Single sourcing of Web/print dictionary--FMaker good choice?

[Art Campbell]

FM could do it, but if I were you, I'd think about using a simple
database as the back end that pumps out the info on command either to
FM or HTML. Unless it's stable enough that you don't have very many
changes....
If you did flat-file it, FM should be able to do both versions with
aplomb. I'd think about using MIF2Go to generate the HTML, but it's
possible that the internal filter could deal with something that
simple.

Art

On Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 6:00 PM, Fausset, Marilyn
<marilyn.fausset at snia.org> wrote:
> I am looking for suggestions on single sourcing content of a dictionary
> (currently in MS Word) into two versions:
> - Web version (not PDF) with cross links between definitions/terms
> - Printed book that is handed out at trade shows (very popular item,
> sponsored by multiple companies).
>
> More info...
> I have just been assigned a new (to me) project: maintaining our storage
> industry dictionary, which is distributed in book form as well as on our
> web site as HTML pages (by alpha letter) that appear within the normal
> web page design (not as PDF).
>
> Currently these two versions are not really single sourced, and that
> seems crazy, especially since they are translated into a few languages
> (I won't handle that piece but want to facilitate it), and the
> dictionary is modified twice a year. In the past, the source MS Word
> file has been sent to a printer, who put it into Quark. Our web master
> entered changes to the Web version separately for each modification
> cycle based on the change-barred Word doc. Change-barred Word files were
> sent to international offices for translation. I might add that I am
> mostly editing--the dictionary is compiled from terms submitted by
> multiple authors at multiple companies. We are a trade association and
> vendor-neutral, also limited on budget.
>
> Can anyone suggest the best method to deal with this? I've experimented
> a little with FrameMaker 7.2, which is the version we use (not my
> decision, may change). The file is basically just three styles (term,
> definition, expanded def) with many cross-links between words in the Web
> version. In the current Word source, intended links are underlined but
> are neither xrefs or hypertext links. I am being asked to keep it in
> Word for as long as possible for the time being. One issue is that
> people at many companies may work with the files and submit terms and
> definitions. Currently the book is 278 pages.
>
> I'm open to other tools-just need to find the right one! Thanks much.
> Marilyn
>
> Marilyn Fausset
> Technical Writer
> Storage Networking Industry Association
>
> _______________________________________________




-- 
Art Campbell art.campbell at gmail.com
 "... In my opinion, there's nothing in this world beats a '52 Vincent
and a redheaded girl." -- Richard Thompson
 No disclaimers apply.
 DoD 358