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Save as PDF, HTML and CHM file formats

Advocate ,
May 07, 2008 May 07, 2008
Is FrameMaker capable of saving in all three of these formats: PDF, HTML and CHM file formats? Would InDesign be a better choice?
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Enthusiast ,
May 08, 2008 May 08, 2008
The first two, yes. For Compiled Help, the third, I'm sure you know that the files have to be compiled, so no, and I don't think the source files for compilation are a direct export either, unless you can follow an XML path. Although the popularity of CHM is way down from a number of years ago because HTML is more portable, but that's a different issue.

If I were you, I'd look at MIF2go, a Frame add on that does support export to all these formats, and a number of others.

InDesign doesn't do this either...

Just as a word of unasked for advice, choosing your authoring platform by what it can output is a back-asswords way to choose a tool. Find the tool that suits the way you create documents the best so you get more required features to create your stuff quicker and easier.

Both the tools you mention and most other modern ones do pretty open-ended output, either directly or through filters or conversion utilities... there are always ways to massage output to a different format. So output is certainly a consideration, but it's a relatively minor one.

As for input tools, you're comparing apples and oranges with FM and ID. FM excels at book style documents with multiple chapters or files that share common layout characteristics. InDesign excels at shorter documents that are usually design-driven, that require hands-on layout tweaking, and it can't do multiple file management.

Cheers,
Art
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Enthusiast ,
May 08, 2008 May 08, 2008
P.S. I should have mentioned Adobe's Tech Comm Suite, which includes Frame and Robobhelp. If you buy the bundled suite of products, yes, FM can output to all three required formats.

Art
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Advocate ,
May 08, 2008 May 08, 2008
Art,

Thanks for your very helpful answer and suggestions.

Is version 8 of FrameMaker, which is included in the Tech Comm Suite, identical to version 8 of FrameMaker purchased separately? If so, then it sounds like Robohelp enables FrameMaker to save as CHM. I have FrameMaker 8, but not the Tech Comm Suite and have never used Robohelp (or Mif2Go). If you have any further comments or suggestions, I'd be interested.
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Enthusiast ,
May 08, 2008 May 08, 2008
Jay,

The FM version in the Tech Comm Suite is the same core code, but because it is a Suite, Adobe created new "bridge" code to make all the aps work together in a more integreated, pretty transparent way. So on both the FM and the RH sides, you have integration tools and program hooks available that aren't there if you purchase the two applications separately. The TCS is available on a 30 day eval download...

As is MIF2Go, from omsys.com. You might want to download it, or download both of 'em and see which you like better. In particular for MIF2Go, contact Jeremy, the head MIF Wrangler&support guy by email and ask him about what you want to do. He'll have some thoughts on the Best Practice for MIF2Go.

Art
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Advocate ,
May 08, 2008 May 08, 2008
Art,
Thanks again for your helpful comments. Since I already purchased FrameMaker 8 and Captivate 3 separately from the Tech Comm Suite, and the suite is rather costly, I'd prefer to make this work with Mif2Go, but I'll try both for comparison.
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Enthusiast ,
May 08, 2008 May 08, 2008
LATEST
Jay, the upgrade is fairly reasonable, and if you purchased either of
them recently, you may be able to cut some kind of deal, either with
your retailer or possibly even Adobe.

Art
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