FM8 benefits

[Rene Stephenson]

Thanks for the great tips and assessment, Fred! I'll check out ABCM and Insets Plus.

I did finally receive approval for FM 8.0, so when I upgrade my personal copy, I'll get the TCS for myself. That way I can truly investigate that option as well as retain the flexibility for other clients. I'll have to look at whether their project timeline would allow for moving to structured FM before I can pitch any cost/feasibility to them, but I do see some potentially great benefits.

Thanks EVERYONE for your priceless input!!

 
Rene L. Stephenson


----- Original Message ----
From: Fred Wersan <fwersan at mak.com>

If the primary reason to move to Frame 8 is to go structured and take 
advantage of conditions using attributes, then I suggest they go 
structured in 7.2 and use ABCM from West St. Consulting. Or go to FM8 
for other reasons (like track changes) and still use ABCM. The frame 
implementation of condition by attribute seems very clumsy to me. By 
comparison ABCM (or Sourcerer) is much easier to use (and free).  And 
for text insets, I suggest using Insets Plus (also from West. St. also 
free.)

The big issue is not moving to FM8, it is moving to structured 
FrameMaker. (which I think is a good thing, but will probably be more 
costly to them in time and effort than buying the fm8 licenses.)