DITA Map Specialization: open in map editor

[ghkrause]

Hi folks,
I finally created a map specialization, too. The main purpose is to use
my extended metadata set. However, I cannot make XMetaL Author to
allow "Switch to map editor" in File menu.
Note: bookmap files show the same problem, xml view only supported.
Looking forward to your hints!

[Su-Laine Yeo]

The Map Editor currently supports only DITA 1.0 and 1.1 standard map and bookmap files. It does not currently display specialized maps. It's on our to-do list for future versions of XMetaL, but for now specialized maps can only be viewed using the XML view.

[ghkrause]

We use XMAU 5.1 SP1 and I tried once a bookmap from default template provided with installation. It opened in XML view and I was not able to open this bookmap in map editor.
Please confirm or provide sample bookmap that should open in map editor.

[Su-Laine Yeo]

It may be that the file is not valid. Can you zip up and attach the file? Bookmaps should normally open in the Map Editor view, although you can't edit bookmaps in this view.

[ghkrause]

Here is a ZIP with the ditamap template provided by JustSystems and an empty ditamap derived from this template by XMAU51.
The menu item "File > Switch to Map Editor" is grey and inactive for the bookmap file.

[XMetaLOldTimer]

The MapEditor supports navigation/view-only for bookmaps.  The bookmap instance must be saved to disk at least once before the switch-to-map-editor option becomes enabled. 

Your XMetaL may include our evaluation guide sample which is a bookmap instance...check the Author\Evaluation Guide\ folder to try it out.

Regards,
Addam

[Su-Laine Yeo]

Gunnar,

Your two files are both opening in the Map Editor pane for me, so I imagine the reason you couldn't switch to the Map Editor view before was because you hadn't previously saved them, as Addam mentioned. Let us know if the problem persists.

By the way, although XMetaL saves bookmaps with a .xml extension by default, you should change the extension to .ditamap because the DITA Open Toolkit requires it.

Cheers,
Su-Laine

[Chris Turchin]

The MapEditor supports navigation/view-only for bookmaps.  The bookmap instance must be saved to disk at least once before the switch-to-map-editor option becomes enabled. 

Any word on when editing bookmaps (or other map specializations) in the MapEditor will be supported? It would be very useful for me and others as well I suspect.

Regards,
--chris

[Derek Read]

There is no set date for this feature though it is on our road map (along with lots of other features that are competing against each other). We don't usually announce dates or guarantee that any particular feature will be included in any given release.

When we do this feature our goal will probably be to enable editing for any specialized map type (not just bookmaps) which may mean more development work but in the long term I believe that is really the best way to go.

[ghkrause]

This feature is probably fighting against DITA 1.2 support - which many of the users might wish to arrive soon after the release by OASIS.
I bought your (Justsystems') product not only for its available features. We also trust you to keep up with the pace of time!

[Derek Read]

Yes, we are working closely with people at OASIS (and if you are curious the DITA OT). Support for 1.2 is very high priority.

[Derek Read]

Regarding support for DITA 1.2, we fully plan on supporting it as soon as we can. Current rumors suggest that the DITA 1.2 specs are not going to be finalized until end of 2009.

[Su-Laine Yeo]

Wow, I just noticed that this is one of the most-viewed topics on the forum: 3545 views!

And the good news is: Opening specialized maps in the map editor is now possible in XMetaL Author Enterprise 6.0. In fact, it's the default behaviour. Also, you can set a preference in the DITA options dialog to allow editing specialized maps in the map editor.
 
XMetaL Author Enterprise 6.0 also supports keyboard navigation (up/down/left/right arrows and Enter key) in the map editor.

Cheers,
Su-Laine