Third-party or "out of the box" plugins [was "re: Frame's future"]

[hedley.finger at myob.com]

Marcus, Marcus, Marcus:

> > I attempted to make the point that a study of the third-party plugins
> > would indicate to Adobe the gaps in FrameMaker's functionality that
> > they need to address, and chose indexing plugins as an example where
> > there are many independent plugins to improve this functionality.
> 
> While I agree that plugin usage indicates shortfalls in the current 
> product, I don't accept that Adobe should take direction from that. Most 

> of the plugins mentioned have been developed to support hardcopy 
> publishing, but Adobe know as well as anyone that that market is in 
> chronic decline.

I'm surprised that you of all people should associate functionality with 
presentation.  It's a bit similar to 
separating format from content.   8^)  And I'm surprised that you equate 
indexes only with hardcopy.

I was trying to make the point that when there are a bunch of plugins to 
support indexing (= data entry), 
Adobe should get the message -- that the indexing functionality in 
FrameMaker sucks.  It was NOT a 
plea to reproduce third-party plugins as is, just their functionality -- 
do we really want the slick user 
interface of IXgen (sorry, Frank)?

Whether that index finishes up in a hardcopy book, PDF, help file, or web 
site is immaterial.  Getting index 
entries into FrameMaker is more difficult than it need be.  And hardcopy 
isn't dead.  If you and I are like 
other people, how many times do we print out a help topic or web page to 
read it? 

And in the wonderful world of personalised content that adapts to the 
custom product you have ordered, 
the country you are in, the access privileges you have, and the set of 
topics you have chosen to print, 
wouldn't it be wonderful if you have chosen to print out your own 
personalised workshop manual for your 
custom 2009 Turbo Tarburner with optional hydrogen fuel cell and electric 
motor (as against the standard 
biodiesel motor), racing slicks, two-tone duco and hard-top convertible 
four-door.  And of course this 
personalised manual would come with its own custom index. When your head 
is under the bonnet, 
Google doesn't work too well with your Haynes repair manual..

Regards,
Hedley

--
Hedley Finger
Training Content Developer and Tools Specialist
MYOB Australia Pty Ltd <http://myob.com/au>
P.O. box 371   Blackburn VIC 3130   Australia
12 Wesley Court   Tally Ho Business Park   East Burwood VIC 3151 Australia
<mailto:hedleyDOTfingerATmyobDOTcom>
Tel. +61 3 9222 9992 x 7421,   Mob. (cell) +61 412 461 558

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