Alternative to expensive CMS system

[Fei Min Lorente]

Hi Verner:

Most emphatically, no! You don't have to have a CMS system with
structured FrameMaker! I don't.

I have a similar situation:

*	3500 pages
*	multi-channel output
*	re-use using conditional text and a few text insets
*	no translation
*	file version control system (CVS)

I'm reaping the benefits of structured FM because:

*	Some of my SMEs prefer to work in XML; structured FM allows me
to round-trip to XML
*	Some of the documentation is generated from the source SW code
(comments as well as examples). A script turns the source code into XML,
and I pull it into FM.
*	The SMEs and myself who work in FrameMaker prefer to work with
the structure. We don't have to guess what style of paragraph or
character to use in a given situation because our choices are limited by
the structure, and then a title is a title, and we don't have to worry
about whether it's a heading1 or heading2.

You'll reap much more benefits because of all the translation you have
to do, but I think you already know that.

So, think about what you would need a CMS to do. If you are only using
conditional text and not text insets, then your books can still be
divided into chapter files. That gives you a relatively small number of
files to manage. If Master Control (I'm not familiar with it) doesn't
allow you to set the status of a file (such as edited, not edited,
translated, at the translators), then I'm sure you could manage this in
a spreadsheet. No, it won't be integrated, but it'll be free.

Fei Min Lorente

-----Original Message-----
From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com
[mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Andersen,
Verner Engell VEA
Sent: Monday, May 04, 2009 4:42 AM
To: framers at lists.frameusers.com; FrameMaker discussion list (omsys)
(FrameMaker discussion list(omsys))
Subject: Alternative to expensive CMS system

Hi
We are evaluating wheteher we should migrate to Structured Framemaker. 
 
Our situation:
 

*	4200 English source pages to convert, 
*	no multi-channel output,
*	releatively small possibility of reuse, approximately 30% (if we
can use conditions)
*	translation into more than 20 languages.

We have Trados translation memory and the company is going to implement
Master Control, a document control sw system.
 
I know, it is now that we should discuss the situation with an unbiased
consultant! 
 
We have already contacted one consultant. They had a very large system
in mind, which was also used in the car industry and companies producing
cell phones. Such a system would cost hundres of thousands of dollars.
 
As I understand it, you only get real value out of structured Framemaker
if you have a CMS system. Are there other content management systems
that can do the job and be integrated with a translation memory system?
 
Best regards,
 
Verner Andersen
 
 
 
Med venlig hilsen - Best regards
Verner Andersen
Technical Writer

Radiometer Medical ApS
Phone +45 3827 3612
Fax +45 3827 2727
verner.andersen at radiometer.dk
--------------------------------------------------------



Radiometer Medical ApS
Akandevej 21
2700 Bronshoj
Denmark
Phone: +45 38 27 38 27
CVR: 27 50 91 85 
 
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