Unstructured Document Mode

Yes, we are linked to a Swedish company called HAGS (we have recently rebranded in the UK) and their install Guides are modelled on those of IKEA!

Hi Jeff & Barb,

If you want to see an example of one of our install guides, please go to the following webpage;

http://www.hags-smp.co.uk/products/play/traditional/roundabouts/spinmee-inclusive-roundabout-car-sp2008/

... select 'Downloads' from the right-hand side and then click on 'Installation Guide' - which will open the pdf Install guide in your browser. (I save all my output from Framemaker as PDF Files.

A lot of our legacy guides are quite 'wordy', but from 2013/2014 onwards, we have tried to make them as wordless as possible, so that we don't have to deal with translations, for worldwide markets.

Using this one as an example, I can discuss the components / features, I've had ongoing problems with.

Brian.Jeff_Coatsworth​BarbBinder​

By The way, is it necesary to 'mention' you on my replies, so that you will see them? - also, I only seem to be able to reply to my original posts - is that normally how it works on here?

Hi Brian, as Jeff mentioned, I have a few FrameMaker reference books for various versions. The FrameMaker reference for Fm 2015 is FrameMaker - Creating and Editing Content. (all are available at http://techcommtools.com/books/ )

I also teach classes and courses. Given your UK time zone, I'd recommend my online course, which would give you access to the content at your convenience, but only has a few (optional) live sessions to attend or to review the recorded sessions.

The optimal course for you (Basic FrameMaker - Working with Content) is slated to start next week and runs for 6 weeks.

However, if you just want access to all the material at once, and don't plan on utilizing the live sessions, there is always a less expensive option available to access the recordings without the live sessions. All the courses come with the most appropriate version of my reference book.

Finally, if you just want to have an online meeting, you can use my contact page to schedule time in as little as 30-minute blocks.

***By the way, you might want to check out placing U3D into your docs instead of the PDF. It makes for some really great options in the published material. I'll be discussing that in an Adobe-sponsored webinar on May 3. The webinar should open for registration in the next week.

-Matt

Hi Both,

Thanks for your prompt replies - its much appreciated!

I will check out that book in the first instance Jeff.

By the way, I'm not sure of how to convert Framemaker documents to InDesign - I have only used InDesign on 1x Install Guide so far, but my colleague has been using it for years and he swears by it - We are in the process of standardizing on it across the wider company, but I will continue to be the only seat of Framemaker, due to the hundreds of legacy documents. (I think its not worth the hassle to convert them all).

Hi Barb, I glanced at your site and I see that you are running an advanced unstructured course at different times of this year - I will look into that as a possibility (I must have some allocation of training budget this year) ... though, as it is happening on 'eastern tim'e and I am in the UK - if I were to do the course, it would be in the evening for me.

Alternatively, can you advise of any similar counterparts, in this neck of the woods?

Thanks & regards,

Brian.BarbBinder​Jeff_Coatsworth​

Hi bneeson75:

I'm an Adobe Certified Instructor on both InDesign and FrameMaker, and offer online training classes as well as online consulting on an hourly basis. I'd be happy to help.

You can hover over my name above this reply to message me or contact me through my website: Adobe Training Classes by Adobe Certified Instructors | Denver & Online​.

And thanks, Jeff!

~Barb

First I would pick up a copy of Publishing Fundamentals: Unstructured Framemaker by Matt R. Sullivan - it's your go-to reference bible for FM. Next I would PM people like Barb Binder or Matt himself (Tech Comm Tools) to consult with - their business is training.