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stefanogismondi
stefanogismondi
Known Participant
March 19, 2019
Question

User and installation manual manuals for household appliances

  • March 19, 2019
  • 2 replies
  • 923 views

I would like to know if someome her can suggest me e software that , i.e. , join a database to Indesign or framemaker. Tha task to do is to produce a large variety, in shape, lay out , font used and contents, of user and installation manual.

This software should be able to manage several languages in one manual, one of the language could be Arabian or Hebrew.

This software should have tools to manage in deep each single "cell" of text and or drawing.

May be a software who works through the uses of XML.

Is there someone who can help and suggest me. Who already works with such a software or knows software house who produce such a tool?

Thank you

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    2 replies

    Barb Binder
    Community Expert
    Barb BinderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 19, 2019

    Hi Stefan:

    InDesign certainly supports data merge but doesn't excel at creating multiple versions of a document in a single file. In both applications, this is done with condition tags, but FrameMaker was designed for this, in InDesign, it's more of an after-thought. It's clunky for this type of work.

    I would encourage you to focus on FrameMaker for your catalog. Here is a PDF explaining how data merge works in FrameMaker. Note that it was written for Fm 11—I couldn't find one for 2019—but is still relevant to the current version. There are a few third party plug-in tools listed at the top of page 2—I would recommend taking a look at each company to make sure that they have upgraded their plug-in for 2019.

    https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/1034/3dae75972d2fe85625ee55112ea8d7fccfb6.pdf

    ~Barb (Adobe Certified Instructor on InDesign and FrameMaker)

    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
      jane-e
      Community Expert
      jane-eCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 19, 2019

      Stefan, here is the link for the FrameMaker forum as you are getting started:

      Adobe FrameMaker

      Barb (and others) will be there to answer any questions.

      Colin Flashman
      Community Expert
      Colin FlashmanCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 19, 2019

      If you want to try the task yourself, you could have a look at a Linked-in Learning course: Creating an InDesign Booklet Using XML

      There are a few titles on Amazon that may assist you:

      • A Designer's Guide to Adobe InDesign and XML;
      • XML Publishing with Adobe InDesign;
      • InDesign CS5 Automation using XML and Javascript;

      Otherwise, there are several plugins you could consider, such as:

      • EasyCatalog by 65bit;
      • Cacidi Extreme;
      • InCatalog;
      • Designmerge by Meadows Software;
      • Datalinker by Teacup Software.

      These plug-ins have trial versions to see if the software is right for your task, but make sure the software will work for your operating system and version of InDesign, and that the level of online support and ease of use is suitable for you.

      If the answer wasn't in my post, perhaps it might be on my blog at colecandoo!
        stefanogismondi
        stefanogismondiAuthor
        Known Participant
        March 19, 2019

        I did a brief check of all softwares and seems they are very good for leaflet or catalog (where text space is more or less defined and mostly positioned in the same page) I need a software capable to merge different languages in one manual (at the moment up to 31).

        Each language is a result of a wide variety of drawings and text.

        Document I do have up to 200 and more pages (from 2 to 6 (and more) pages each language).

        I will try your suggestions (is for free! ;o) ).

        Mike Witherell
        Community Expert
        Mike WitherellCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        March 19, 2019

        I think FrameMaker matches the scale and scope you describe.

        Mike Witherell
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