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When to use RoboHelp over FrameMaker?

Community Beginner ,
Jul 24, 2020 Jul 24, 2020

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I am pseudo-new to the Adobe RoboHelp and FrameMaker. I am trying to understand why you would use one tool over another. Any advice? .

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Community Expert , Jul 24, 2020 Jul 24, 2020

You could use either tool for that - both will produce Responsive HTML5 output that can be uploaded to a webserver for hosting. PDFs can be created and hosted as downloadable files. They both run on JavaScript to serve up a Table of Contents, Index, Glossary, and Search; no need for a CMS unless you're doing a lot a of content reuse - in which case, Structured FM would be better suited. FM has a steeper learning curve (it's not Word) and RH is very author-friendly. Don't forget you can get free

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Community Expert ,
Jul 24, 2020 Jul 24, 2020

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Use both! Honestly, that's why the Technical Communication Suite exists.
But in reality, you need to look at what you're going to do and what output you want to produce - FM comes from the book-publishing industry, so long-form, highly-linked, strong PDF creation is its forte. RH has traditionally been aimed at producing online HTML in various forms; that's its strength. Both products are narrowing the gap: FM is publishing HTML5 output and RH is now creating better PDF output. 

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Community Beginner ,
Jul 24, 2020 Jul 24, 2020

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Thank you, Jeff, for the quick response. I am wanting to create an operations, maintenance, and surviellance manual and make it available online, but printable if need be. Once I have it created, I'm assuming it goes into some sort fo CMS?

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Community Expert ,
Jul 24, 2020 Jul 24, 2020

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You could use either tool for that - both will produce Responsive HTML5 output that can be uploaded to a webserver for hosting. PDFs can be created and hosted as downloadable files. They both run on JavaScript to serve up a Table of Contents, Index, Glossary, and Search; no need for a CMS unless you're doing a lot a of content reuse - in which case, Structured FM would be better suited. FM has a steeper learning curve (it's not Word) and RH is very author-friendly. Don't forget you can get free 30-day trials of them both to play with.

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Community Beginner ,
Jul 24, 2020 Jul 24, 2020

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I purchased both. One other question, if I may. Because of the learning curve with FM, I think I will start with RH. Eventually though, I think there will be reusable content needed. Can I port the RH files to FM when the time is right?

 

Thanks again for being so helpful.

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Advisor ,
Jul 24, 2020 Jul 24, 2020

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BTW, "aaro" RoboHelp itself has very powerful reuse features, including robust cross-referencing, variables, snippets and condition tagging that enables Dynamic Content Filtering.

...just sayin'

John Daigle

Adobe Certified RoboHelp and Captivate Instructor

1395 NE Newport Heights Dr. 
Newport, OR 97365
John Daigle
Adobe Certified RoboHelp and Captivate Instructor
Newport, Oregon

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Community Beginner ,
Jul 24, 2020 Jul 24, 2020

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Many thanks, John.

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Community Expert ,
Jul 24, 2020 Jul 24, 2020

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RH can import FM content, but the reverse is not true - getting RH content into FM is a painful process done mainly through copy/paste or Word.

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Participant ,
Jan 24, 2022 Jan 24, 2022

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If I author in RH, can I then publish to PDF without going through FM?

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Participant ,
Jan 24, 2022 Jan 24, 2022

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Or is it better to author in FM and send to RH for HTML5 output (or Responsive HTML)?

 

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Community Expert ,
Jul 24, 2020 Jul 24, 2020

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How recently did you buy? If very recent it might be worth speaking to Customer Support as it would probably have been cheaper to buy the Technical Communication Suite. Both have recently been upgraded so if you bought within the last month, they may let you upgrade. However there is a fly in the ointment. All are now subscription only. The TCS subscription is less than individual subscriptions.

 

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Community Beginner ,
Jul 24, 2020 Jul 24, 2020

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Thank you, Peter. I should have been more detailed. I did purchase the Technical Communication Suite. Thanks for looking out for a noob. Aaron

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Community Expert ,
Jan 24, 2022 Jan 24, 2022

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@bronxguys02 RoboHelp can generate Responsive and PDF. You don't need Fm for that but maybe you have a reason for going that route.

________________________________________________________
My site www.grainge.org includes many free Authoring and RoboHelp resources that may be of help.

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Participant ,
Jan 24, 2022 Jan 24, 2022

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Thank you, Peter. I am trying to determine the best way to "do it all." Apparently authoring with RH is all I need for our OLH and PDF deliverables. I'll be importing our single source FM files that were used to create OLH in WebWorks and PDF for manuals. Is there "process" documentation that takes me through  the required settings to establish RH output I want after importing the FM files? I'm not sure what to do first to customize the output.

 

 

 

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Community Expert ,
Jan 25, 2022 Jan 25, 2022

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@bronxguys02 Open the About RoboHelp sample project. It contains lots of information about importing and creating outputs.

 

Any specific questions, please start a new thread.

________________________________________________________
My site www.grainge.org includes many free Authoring and RoboHelp resources that may be of help.

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Participant ,
Jan 25, 2022 Jan 25, 2022

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Thank you!

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