Differences between 7 and 8 for long books

[ScratchyBoy]

I am considering FM 7 and 8 for producing a long book.  The issue with 8 is that it requires SP2 on XP, and I can't put that on my writing system.

So that would favour 7 unless its features are noticably lacking compared to 8.  Here are the book requirements, please read carefully --

* There are 4 parallel columns spread across 2 facing pages -- each column has its own text, layout, font and size, different from texts in other columns.

* All 4 columns in the spread (2 on even pages, 2 on odd pages) must retain their positions on the spread, no matter which page of the book you turn to.

* There is absolutely no left to right wrapping of columns in a parallel column layout.  This means all columns flow down - even to even, and odd to odd.

* This page flow must be automatic -- I am simply NOT going to draw frames for all pages and manually link them across a 400 page book, it is absurd.

I need to know which one of 7 or 8 supports automatic wrapping of 2 columns on even pages to the next even page, and the two columns on the right odd pages to the next odd page (if you don't understand this requisite column flow, please leave it for other to reply who do -- thank you).  If both FM 7 and 8 are more or less the same, that would be very helpful information too.  Please give compative capabilities as it relates to parallel book columns.

BTW, another really crucial feature is being able to manually set a FIXED line height in each column -- not in point size, like InDesign does (that does not work for precise alignment) -- I should be able to specify the line height in each column in decimals of an inch.  Which one can do this?

Your help on these specific questions is much appreciated.  Please no discussion of FM 9.  I will not be getting that version.  Thanks

[peter minneapolis]

Hi, Van:

Van Kurtz wrote:

As Arnis points out, a point is a unit of length, 1/72 of an inch. Therefore, specifying a size in points is equivalent to specifying the size in inches. The application should, and both FrameMaker and InDesign, treat them the same.

The definition of a point's size has changed over time and location. Here's a discussion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_(typography) It's possible that an application could introduce different mathematical rounding results in type runs that are specified in different measurement systems, such as traditional points, PostScript points, and millimeters. Such differences might not be apparent in normal type layouts, but might be seen more easily with parallel columns set with different measurement systems.

InDesign can specify the line height to be fixed (Framemaker terminology); however, InDesign (as well as its predecessor PageMaker) treats leading (= line height) as a character setting NOT a paragraph setting; this is different from Quark XPress and standard printinger terminology. This may be unfortunate, but that is the way it is. ON THE OTHER HAND, one can create paragraph styles that specify the leading for the style; it is in the basic character formats section of the style dialog. So, for me setting the line height in InDesign is no issue.

In InDesign, I created two text frames each with the same fixed line height and the same fixed position of the first baseline (both 60 pt). The first frame was set in 36 pt Times, a serif PostScript font, and the second in 12 pt Arial, a nonserif TrueType font. In the seventh line of the first frame, I dragged a horizontal guide to what I would consider the baseline for that line, namely, the bottom of an lowercase H. Moving across to the second frame, I found that its seventh line sat squarely on the baseline.

So, I have done the experiment you requested and have found no problem.

Peter,

I believe that the font designer can (should or must) set where the baseline is within the font's bounding box. So, if a program knows where that baseline is, I would think that it should be able to set the type correctly. If the font design is sloppy, then that font will likely not look right when one tries to align it across columns. I understand that some characters in a font, such as a, c, t, o, etc sit a little below the baseline, because if they did not, then the human mind would perceive them as sitting above the baseline. In my experience, I have had no trouble with font baseline alignments.

Van

I have noticed that some fonts seem to lie on the baseline differently from others. Perhaps it's due to a font designer's "creative" decision in some cases, or sloppy design in others. Also, the examples I observed may have had some instances of consecutive "below the baseline" characters separated by single "on the baseline" characters, which could misrepresent the font's true behavior.

Regards,

Peter

_______________________

Peter Gold

KnowHow ProServices

[Winfried Reng]

Hi,

You say FM 8 needs at least Windows XP, SP 2. However, FrameMaker 8

works very well on older Windows systems. In my case it's Windows 2000, SP 4.

The system requirements of FM 8 are here:

http://www.adobe.com/products/framemaker/systemreqs.html

The sytem requirements of FM 9 are here:

http://www.adobe.com/products/framemaker/systemreqs/

If you cannot install FM 8 on older systems than XP with SP 2, then this is at

least not a general FM 8 problem.

If you have problems to install FM 8 on XP with SP 3, then the installer is here:

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=4549

According to Michael Müller-Hillebrand:

http://cap-studio.de/wp/index.php/2009/07/framemaker-8-neu-installieren/

Best regards

Winfried

[Art Campbell]

OK, please read:

So if you're using an operating system older than XP SP2, what exactly are you running?

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

"I am considering FM 7 and 8 for producing a long book."

This sounds like you don't have a copy of either one of them - short of going through volume licensing, I'm not sure how you can even buy a copy of either of them at this point. Adobe's only selling FM9 these days.