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I believe the original poster is looking for more meat and potatoes than
that.
I don't know InDesign. Here's what I think:
1) ID can be used for small, 150-page documents.
2) ID is better suited for color, languages that need unicode fonts, and
custom layouts.
3) Longer documents (300+ pages) with repeating style elements don't
make use of ID's page layout capabilities and thus don't really need ID.
4) FrameMaker is less well suited for custom layouts, color, and
non-Latin languages except some double-byte languages.
5) FrameMaker is better suited for the following:
a) Creating and roundtripping structured (XML) content.
b) With WWP, creating online help.
c) Single sourcing online help, print, and multiple versions of
documents that vary in content based on conditional text use and chapter
use within books.
d) Creating generated lists, such as TOCs, Ixes, LOFs, LOTs.
e) Creating and maintaining cross-references.
f) Creating tables. (Not really sure about this one.)
Thus, I believe FrameMaker will be markedly more efficient for longer
texts whereas InDesign will be much more efficient with short, ad-hoc
layout publications.
Sean
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+sean -dot- brierley=ipc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+sean -dot- brierley=ipc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Chris Borokowski
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 11:30 AM
To: 'TECHWR-L'
Subject: RE: InDesign vs. Frame
InDesign is a layout/desktop publishing program, but FrameMaker is a
content management program with layout capabilities. It's an important
distinction.
--- Eric Thomas <ethomas -at- ftdi -dot- com> wrote:
> I use both InDesign and FrameMaker virtually every day.
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Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
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Now shipping: Help & Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
to 106 languages with Help & Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com
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