MS Word vs. Frame

Thu Jun 12 18:40:05 PDT 2008

I convinced them to use Frame. I kinda said, "no way in hell" am I gonna
recommend Word. My basis was exactly what this group pointed out: they
aren't using the Word capabilities that are required (e.g. styles, etc), so
if I'm gonna train the pm, I might as well train him on Frame. I also scared
him by saying that writers just don't like Word, so recruiting would be
difficult. You asked about the project manager. The pm is the Product
Management VP, Engineering VP, Recruiter, and "tech writer".  Poor guy.

I'll probably use Frame/WebWorks solution. I like ePublisher Pro because it
works well with Frame, but I'd go with MadCap Flare (without Frame), if I
can convince the company that they don't need manuals, but that's a more
difficult argument to make. :)

Angela

On Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 10:46 PM, Diane Gaskill <dgcaller at earthlink.net>
wrote:

> Hi Ang,
>
> You're kidding me, right?  You are actually considering Word instead of FM?
>
> We use both here, but are working away from Word, manual by manual.  The
> Word templates were created from my FM templates.  I converted FM to Word
> with Mif2Go.  Yay Jeremy!
>
> Just my 2c worth, but if there are no styles in their Word docs, I don't
> think they really know how to use Word.  And I expect that they know much
> about manuals either. I srongly encourage you to take the lead here and get
> them on the right path.  They will luv ya in the long run.
>
> Sure, Word sounds like the easy way at the moment, but trust me, not in the
> long run. And I think the company will happier with FM too.  BTW, if you
> need something to convince them, I have lots of Word vs FM comparison docs
> that I've either written or collected over the last 10 years or so.  Let me
> know if you need them.
>
> Why does the project manager need to learn FM?  To comment on your docs?
> No, Word is not the way.  Buy FM8 and Acrobat 8 Pro.  Get the free Acrobat
> 8
> reader for them.  With Acrobat8 Pro, you can create PDFs that they can
> commment in, highlight, edit, and more, just like they can with Word.  And
> you can keep right on using FM.  BTW, if you are worried about converting
> the Word docs to FM, don't.  FM8 has a great new filter that really does
> convert Word docs into FM, tables and graphics and everything.  I use it
> all
> the time.  No, not the RTF filter.  It's called Microsoft Word 7.  Sure
> beats those old Mastersoft filters that Frame Technology bought to make the
> sale of FM to Adobe.
>
> If I understand your message, you will be creating both docs and online
> help.  If that is the case, don't by FM and don't buy Acrobat.  Yes, I am
> serious.  Don't buy them.
>
> Huh?  What?  Don't buy FM and Acrobat?
>
> No, don't buy them.  That is, not separately.
>
> Instead, buy the new Adobe Techinical Communications Suite. It includes a
> linked version of FM8 and Robo7, plus Acrobat NINE Pro extended (yep, 9),
> and a really neat tool called Captivate.  We just bought it for several of
> us and let me tell you it is faaaaan-tastic.  We are saving lots of time
> and
> work.  You can author in FM and convert the manual to Robo online HTML
> help.
> TOC, index, glossary, everything.  It depends on how you set it up.  You
> use
> conditional text in FM to set up what goes in the help an what doesn't.
>  You
> set up the tag mapping from FM to Robo (it's easy, nothing like WWP was),
> do
> a couple more easy setup things, hit the convert button, and presto, online
> help. You can also author in Robo and import back to FM if you want, but
> I'd
> recommend setting it up as author in FM, print docs from FM, import by
> reference into Robo.
>
> Captivate is amazing.  3D interactive graphics in a PDF file.  Live
> installation demos with almost no instructions to write.  No special
> viewers, just Acrobat Reader 7 or 8.  Who'd have ever thought you could do
> this?  You run a GUI and record your actions.  Users can play it back as a
> demo or walk themselves through it, with popup instructions guiding them
> along if you want.  I'll send you a demo file I created offline 'cause the
> list strips attachments.  It is really cool.
>
> Microsoft, eat your heart out. :-)
>
> Gee, do I sound like I'm selling it or something?  Well, that wasn't my
> intent, but I gotta tellya, these toys are really fun to play with, and the
> big bosses are already taking notice of what we are doing.
>
> BTW, thank you Matt Sullivan, wheever you are.  That was a great TCS class.
> We'll be hitting you with questions pretty soon.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Diane Gaskill
> Hitachi Data Systems
> Santa Clara, CA
>
> ===========================
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com
> [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com]On Behalf Of Angela Akridge
> Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 2:07 PM
> To: framers at lists.frameusers.com
> Subject: MS Word vs. Frame
>
>
> Hi,
>
> Question: What features am I giving up by going with MS Word? Text insets?
> Conditional text?
>
> I'm a contractor for a very small startup that has a limited budget. I've
> been tasked to create their online help. They currently have manuals in MS
> Word, though no styles/tags are being used yet.
>
> They have no permanent writer, and they can't afford one at this time.
> There's a chance that I'll be supporting their major releases on an ongoing
> basis, and they'll update the help for their maintenance releases. Let me
> get to the point.
>
> I must choose between MS Word or Frame as the source. I don't know which to
> choose, given the circumstances!
>
> Frame meets a writers needs now and in the future. I don't want myself or
> the future writer to be stuck with MS Word. However, I know that the
> Project
> Manager isn't gonna like learning Frame. A conversion is less highly
> unlikely in an environment with very tight deadlines and where there are
> limited resources.
>
> They know how to use MS Word. I'm good with Frame, and don't know anything
> about publishing with MS Word. Also, it's easier to recruit writers when
> the
> source is in Frame, or so I've noticed.
>
> Angela
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-- 
Angela Akridge
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