Publishing and Linking Thumbnail Graphics

The Publishing Committee created an action item to create thumbnail-large diagram capability in publishing documents. This method is above and beyond the implementation of thumbnails for publishing RMIMs. This has been accomplished, and is documented here.

It turned out that this capability was already there. It simply needed documenting, so here goes. The steps are straightforward, and assume that the committee has a large diagram that they wish to include by "thumbnail":

1. Assuming that you are starting with a gif file, give it an arifact name in your domain. An example id in another domain might be "REAL_NA000020.gif".
2. Use a graphics editor to create a "thumbnail". Any editor that reduces the number of pixels in the gif file will do. The author uses Visio. Starting with the large diagram:
   1. scale the diagram down to about 3-inches wide;
   2. select the Visio File...Save as capabilty;
   3. select to output as gif;
   4. select a name that is the same as assigned above, but with "T-" prepended, such as "T-REAL_NA000020.gif"
   5. Under "Resolution" on the final panel, select "Screen" which is 96 pixels/in.
   6. save the thumbnail
3. Note that 300 pixels wide is what HL7 is using for RMIM designer graphics, but there is no hard and fast rule on width. They should not exceed 500 pixels, but anything smaller is OK.