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bowen192
Inspiring
Mar 7, 2012 11:25 AM UTC
Answered

Moving in to Robohelp from Framemaker

Hello

I am producing manuals in unstructured Framemaker 10.  I want to take these manuals online, build a help file and eventually have a manual on an ipad/iphone.  I have the following questions:

Coming from Framemaker, will Robohelp be a logical program to learn?

Does Robohelp work along side Framemaker?

Why should I not use Madcap's Flare?

Thanks!

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RoboColum_n_
RoboColum_n_Correct answer
Legend
Mar 7, 2012 1:10 PM UTC

Having the Technical Communication Suite allows you to link your FM files into a RH project and publish your output directly from FM. Without the Technical Communication Suite you'd have to author in FrameMaker, import the files into RoboHelp and publish your output from there. The disadvantage of this approach is that you'd have to re-import the FM files every time you update them. In summary, the Technical Communication Suite just make things easier.

7 replies

RoboColum_n_
Legend
Mar 7, 2012 12:11 PM UTC

Flare is a rude word in these forums

To be perfectly frank, both Flare and RoboHelp can achieve your aim. However as your content is currently in FrameMaker, RoboHelp has a distinct advantage over its rival. If you have the Technical Communication Suite (which inlcudes both FrameMaker and RoboHelp) you can continue to author in FrameMaker with your files linked to a RoboHelp project. You just need to set-up your RoboHelp project to publish your output in your required format (yes you can output for i-Pad). Once you are ready, you can generate and publish your online output directly from FrameMaker.

Even if you didn't want to use the Technical Communication Suite you can easily import FrameMaker files directly into a RoboHelp project. There are some good resources on these areas over on the Adobe TV site.

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bowen192
bowen192Author
Inspiring
Mar 7, 2012 12:57 PM UTC

Thanks for getting back to me.

This is the answer I hoped for.

One thing I'm not sure I understand though; why is it an advantage to have the Technical Communication Suite over simply adding Robohelp to Framemaker?

I think I will dl the Robohelp trial and go from there.

Thanks

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RoboColum_n_
RoboColum_n_Correct answer
Legend
Mar 7, 2012 1:10 PM UTC

Having the Technical Communication Suite allows you to link your FM files into a RH project and publish your output directly from FM. Without the Technical Communication Suite you'd have to author in FrameMaker, import the files into RoboHelp and publish your output from there. The disadvantage of this approach is that you'd have to re-import the FM files every time you update them. In summary, the Technical Communication Suite just make things easier.

Translate