Frame vs Ventura

[Tom Lange <Tom_Lange -at- CCMAIL -dot- BMC -dot- COM>]

     >I've seen many references to FrameMaker on this list, and none to
     Ventura,
     >and I wonder if there is something I ought to know! I've used Ventura
     since
     >version 1.1, and have never seen FrameMaker. Can someone tell me the
     >advantages/differences or whatever in relation to producing
     maintainable
     >manuals?
     >
     >No need to tell me the disadvantages of Ventura, I know them all!

     Tim Altom's response was excellent.  I managed a writing department
     for 2 years that used Ventura. Now I write using FrameMaker.  What a
     difference, (and I am not talking about the difference between
     managing and contract writing).

     Another significant difference exists.  As a contract writer, I know
     my job can cease at any moment; therefore, I monitor the contractor
     job market constantly.  I see the ads on this list, the STC lists at
     various locations, and Contractor's Weekly.  During the last year,
     almost all ads in the USA wanted writers with either FrameMaker or
     Interleaf.  I would guess the ration is about 50% FrameMaker, 40%
     Interleaf, and 10% other. Other includes Word, WordPerfect, Ventura,
     IBM's BookMaster/Xedit, AMIPRO, and believe it or not WordStar.  The
     best I can remember I have seen only 4 or 5 ads during the year for
     Ventura.

     I guess the point I am making is that to be really marketable for
     hardcopy tech writing, you must have FrameMaker and/or Interleaf.  For
     on-line helps, most ads want writers with RoboHelp.

     Just one Texan's opinion.

     Tom Lange
     tom_lange -at- ccmail -dot- bmc -dot- com