36.5.6 Running a series of Mif2Go conversions

If you do not specify -close all, FrameMaker remains open after a runfm conversion finishes. This allows you to use a .bat file to run several different conversions of the same book or document, without reloading FrameMaker for each conversion. For example:

runfm -book D:\Guides\UserGuide.book -project "Word for review"

runfm -project "On-line help"

runfm -project "HTML version" -close all

When you run a series of conversions that use different project configuration files, make sure the configuration files include explicit values for any settings in the following sections with values that differ from one project to the next: 

All conversions	HTML-based Help conversions	WinHelp conversions
[Automation] [Setup] [Graphics]	[CSS] [MSHtmlHelpOptions] [JavaHelpOptions] [OmniHelpOptions]	[HelpContents] [HelpOptions]

If two projects have the same configuration settings in these sections (even with different values), or at least if the second project has explicit settings, you should be able to use them in consecutive invocations of runfm without closing FrameMaker in between. Otherwise, you risk “bleed-through” of the prior configuration settings. If you find that the second project is not coming out quite right, try running it by itself after closing and reopening FrameMaker.

Here is an example of running multiple conversion projects in the same .bat file:

runfm -book E:\UG.book -doc E:\Ch\Ops.fm -project 4Review -close doc

runfm -doc E:\Ch\Examples.fm -project 4Review -close doc

runfm -doc E:\Ch\Glossary.fm -project 4Review -close all -log

runfm -book E:\UG.book -project "On-line help" -close all

runfm -doc D:\Guides\ITGuide.fm -project "HTML for IT" -print doc

runfm -close all -log ITGmsgs.txt

This series of commands updates three chapters of the same book in one project; closes FrameMaker (logging console messages for all three to E:\Ch\mif2go.log), then reopens FrameMaker to convert the same book using a different project; then closes FrameMaker again (logging console messages to E:\mif2go.log), and reopens it to convert a single-file document using yet another project, also printing the document directly to the current printer; then shuts down FrameMaker, logging console messages for the last project to D:\Guides\ITGmsgs.txt.

Because FrameMaker remains open after the first conversion, it is not necessary to repeat the -book option for the second and third conversions. However, after closing FrameMaker, the -book option is needed again for the fourth conversion.

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