Frame, Quark Xpress and a recalcitrant client

Subject: Frame, Quark Xpress and a recalcitrant client
From: Candace Bamber <cbamber -at- CASTEK -dot- COM>
Date: Thu, 4 Sep 1997 17:35:02 -0400

All,

I definitely don't want to start any tool-wars, but I think a client is
planning something a little misguided and I need some good hard facts to
present.

As things currently stand, we are doing the online help for a major custom
project, and they (the client) are doing the paper user manuals. They have
never done user manuals before, and have no idea how to even begin, so they
are relying on us for advice and guidance. It also wouldn't surprise me if
we end up doing the books (this whole documentation thing is way more
complicated than they originally thought).

So they asked what tool to use. I recommended FrameMaker, seeing how it is
designed to handle long (2000+ pages), multi-file books with extensive
indexes, cross references, conditional text, about 1000 screen shots, and
flow diagrams, all of which will be updated on a virtually weekly basis
for about the next three-five years. I've also had good success with
FrameMaker, and can help them set up a template that will automate a lot of
stuff - and most importantly, deal easily with their stated need for
multiple simultaneous versions (good old conditional text!).

They don't know much about DTP or Word Processing, but someone in their
group loves Quark Xpress, and they are quite determined to use Quark Xpress
despite my rather vehement attempts to dissuade them on the grounds of
efficiency and maintenance nightmare. (Not to mention the fact that I'm
terrified I'm going to end up having to deal with the thing.)

I've used QX for high design layout, and even then, not for about two and
a half years, so I'm not familiar at all with the features and functions
for book making of the newest versions, but to me this sounds like madness.
Or perhaps I'm the mad one?

Has anyone used QX for such a big book? How did it go? What were the
headaches? Does the new version automatically update TofCs, Index items and
cross references across files? I don't even remember it being able to
auto-generate TofCs or Indices. Can it handle multiple file docs in a way
that makes sense for a constantly updated document (I vaguely recall having
to manually set the starting page number for the next file). Does it have
anything like a conditional text feature?

If anyone could just send me an email saying I'm right, that would
definitely help my attitude :^^).
Actually, commentary, information or war stories would be even more
gratefully accepted.

Many Thanks, as always,!

Candace

***************************************************
Candace Bamber
cbamber -at- castek -dot- com
***************************************************

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