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S e t t i n g a t a b l e f o r m a t
must have the attribute name and value specified. (If the element does not have an attribute
value but the attribute is defined to have a default value, the default value is used.)
When an end user inserts an object element that has an attribute in its format rule, the Edit
Attributes dialog box appears right away so that the user can provide an attribute value (if
the user has the element set to display this dialog box automatically.).
To test an attribute of the current element, type the attribute name and value in brackets as
the context specification. To use an attribute with an ancestor, type the attribute name and
value in brackets after the ancestor tag. Separate the attribute name and value with an
equal sign, and enclose the value in double quotation marks.
In the following example, a Table uses Format A if its Type attribute has the value
Summary, or it uses Format B if its Type attribute has the value Examples:
Element (Table): Table
General rule: Title, Heading, Body
Attribute list
Initial table format
The syntax for using attributes in object format rules is the same as it is in text format rules.
For details, see "Attribute indicators" on page 136.
Order of context clauses
When a context-specific format rule has more than one clause, keep in mind that
FrameMaker applies the first clause in the rule that is true for the instance of the element.
You must write rule clauses from the most specific to the most general.
For example, suppose you want to apply a format to a cross-reference when it appears in
an Item inside a nested List element (a List inside a List). If you put the context
specifications for the cross-reference in the following order, FrameMaker would never apply
the second clause because an Item in a nested List also matches the first specification:
Item < List
Item < List < List
You get the effect you want by reversing the clauses.
Setting a table format
A FrameMaker table uses a table format to determine the basic appearance of the table—
such as indentation and alignment, margins and shading in cells, and ruling between
Object Format Rules
1. Name: Type
Choices: Summary, Examples
Default: Summary
1. If context is: [Type = "Summary"]
Table format: Format A
Else, if context is: [Type = "Examples"]
Table format: Format B
Choice
Optional
The value of the attribute
determines a context for
object formatting.
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