Adobe FrameMaker - Next Release

[rombanks]

Dear fellows,

Does anyone know when the new version of FrameMaker is expected to be released? Currently, the product fate and roadmap is absolutely unclear and Adobe do not seem to share any details regarding the product's future.

Thanks!

[Jeff_Coatsworth · Accepted solution]

Nope, no idea - and even if we knew, we couldn't tell anybody about it because of the NDA in the prerelease program.

[rombanks]

I just wondered if I had somehow missed any updates, Adobe presentations regarding the next release. 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Why do you think its fate is unclear. Frame's demise has been predicted for the last quarter century or more. 

As far as new versions go, while not consistant, they tend to be about every two years, so we are slightly past due. However, it really depends on if there are enough new features to warrant a new version. 

Software companies don't usually pre-announce features or a new version timetable as it would hold them legally liable if the pulled a not-ready feature from a new release or delayed the release entirely. 

Is there some new feature you are hoping for?

[frameexpert]

I share the original poster's concern, particularly with their scripting plans. ExtendScript has been deprecated with the Creative Suite applications and Adobe's intent with FrameMaker scripting is not clear. Unfortunately, Adobe's silence about FrameMaker has motivated some of my clients to move to other structured authoring and publishing solutions.

[rombanks]

I agree, Extendscript deprecation was a big blow. Very disappointing.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Scripting was mentioned as an original concern, so I did not address it. Anyway, you would be in a much better position to comment on it than I ever would!

[Bob_Niland]

Rick: Unfortunately, Adobe's silence about FrameMaker has motivated some of my clients to move to other structured authoring and publishing solutions.

I would think that the Unicode SMP situation (FM supports only BMP, FRMAKER-10976) is becoming a real problem too.

I had to resort to an EPS hack in a recent project to get a handful SMP characters into the PDF.

Unicode was released in 1991. FM didn't get any Unicode support until FM8 in 2007, and even then only supported 66% of it.

The coverage has been steadily dropping.

FM supports only 36% of Unicode today.

[FrameMaker-dk]

I'm with Rick here. My main grievance is mostly about publishing. PDF generation is confusing and inconstent IMHO.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

I'm with Rick here. My main grievance is mostly about publishing. PDF generation is confusing and inconstent IMHO.

By @FrameMaker-dk

That is true enough! Usually, I can only use the Publish option to create a PDF. I just don't bother with the other methods. Frame does like to bury important options, such as the bookmarks settings.