Re: Merging branched FrameMaker MIF files -- THE CHASE

[hedley_finger@xxxxxxxxxxx]

All:

> VSS [...] excels at [...] branching and merging text (code) files [...].
>
> You can also use a visual inspection mode in VSS, which thoughtfully
allows
> you to skip from diff to diff.  But even this will be tedious when a real
> chapter probably represents somewhere in the neighbourhood of 360 000 MIF
> statements [i.e. lines of code].
>
> VSS [... queries] CONFLICTS,
> which appear to be CHANGES: lines that exist in both files at the same
> position, are preceded and followed by lines identical in both files, but
> which are different from each other.  In practice, CONFLICTS mainly turn
> out to be different hash Id numbers in <Unique ...>, <Tbl ..>, etc. MIF
> statements, and other identifiers and pointers.

Thanks to all the people who recommended various version repositories and
especially Stuart Burnside, who told me about MifSave.  However, no-one
addressed the main problem, which I repeat here.

If we branch a MIF file to allow parallel development, can we merge the
branch back into the main file automatically [with a version repository
diff tool], so that the resulting merge file is still kosher MIF?

I do not relish having to confirm each difference between two object IDs
(e.g. the <Unique ...> MIF statement) or pointer IDs for tables, markers,
cross-references, and anchored frames (e.g. <Tbl 16> MIF statement)?  An
average FrameMaker chapter saves as approximately 360 000 lines of MIF
statements, so that's a lot of hash IDs to inspect and confirm.  This
problem is a MIF problem, not a version repository problem, and will be the
same for VSS, CVS, SSC, SIM, or whatever.


So, has anybody had any experience branching and merging FrameMaker MIF
files, inspecting only insertions and deletions, and letting the repository
deal with the numerous hash IDs automatically?


[Windows 2000, FrameMaker 6.0p405, FrameScript 1.27C01, Enhance 2.03,
Acrobat 4.05.2, mif2go 31u33, WebWorks Publisher 7.0, IXgen 5.5.h, HTML
Help Workshop 4.74 build 8702.0, HTML Help 1.31]

Regards,
Hedley

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Hedley Finger
Adobe Certified Expert, FrameMaker 5.5.x
Technical Communications/Best Practice Mentor
MYOB Australia Pty Ltd  <http://www.myob.com.au>
P.O. box 371   Blackburn VIC 3130   Australia
12 Wesley Court   Tally Ho Business Park   East Burwood 3151   Australia
Tel. +61 3 9222 9992 x 7421  Fax. +61 3 9222 9880  Mob. +61 412 461 558
<mailto:hedley_finger@myob.com.au>

Copyright (C) MYOB Limited 2002


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