1. as Google says -
FrameMaker excels in technical documentation and long-form publishing, offering superior capabilities for structured authoring, robust multi-file book management, conditional text, sophisticated cross-referencing, and flexible variables , which are either less developed or non-existent in InDesign, a program more suited for shorter, visually driven publications. FrameMaker also provides better XML/DITA support and more advanced tools for managing complex numbering and indexing for extensive documents.
Key FrameMaker Features Lacking in InDesign
Structured Authoring:
FrameMaker is built for structured content, allowing authors to create distinct, reusable content components through tools like DITA (Darwin Information Typing Architecture).
Multi-File Book Management:
FrameMaker offers superior features for managing lengthy, complex, multi-chapter publications, including sophisticated options for numbering tables, figures, and sections across many files.
Advanced Cross-Referencing:
It provides more flexible and robust tools for adding and managing cross-references within and between documents, including the ability to display unresolved references.
Conditional Text:
FrameMaker's conditional text features are more advanced, allowing for content to be displayed or hidden based on specific conditions, which is crucial for creating different versions of a document from a single source.
User Variables:
The program supports more flexible user variables for storing information like product names, company details, or version numbers, which can be dynamically updated throughout a document.
Reference Pages:
FrameMaker uses "reference pages" to store graphics and other generated files, a unique feature not found in InDesign.
XML/DITA Editing:
FrameMaker offers more advanced, built-in support for XML and DITA, enabling structured authoring and content reuse.
Robust Long Document Support:
FrameMaker is designed to handle documents with hundreds or thousands of pages, complex numbering, and multi-level indices without crashing, a major advantage over InDesign for technical manuals.
When to Choose FrameMaker over InDesign
Technical Documentation:
For writing complex technical manuals, product documentation, or other long, information-rich documents.
Large-Scale Projects:
To manage hundreds or thousands of pages, complex book structures, and intricate numbering schemes.
Structured Content:
When you need to work with structured authoring using XML or DITA to create reusable content.
Consistency Across Multiple Outputs:
For generating different output formats (like PDF and HTML) from the same source content without extensive redesign.
2. - not really - you're going to be using Word or PDF to move content back & forth
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