Managing FrameMaker styles when importing MS Word content

It’s easier to import MS Word content into FrameMaker, starting with the 2015 release of FrameMaker.

MS Word (copy into document)

Beginning with FrameMaker 2015, when converting MS Word documents using the Copy into Document option, you have a robust style mapping wizard that is exponentially faster than other conversion methods. If you are using MS Word with the Import by Reference option, see “Copying, pasting, and converting text” on page 77.

This feature can save a tremendous amount of time, so be prepared to do some tweaking of the settings, especially if you are bringing in a significant amount of content.

To use the mapping functionality, do the following:

Create a new document (from your template, if you have one) and save the file to disk.

Select File > Import > File to display the Import dialog.

Important: Select the Copy into Document option at the bottom of the dialog. This must be done prior to confirming file choice by double-clicking on the file or choosing the Import button.

Select your MS Word file, click the Import button.

Choose MS Word in the Unknown File Type dialog and click Convert.

If you are importing a DOCX file, consider the warning message provided.

I have not needed to downsave my files to DOC, but you should evaluate your files for proper conversion in this (or any other) conversion process.

Now for the cool part:

Use the provided options to map your MS Word paragraph, character, and table styles to their FrameMaker equivalents.

Use the Import Word document inline styles and list format option to attempt to rein in any ad hoc formatting in your source documents.

Note the Keep Word formatting option. By clearing this check box, you will remove the Word formatting entirely and use only the FrameMaker style definition.

When you select a FrameMaker format in the center column, you’ll remove the corresponding Word format from your converted content in FrameMaker. By saving a Preset file, you can reuse your choices in future conversions, further leveraging your initial conversion effort.

Going above and beyond

If you can’t work around all the “gotchas” in your conversion docs, I’d recommend Rick Quatro’s FindChangeFormatsBatch script, which gives you amazing control over conversions and format mapping in your legacy and conversion content. ($79 at http://frameautomation.com/findchangeformatsbatch/)

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2 Comments

  1. Kenneth Madden on July 21, 2021 at 12:30 pm

    Hi Matt,

    I am a brand new FM user and a long-time “work-around Word” user. I have a Word format for an airline training manual that I need to import into FM. I want the header and footer (both tables) to go into FM There are odd and even headers and footers which need to be on mirrored pages. Is there anything special I need to do to preserve the format and text? The header also contains an auto page number and a logo in png. Thank you.

    Kenneth Madden.

  2. Matt Sullivan on July 21, 2021 at 12:55 pm

    Hi Kenneth, Pageblocks can present issues, since a lot of your content will contain leading zeros and other items.
    You’ll want to get familiar with editing the content in Fm first, (check out my free Intro course) and then consider the other courses/classes that lead up to (your somewhat sophisticated) pageblock requirement.
    Are you going with unstructured content?

    You might want to consider having someone (me, or someone like me) who’s familiar with Fm templates get you started. If not, you may get bogged down in the details before you get a working template that does everything your looking for. (numbering, headers/footers, TOC, Index, LEP, IPL)

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