5.7.2.2 Using FrameMaker graphic export filters

Mif2Go can use FrameMaker graphic export filters to produce graphics files from the contents of anchored frames in your document. Converting graphics this way can take awhile, because the FrameMaker filters are not known for speed. This is the only way Mif2Go can export equations to external files.

Note:  This built-in conversion is provided as a convenience only; we do not consider it to be acceptable for quality document production.

In this section:

§5.7.2.2.1 Understanding when to use FrameMaker export filters

§5.7.2.2.2 Understanding FrameMaker filter limitations

§5.7.2.2.3 Specifying options for FrameMaker export filters

§5.7.2.2.4 Specifying graphic output format and DPI

For a complete list of FrameMaker export filter settings, see §31.2.5 Converting graphics with FrameMaker export filters.

5.7.2.2.1 Understanding when to use FrameMaker export filters

You might need to resort to FrameMaker export filters for your graphics in the following situations, depending on the type of output format:

RTF output (Word, WinHelp)

HTML output (HTML, HTML-based Help, XHTML, XML).

RTF output

Use FrameMaker graphic export filters for RTF output if your document contains either of the following:

• Multi-cell tables that are inside anchored frames.

• One or more referenced graphics for which both of the following are true:

– The graphics are in formats other than:

› BMP (“DIB” in the FrameMaker import dialog),

› WMF (most of which work; but see §5.7.2.2.2 Understanding FrameMaker filter limitations), or

› OLE (which works only if Mif2Go can dig out the embedded WMF preview image, no small feat).

– You have not mapped the graphics to equivalent BMP or WMF files (created outside of Mif2Go), and you do not want them used in their current format.

HTML output

Use FrameMaker graphic export filters for HTML output only if your document contains one or more referenced graphics for which both of the following are true:

• The graphics are either (or both) of the following:

– in formats other than JPEG, GIF, or PNG

– not alone in their anchored frames (for example, they include FrameMaker drawing elements such as arrows or callouts).

• You have not mapped the graphics to equivalent JPEG or GIF files (created outside of Mif2Go), and you do not want them used in their current format.

5.7.2.2.2 Understanding FrameMaker filter limitations

FrameMaker export filters can respond poorly to slightly corrupt imported graphics that FrameMaker itself tolerates. The export filter might crash and cause a Mif2Go error; this is probably the case if the FrameMaker status bar shows “Writing Graphics” at the time of the crash.

You might not want to use FrameMaker graphics export filters in any of the following circumstances:

• You need better resolution than screen, and your original imported graphics have significantly better resolution.

• The FrameMaker export filters put out incorrect images (WMF), or images with artifacts (BMP on Windows NT).

• Your graphics are in EPS format; the FrameMaker filters use only the preview image, and do a poor job with it.

• Your shrinkwrapped graphics will be viewed on a colored background in the output, and the white padding is undesirable.

5.7.2.2.3 Specifying options for FrameMaker export filters

To have Mif2Go use FrameMaker graphic export filters:

[Graphics]

; UseGraphicPreviews = No (default)

;  or Yes (use preview bitmaps for frames)

UseGraphicPreviews = Yes

[Setup]

; WriteAllGraphics = No (default)

;  or Yes (write all anchored frames as graphics files)

WriteAllGraphics = Yes

5.7.2.2.4 Specifying graphic output format and DPI

To specify the output format for graphics produced with FrameMaker export filters:

[Setup]

GraphicExportFormat = format

where format is one of the following:

BMP, TIFF, WMF, JPEG, PNG, EPS, PICT, CGM, GIF, IGES

The default format depends on the output type:

RTF output:	GraphicExportFormat = BMP
HTML output:	GraphicExportFormat = JPEG

You can set the DPI for the FrameMaker export filter to use. However, specifying DPI does not change the resolution of the image; all it does is scale the image to another size. Deviations from 96 DPI (especially small deviations) can make graphic text unreadable. You might have to experiment with different DPI settings to get the best graphic quality.

To specify DPI for graphics produced with FrameMaker export filters:

[Setup]

; GraphicExportDPI = number (from 50 to 1200, default 96)

GraphicExportDPI = 96

For HTML output, you can override the GraphicExportDPI value with a different DPI value; see §23.9 Scaling images for HTML.

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> 5 Setting basic conversion options > 5.7 Processing graphics > 5.7.2 Choosing how to convert graphics > 5.7.2.2 Using FrameMaker graphic export filters