Adobe FrameMaker: Fix Inconsistent Color Definitions

by Barb Binder

When I produce a book in FrameMaker I usually begin by importing Word documents that have been sent to me from a variety of authors. These files will frequently contain colors that float into my FrameMaker template with the Word files, but I rarely notice them until I get around to updating my book. When I do click the Update button, I am frequently stopped short by a notice via the Book Error Log about inconsistent color definitions:

This message shows up when two or more files in a book have different definitions for the same color. For example, one file might have Gray defined as 40% black and another might define Gray as 30%. That's all it takes. You don't even need to be using the color in any of the files for FrameMaker to stop the update.

Here's how to fix Inconsistent Color Definitions should it happen to you:

1. Open one file and carefully review the color definitions via View > Color > Definitions.
2. Remove the colors you don't intend to use and double-check the definitions for those you intend to keep.
3. Once you determine that you have a clean and accurate color list, save the file… and keep it open.
4. Back in the book window, select all of the files in your book list and choose File > Import > Format to open the Import Formats dialog box.

   

5. Set Import from Document to the file with the clean color definitions (it has to be open to be available). Deselect All, then reselect Color Definitions before clicking on the Import button.

   FrameMaker replaces all color definitions in all of the book files with the definitions from the clean file. It also adds color definitions that might have been missing from some of the files in the book list.

6. Update your book and hopefully the Inconsistent Color Definitions message will be gone.

The reason I say "hopefully" is that if there were color definitions in some of the other files that were not in the list you cleaned up, they will still be there, and could continue to cause problems. The nice thing about the Book Error Log is that it lists the problem files and colors so you will be able to quickly zero in on the right document(s). Just open those files and repeat the steps above.

If you are new to FrameMaker and want to get up to speed quickly, join IconLogic's instructor-led, online Introduction to Adobe FrameMaker class. Hope to "see" you there.

About the author: Barb Binder is the president and founder of Rocky Mountain Training. Barbara has been a trainer for nearly two decades and has been recognized by Adobe as one of the top trainers world-wide.