Keyboard shortcuts in FM8 (was Re: 8.0.1 patch fixes FM Book to PDF issue)

[Peter Gold]

On Dec 12, 2007 2:27 PM, Shlomo Perets <shlomo2 at microtype.com> wrote:
> Adherence to time tables is certainly important, but in this case, it seems
> to me that FrameMaker 8.0 -- at least at this stage -- will be associated
> more with the ongoing problems and user frustration, rather than with the
> release according to schedule. Was it worth it? I have my doubts...
>
>
> Shlomo Perets

Hi, Shlomo:

It's always embarrassing when this kind of relatively minor but
supremely annoying bug slips through into a released product.

If the bug was reported during beta testing, but wasn't fixed because
resources and development time were devoted more to the major
improvements in Unicode, XML, and DITA areas, and less to bugs like
this, it's a bad choice to have made, because however small they seem,
they do interrupt smooth working habits. For example, when a fast
typist applies formats by proven keystroke shortcut sequences, and
later finds out they have been ignored, retracing one's steps destroys
efficiency as well as trust in one's skills and in the product.

If the bugs weren't reported, however, it's possible that the
beta-test community of users (experienced users invited to
participate, not just in-house Adobe developers and testers) didn't
use the shortcuts, and didn't see the problem. Beta testers are
encouraged to use the product in their normal workflows, so perhaps
only a few users use these shortcuts. As a side issue, it would be
discouraging to find out that only a small number of users are aware
of and use these efficient shortcuts - when they work, they're very
helpful.

In the larger view, when something in software breaks when other
things are added, it's a sign that the overall architecture of the
product is hard to maintain. This has always been an issue with adding
features to FrameMaker; it's always been difficult to maintain the
architecture, so adding new useful features and abilities has always
lagged.

IMO, the release of the new Technical Communications Suite is a good
place to stop holding on to the old architectures of these suite
products, and time for Adobe to begin serious development of new and
proven engineering that brings the products into the current
generation.

Regards,

Peter
_______________________________
Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices