TechNote (Archived)

Resolve autonumbering problems in FrameMaker

What's covered

Repeating chapter number (1, 2, 2, 3) or inconsistent autonumbering in a book file

Autonumbering restarts in a book chapter

Chapter-page numbering (1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 2-1, 2-2, . . .) doesn't work

Autonumbering continues from a previous paragraph tag

This document discusses the four most common autonumbering problems in Adobe FrameMaker. It assumes that the autonumber formats have been set up and applied correctly. For general information on autonumbering, see the Adobe FrameMaker User Guide.

Repeating chapter number (1, 2, 2, 3) or inconsistent autonumbering in a book file

For autonumbers to continue sequentially, the paragraph format that controls them must be used in one connected text flow. If a chapter number repeats in a book file or autonumbers do not update in certain paragraphs, crucial text frames are probably unconnected or using different flow tags.

To find out if text frames are connected and using the same flow tag, do either of the following:

-- Check the settings in the Customize Text Frame dialog box:

1. Select a text frame that contains incorrect autonumbering.

2. Choose Graphics > Object Properties. The Customize Text Frame dialog box appears.

3. Look at the Flow section, and note the Tag and Autoconnect settings:

-- The Tag field contains the name of the text flow used.

-- The Autoconnect option is selected or deselected.

4. Repeat these steps for other text frames that contain incorrect autonumbering.

-- Display and examine the text flow:

1. Put the insertion point in a paragraph that has correct autonumbering.

2. Choose Edit > Select All in Flow.

3. Zoom down to view multiple pages, and then determine from the highlighted text which paragraphs are not in the flow but should be.

To connect text frames and enable Autoconnect, follow the instructions on pages 309-310 of the Adobe FrameMaker 7.0 User Guide, pages 298-299 of the Adobe FrameMaker 6.0 User Guide,or pages 277-278 of the Adobe FrameMaker 5.5 User Guide. If the file is a book, choose Format > Document > Numbering (FrameMaker 7.x or 6.0.x) or File > Generate/Update (FrameMaker 5.5.6 and earlier) to apply the changes. Be aware that connecting two previously unconnected text frames may cause paragraphs to jump from one page to another, or may cause other formatting changes that you must correct manually.

Autonumbering restarts in a book chapter

If autonumbering restarts in a book chapter, set autonumbering to continue for each chapter:

In FrameMaker 7.x or 6.0.x:

1. In the book window, click the first file listed.

2. Choose Format > Document > Numbering.

3. Do either of the following:

-- In Windows, click the Chapter tab.

-- In Mac OS or UNIX, choose Chapter from the pop-up menu.

4. Select Continue Numbering From Previous File In Book.

5. Click Set. Repeat these steps for the remaining files in the book.

In FrameMaker 5.5.6 or earlier:

1. Open the book file, and choose File > Set Up File.

2. Choose Continue from the Paragraph Numbering menu.

Chapter-page Numbering (1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 2-1, 2-2, . . .) doesn't work

To set up chapter-page numbering, do one of the following:

In FrameMaker 7.x or 6.0.x, use the <$chapnum> building block:

1. In the book window, select the first file listed.

2. Choose Format > Document > Numbering.

3. If you use Windows, click the Chapter tab. If you use Mac OS or UNIX, choose Chapter from the pop-up menu.

4. In the Chapter # text box, set the chapter number as it should precede the page numbering. (For example, if the file is chapter 1 and you want the chapter number and a hyphen to precede the page numbers, type "1-". If it's chapter 2, type "2-".)

5. Repeat these steps for remaining files in the book as desired.

In FrameMaker 5.5.6 or earlier, use the Set Up File dialog box:

Note: You should avoid autonumbering for chapter-page numbering in FrameMaker 5.5.6 and earlier.

1. In the book file, highlight the first file in the list.

2. Choose File > Set Up File.

3. In the Prefix field, set the chapter number as it should precede the page numbering. (For example, if the file is chapter 1 and you want the chapter number and a hyphen to precede the page numbers, type "1-". If it's chapter 2, type "2-".)

4. Repeat these steps for remaining files in the book as desired.

Autonumbering continues from a previous paragraph tag

Autonumber series separate one set of autonumbers from another so that they increment independently. If a paragraph tag with autonumbering continues numbering as if it is part of a paragraph tag used previously in your document, then specify a different autonumber series for the new paragraph tag.

To specify a new autonumber series for a particular paragraph tag:

1. Choose Formats > Paragraphs > Designer.

2. Choose Basic and select the paragraph tag in the Paragraph Tag box.

3. Choose Numbering.

4. Look at the text in Autonumber Format:

-- If the Autonumber format does not begin with something similar to "X:", add it. X can be any single letter of the alphabet.

-- If the Autonumber format begins with "X:" where X is any letter, change it to a different letter that has not been used in any other paragraph tags.

5. Click Update All.