What is the workflow for creating templates in full FrameMaker and pushing them to XML Author?

Hi Corey...

Here's a rough outline of what is needed.

1) First, you'll need to define the data model that your documents are using. This could be some existing model like DITA or a new custom model. Depending on the complexity of your document's needs, this may drive that decision.

2) Once you've got a model, you'll need to create a structure application (in full FM). This structure application defines the model and appearance of documents. This will provide the fundamental structure of the "template" as well as placeholder text for the elements where you want people to provide information.

3) Then you have to install the structure application on each of the XML Author installations. This involves copying the structure application definitions file (structapps.fm) onto the client systems as well as the structure application files (into the proper location as indicated in the structure application definition). The structure application definition may reference these files at a network location, which might simplify the deployment, but would require that each person is connected to that network in order to create the files (pros/cons with this approach).

Once that's set up, your XML Author users should (in theory) be able to create a new document using the new structure application, then send you the resulting files. Lots of hand waving here .. but that's the general idea.

Cheers,

Scott Prentice

Leximation, Inc.

www.leximation.com