Need help with page layout frames

[BaritoneJP]

I'm trying to create a title page that is using decoration frames with text (F2 to edit text). The text is just static text plus using a user variable. I can get decoration frames that are simply a colored bar to render in the pdf created file. But the decoration frames with text will not display.

I have tried changing the "medium" setting as well as trying to change "flow" settings as well ... nothing is working.

Please help.

[lacastle]

Is it for Word? Word has issues with stuff like this, especially background images. I'm not sure specifically in your case, but it's probably true.
If so, the solution would be use PDF or do post-processing in Word.

[BaritoneJP]

This is for PDF ... sorry I should have added that info

[lacastle]

Can you try using 2 frames instead of text in a decoration frame? Overlap the text frame over the decoration?

maybe this will help too - http://forums.madcapsoftware.com/viewto ... &sk=t&sd=a

[BaritoneJP]

ok ... I'm not using the decoration frame now and change to use one header and one footer frame ... ok it is "working" now ... but intuitive it's not.

I do not have the option of a "text frame" ... it is not a choice for me to choose.

Thank you so much for the quick help ... I was getting frustrated ...

[ajturnersurrey]

I've run up against similar problems. I found my best strategy was to create a snippet to hold my content, put a decoration frame on my page layout and then right-click > 'select frame text' and choose one of my snippets. This gave me much better control.

[BaritoneJP]

Thank you ajturnersurrey that was a good tip. Just tried that and will have to play around with it more but it is working. Thanks again !

[jasonsmith]

Did this ever get resolved? I am trying to use text in two separate decoration frames on a single page layout page but it isn't working. I can add a second decoration frame and insert text using the frame editor but the text does not show up in the preview or PDF target. The first decoration frame is fine. There is an arrow leading from the first to the second frame. I can add an image to my second decoration frame and that is fine too. I guess I could save my text as an image but I will probably have resolution issues.

Is it possible to use two separate text-filled decoration frames on a single page-layout page?

[lacastle]

Is your decoration frame big enough to fit your text?
also, if there is an arrow connecting the two frames, the text will overflow from the first to the second. do you want them to be connected like that? maybe there isn't enough text in the first frame to overflow into the second, so nothing is showing up.

[jasonsmith]

I have found a way to do this, but it is a bit convoluted.
Create two decoration frames and add text content in the frame editor.
Open the page layout file with a text editor.
Change the Flow attribute of one of the frame elements from decoration to image.

<Frame X="0px" Y="941px" Width="640px" Height="60px" Flow="decoration" Right="1px" Bottom="-23px">

<Frame X="0px" Y="941px" Width="640px" Height="60px" Flow="image" Right="1px" Bottom="-23px">

Now the content of both frames will display in the GUI and in a PDF.

[bubbanaut]

Here’s what I did – I put a body frame on top of the decoration frame. Configure the body frame so it has no background. It will be transparent when rendered,though not in WYSIWYG. Then, create a topic with the text you want printed over the decoration frame, applying whatever style or styles appropriate. Finally, create a TOC entry for the cover page and in the TOC Properties General page, link to the topic with the text. In the Printed Output page in TOC Properties, specify the Page Layout.

This seems pretty convoluted on its face, but it allows me to use the cover page layout in any manual, simply replacing the title text in a topic file - and it works.

[benjimenez]

Has this been resolved yet? Having same issue.

[benjimenez]

By the way, this worked for me nicely. Would be nice if we didn't have to do this though.

I have found a way to do this, but it is a bit convoluted.
Create two decoration frames and add text content in the frame editor.
Open the page layout file with a text editor.
Change the Flow attribute of one of the frame elements from decoration to image.

<Frame X="0px" Y="941px" Width="640px" Height="60px" Flow="decoration" Right="1px" Bottom="-23px">

<Frame X="0px" Y="941px" Width="640px" Height="60px" Flow="image" Right="1px" Bottom="-23px">

Now the content of both frames will display in the GUI and in a PDF.

[benjimenez]

A feature request has been opened for this and this is the response from MadCap:

"The second decoration frame does not show the text because the frames are connected by flow. This means that the data in the second decoration frame shows the information that flows from the first frame. You can test this by adding in extra lines of text in your first decoration frame so that it will "overflow" that frame. The extra lines of text will show up in your second decoration frame.

I have included your information on a feature request to our development team to allow for the flow between decoration frames to be removed so that the user can better control how the data shows up in the decoration frames. If this feature is included in a future update or release of Flare, you will be notified via email referencing feature request number 35641."

[Phlawm53]

Thanks to jasonsmith for:

I have found a way to do this, but it is a bit convoluted.

I, too, will be referencing this forum topic as part of an Enhancement Request.

It is unbelievable to me that:

1. Decoration Frames are linked to each other with no direct way to disconnect them
2. That the "fix" is to "trick" Flare by mis-describing one or more Decoration Frames
3. That the connection between Decoration Frames does not appear to be described anywhere in the Frame 8 documentation(?)

Sigh…

Cheers & thanks to those who provided the information in this thread,
Riley
SFO

[straygoat]

I'm raising a ticket too. This 'feature' is badly thought out! All they needed to do was copy the functionality that InDesign offers.

[kyrempel]

Thanks all. This post is a lifesaver. I changed the first decoration frame to an image frame and voila--the text in the second decoration frame appeared!

[Phlawm53]

Thanks all. This post is a lifesaver. I changed the first decoration frame to an image frame and voila--the text in the second decoration frame appeared! :D

What version of Flare are you using? I ask because this thread started in March 2011 (Flare 7?) and your comment has been made in March 2015.

I'd be very disappointed if the various improvements that Madcap has made to Page Layouts since then haven't addressed the longstanding and fundamental usability issue that existed four or so years ago.

Cheers & thanks 'gain to all,
Riley
SFO

[LarsLyhne]

What actually gets shown in Decoration frames still seems to be relatively random.

I have made a page - type "First" - that contains:

- Header (containing <PageCount>)
- Footer (containing text)
- Two decoration frames (containing images)
- 9 Decoration frames (containing <Variables>)
- 6 Decoration frames (containing ordinary text)

So, at least one (sometimes two) of the Frames never work as anticipated: meaning that either text or Variable does not show. Pretty annoying.

When I select F2 in order to edit the darn thing, I can insert text, images and variables as I please. But the contents never make it from the Frame-edit window to the Page Layout Editor

Tried to mess about with the Properties + Flow. This merely caused another Frame to end up empty.

Tried to change a Footer to Decoration - but that blanked the contents of the Footer - and when I tried to revert the change, the message_ "Multiple Footers Not Supported" showed up. This is NOT good - because I only have two.
Is there a maximum number of Frames supported in a page?

I hope there is a way to fix this.

[LarsLyhne]

Also, it appears that the PageCount - even when it is placed in a Footer-frame - still does not count the number of pages in the entire Project. It merely counts the PageLayout.