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FrameMaker. Why? It's robust for long, technical documents. It has SGML
(and XML), if you want, to enforce structure. It has a bunch of
third-party support, should you need it. It has Adobe Acrobat and
Quadralay Webworks Publisher Pro available for single sourcing, or just
convenient building of customized help systems, and it works on Mac and
UNIX, as well as Windows (WWP Pro isn't on the Mac). The bottom-line,
must buy strength of FrameMaker is its solid efficiency and throughput
for long, technical, docs.
Cons? Dated and kludgy interface that must be share-able with UNIX, Mac,
and Windows, import/export filters, lack of UNICODE support, lack of a
scripting language in Windows (use the FrameScript add-on if you need
to) and the fact that it works nothing at all like the Microsoft product
suite (a serious impediment to those who are less broad-minded ;?).
But, this has been done to death here before. Check the archives, go to http://www.frameusers.com and sign up for the framers list for more
info.
After FrameMaker, I'd look seriously at Corel Ventura. After that . . .
maybe Word (dunno about Quicksilver) . . . maybe a passing glance at
InDesign--passing.
-----Original Message-----
From: Leonard Marks [mailto:merrispapa -at- yahoo -dot- com]
Hello all...newbie here on techwr-l. I landed the job of tech-writer
because, I think, I could run the spell-checker. Well maybe more than
that, but I kinda fell into this.
So this is my question: I'm working with a group at the very beginning
of
a long, multi-volume user documentation project. We're just starting to
scout for DTP packages. Everything I've heard or read recommends
FrameMaker, so that was what I advised. But Nooooooooooooo...we've
gotta
do research. (Who knew that research was part of tech writing?)
So which DTP package is best? Am I on the ball with FrameMaker, or
should
I be looking at something else? Is there a product you'd recommend over
FM? Let me know...best answer gets the grand prize of three shiny
linked
paper clips.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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Advanced Techniques, FM Template Design, Single Sourcing with FrameMaker
in Brussels (Oct), and in Montreal & Dallas (Dec): http://www.microtype.com/1
Check out the new release of RoboDemo, our easy-to-use tutorial software.
Plus, buy RoboHelp Office in August and save $100 with our mail-in rebate.
Get details and download free trial versions at http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l
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