MIF Elements
Body Pages
The body pages () in crossView correspond to the pages of the MIF document. They contain both normal text and gray fields (called "placeables") that represent the various parts of MIF documents, e.g. variables. For example, you can insert these fields in the Target Editor with a double-click. Translate the normal text in the usual manner.
Index Entries
MIF documents may contain index entries that are used to automatically create indexes. All index entries contained in an MIF document can be found in the index section of crossView ().
- You can translate index entries in two different ways:
- In crossView, switch to the index entries section (
) and translate all index entries one after the other.
- Start with the first paragraph of the MIF document that is to be translated. As soon as you reach an index entry, insert it in the Target Editor by e.g. double-clicking the gray index field (
). Then right-click the gray index field and select Jump to index definition. Across will jump to the respective index entry in the index section (
). You can now translate the entry. Click the
icon in the crossDesk toolbar to return to the paragraph in the MIF document you had previously been working on.
Variables
MIF files may contain so-called variables. For example, these are used for words that occur often or change frequently. Variables are divided in two groups - user variables and system variables.
User variables, such as product names, are defined by the user.
System variables, such as the current date, receive information from FrameMaker, your computer or operating system.
In the body pages (), variables are represented by gray fields (placeables) containing the names of the respective variables.
The content of the variables is displayed in the crossView section of the variables (). They often consist of one field containing font specifications (e.g.
), and normal text. The names of the variables are displayed in the document structure view of crossView.
- You can translate variables in two different ways:
- Switch to the variables section in crossView (
) and translate all system and user variables one after the other. Subsequently, when translating the body pages (
) or master pages (
), you merely need to insert the gray variable fields (placeables) at the correct position into the Target Editor.
- Start with the first paragraph of the MIF document that is to be translated. Each time you encounter a variable, insert it in the Target Editor by e.g. double-clicking the gray field. Now right-click the variable field and select Jump to variable definition. Across will jump to the corresponding variable in the variable section (
). You can now translate the variable. Click the
icon in the crossDesk toolbar to return to the paragraph in the MIF document you had previously been working on.
Cross-Reference Formats
Cross-reference formats define how cross-references are displayed in an MIF document. In crossDesk, the cross-references are represented by gray XRef fields, e.g. .
- You also have two ways of translating cross-references:
- In crossView, go to the cross-reference formats section (
) and translate all cross-reference formats one after the other. Subsequently, when translating the body pages (
) or master pages (
), you merely need to insert the gray cross-reference fields (placeables) at the correct position into the Target Editor.
- Start with the first paragraph of the MIF document that is to be translated. Each time you encounter a cross-reference, insert it into the Target Editor by double-clicking the gray field. Then right-click the index field and select Jump to cross-reference format definition. Across will jump to the corresponding cross-reference in the cross-reference formats section (
). Here you can translate the cross-reference format. Click the
icon in the crossDesk toolbar to return to the paragraph in the MIF document you had previously been working on.
Numbering Formats
Numeration formats decide how automatic numeration is going to be displayed in MIF documents.
In Across, the numeration formats are converted into variables and characters. For example, the third-level heading is displayed as follows in Across:
To edit or translate numbering formats, go to the respective crossView section (). The names of the numbering formats are shown in the document structure view of crossView.
Frequently, the numbering formats do not need to be edited. In this case, it is sufficient to copy them to the Target Editor using the icon and mark the segment as Translated.
Master Pages
Master pages are used in FrameMaker to define the page layout of a specific document. The master pages contain information such as the page format, margins, headers and footers, and page numbering.
A double-sided document contains at least two master pages (one for the right-hand and one for the left-hand page), while a one-page document only has one master page. These documents can also contain special master pages for certain types of pages.
Reference pages
Reference pages in FrameMaker may contain frequently used images or other elements such as format information, hypertext commands, HTML allocations, and sample images.
Usually, a FrameMaker document contains at least one reference page. Apart from normal reference pages, it can also contain special reference pages such as "Headings" and "HTML".
Other elements
Conditional text
Conditional text in MIF documents is used to provide individual sections of a document with freely definable conditions. These can be displayed or hidden as needed.
The beginning of a section with conditional text is displayed with the gray Condition field. You can insert the field into the Target Editor with a double-click. You can view the conditions by clicking the "Condition" field in the Target Editor with the right-hand mouse button and selecting Show conditions.
The end of a section containing conditional text is displayed by the gray field marked Quit condition. You can also insert this field in the Target Editor with a double-click.
Marker fields
Marker fields such as cannot be edited. It is sufficient to insert them at the desired position in the Target Editor.