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sjradovich
Participating Frequently
October 4, 2016
Answered

Is there anything that XPP can do that FrameMaker can't do?

  • October 4, 2016
  • 1 reply
  • 1197 views

I'm very new to XML publishing but my company is migrating from SGML to XML and is looking into a product called XPP from a company that used to be called Xywright. If anyone here has knowledge of XPP, can you please tell me if it can offer any features not available through FrameMaker? Thanks.

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Correct answer Stefan Gentz

Does XPP still exist? I thought it is dead for quite some time now. I remember that SDL had bought XyEnterprise in 2009 and somehow merged it into their CMS. However, SDL heavily slashed down all their non-translation activities earlier this year. Not sure, if going this solution is a good idea as it does not seem to have a future … But this is just my personal thought!

FrameMaker is an excellent tool for XML publishing. Especially combined with Adobe's new DITA CCMS ("XML Documentation Add-on for Adobe Experience Manager") you have more or less endless possibilities for on and offline-authoring, managing, reviewing, translating, publishing, analyzing. And you can publish XML Content to pretty much all channels from high-quality PDFs to Websites, dedicated Responsive HTML5 sites, ePUBs, Kindle e-books, iOS / Android Apps, Adobe DPS and much more. And all this very easy with visual tools and no need for expensive and time-consuming programming.

1 reply

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Community Manager
Stefan GentzCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
Community Manager
October 4, 2016

Does XPP still exist? I thought it is dead for quite some time now. I remember that SDL had bought XyEnterprise in 2009 and somehow merged it into their CMS. However, SDL heavily slashed down all their non-translation activities earlier this year. Not sure, if going this solution is a good idea as it does not seem to have a future … But this is just my personal thought!

FrameMaker is an excellent tool for XML publishing. Especially combined with Adobe's new DITA CCMS ("XML Documentation Add-on for Adobe Experience Manager") you have more or less endless possibilities for on and offline-authoring, managing, reviewing, translating, publishing, analyzing. And you can publish XML Content to pretty much all channels from high-quality PDFs to Websites, dedicated Responsive HTML5 sites, ePUBs, Kindle e-books, iOS / Android Apps, Adobe DPS and much more. And all this very easy with visual tools and no need for expensive and time-consuming programming.

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    sjradovichAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    October 4, 2016

    Stefan,

    Thanks for your reply. I work for a large organization that produces multiple publications. Many years ago they created their own proprietary system for tagging text. Right now their workflow is made up of these steps: (1) They receive data in MS Word and run it through a program that adds SGML tags. Some tags are missed by the program or are incorrect so they are hand coded. (2) The final SGML documents are then converted back to their own proprietary system's tags and then all are converted to into XML. (3) They use an ancient scripting program that they created to accomplish all of these steps.

    We are currently in the process of trying to migrate everything into an XML workflow with XPP. They've spent a lot of time (years) and money to try to match the output that the old system created. I guess I'm asking why they chose XPP over FrameMaker. As I said, I'm no expert but it seems obvious that FrameMaker is a much better and faster solution. Am I missing something?

    R
    Russ Ward
    Legend
    October 6, 2016

    Hi sradovich,

    To add some additional thoughts, on top of Stefan's reply... FrameMaker is quite an excellent tool for authoring and publishing XML. And, it is an excellent tool even if you only want to do one or the other. And, it has a scripting interface that is enormously capable, both within the FrameMaker environment and outside of it (string manipulation, file management, socket communications, etc.). However, having said all that, I'm not clear exactly what is your vision for FrameMaker. Can you clarify the role that you think it would have? What exactly would be the input and then the final output?

    Russ

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