RE: InDesign vs. Frame

["Eric Thomas" <ethomas -at- ftdi -dot- com>]

I use both InDesign and FrameMaker virtually every day. At this point, I
would not even consider long documents in InDesign. Although there are tons
of features that are similar/the same, I have to get in a different mindset
for each program. I don't consider this a bad thing. I have 500+ page
manuals in FrameMaker, and even small technical docs (25-50 pages), I'd
rather do in FrameMaker.

BUT... if anything is graphic intensive, or has even a slight amount of
"irregularity" about it (pictures that I want to wrap text around in a
creative way, lots of colors, etc.), I immediately think InDesign.

Granted, I also create online help from FrameMaker via ePublisher, so I
doubt it would even be an option for me to lay out an entire manual in
InDesign. I did do an 80 page Quick Reference Guide in InDesign, but I
hand-entered the TOC and index because those seemed counter-intuitive to me
in a page layout program. Those things are practically automatic in
FrameMaker.

Your mileage may vary, and I haven't looked at InDesign CS3 yet. So things
may have changed.

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+ethomas=ftdi -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+ethomas=ftdi -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of
Wilhelm, Joel
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 9:33 AM
To: Rick Stone; TECHWR-L
Subject: RE: InDesign vs. Frame


Thanks Rick. My limited reading suggests that InDesign will work on Macs and
Windows systems, and that InDesign is beginning to inherit a lot of the
FrameMaker features. So I'm wondering if Frame 8 will be the end of the road
and if InDesign will do roughly the same work?

Joel 

-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Stone [mailto:rstone75 -at- kc -dot- rr -dot- com] 
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 10:33 AM
To: Wilhelm, Joel; TECHWR-L
Subject: Re: InDesign vs. Frame

Hi Joel

This is a really bizarre question from my perspective. Here's why.

I recently assisted Adobe by staffing their booth at the recent STC
Conference in Minneapolis. If there were a single question that I heard over
and over and over again, it was the one you are asking. It was as if in the
keynote session, someone proclaimed that InDesign was deemed to be "The" 
replacement application for Framemaker.

Unfortunately, I'm ill equipped to say whether this is true or not. But my
rudimentary understanding of things tells me InDesign is a layout
application. Something one might use for Newsletters or Brochures. And
Framemaker is for "long documents" as I understand it. Something along the
lines of a book ranging from 50 pages upwards to an unknown limit. So I see
these as two different tools for two entirely different purposes.

I was with another gentleman that had much more of an understanding of
InDesign than I have. He was shocked about it as well. However, he did say
that some changes occurred with the CS3 version that make it more feasible
for creating something that might span 150 pages or so.

Cheers... Rick :)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Wilhelm, Joel" <jwilhelm -at- athenati -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 9:18 AM
Subject: InDesign vs. Frame


> Any thoughts on using InDesign for manuals (150 pages or so)?
>
> Does it do what Frame does? I'd like to hear from users if they are on 
> the list.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Joel


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