragraph Designer. Set the
tag to Start: Top of Page.

[Tim Murray]

You are really creating a lot of extra work! You could have a Frame person come in and show you some basics (I was going to the word "tricks", but it's really the basics), and the cost would be paid for in no time.