What is Framemaker really for?

[_paul_kirill_]

We have these manuals that we make at the end of a project called O & M Manuals. They can contain 1000s pages of specifications and these specifications reference equipment cut sheet, calculations, maintenance schedules, etc. They are typically delivered in a bunch of big binders, but now we want to start delivering them electronically. I suggested that we simply use Word to create hyperlinks and use Acrobat to publish them electronically. That's not good enough we want "slick". So I'm being asked to use Flash to build the document. I don't think Flash is necessarily the right tool and started looking at Framemaker.

Bottom line is, I'm a CAD and Computer guy. I'm hoping someone here might have a more intimate understanding of the publishing side. Any thoughts on whether Framemaker is the right tool?

Thanks for any help!

[Art Campbell]

Sounds like a good fit to me.

FM was designed for, and excels at, long document publishing, particularly handling multiple files as a unit. Think of each component file (chapters, drawings, whatever) as objects that are managed by a container or meta-object -- a FM book. By contrast, Word is a word processor and has never been good at even single long documents, let alone a herd of them.

Further, FM is a component of the Tech Comm Suite, which includes RoboHelp to generate help files, and RH includes an AIR/Flash packager. So you'd probably be able to design your workflow within the TCS to take advantage of hooks between the component programs.

And, if you wanted, you could still go to print or PDF from Frame.

Art

[_Van_Kurtz_]

Paul,

I am reading between the lines, but it sounds as if the OTHER documents (specs, cutsheets, calculations, etc) are all created in other applications, from which their PDFs are created. Are you looking to create some kind of front end (like a TOC) that links to the other documents, maybe also binding them together into one PDF file? If so, then you just need an app that will create the front end and give you the slickness you want. Maybe Flash is then OK because it can produce a slick front end (never used it; just guessing).

If you are looking to bring all the other documents into one document application, then Frame may be it. But you have to think about how all the other documents are to be converted to Frame documents or imported into Frame documents. If all the other documents can be output as XML, then Frame can easily import them and all can be given a consistent format and look.

InDesign is another application that can import XML documents (I have not done this; but their literature indicates that it can). InDesign can probably give a slicker look than Frame, simply because it is a more modern tool.

Good luck,
Van

[Guest]

Paul, one of the questions to consider is where the original content for the manuals originates, and whether there could be a benefit in automating the flow of the data through to FrameMaker and out to the final destination (PDF or whatever), thereby "managing" the whole production cycle. There are Adobe case studies here:
http://www.adobe.com/solutions/technicalcommunication/

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

There are many third party applications built around FrameMaker that are used in a wide variety of technical industries or with various types of workflows. You might also browse through the Tools Search at http://www.leximation.com /toolsearch

One example of such an automated process is highlighted in this case study:

http://www.datazone.com/english/pdfs/cs_scania.pdf

[disclaimer: my company is a reseller of Datazone's Miramo product]

[_johmac_]

Hi,
I am new to the forum and FrameMaker. To get myself started I have ordered an old version 5.1. This should at least give me an idea (at a low cost) as to whether I want to delve deeper into it. My questions is - What is the difference between FM 5.0 and 5.1. I have seen a book for FM 5.0 but am not sure it will be compatible with the FM 5.1 version. Could someone help me here.
Tks
JM

[Arnis Gubins]

JM,

Another low-cost approach is to download the 30-day trials in order to
evaluate the most current version of the product. FM9 (which is the
version that you will be probably be purchasing) will be quite
different from the FM5.x version.

[MichaelKazlow]

JM,

It is highly unlikely you can order a legal copy of FrameMaker 5.0 or 5.1.

FrameMaker is a desktop publishing program. It is designed for long
and/or technical documents. FrameMaker 5.0 was a real dog. I think the
first really usable and/or stable version was 5.0.6. I think 5.1 was the
first Adobe branded version of FrameMaker, but it was a long time ago so
my memory might be a bit fuzzy.

Mike

[Guest]

Welcome to FM land, JM.

As far as I remember there would be very few differences in essential capabilities between 5.0 and 5.1 -- it's good to be using 5.1 as I believe it had quite a few fixes after 5.0.