FM9 Newbie looking for best self training tools

[N Collins]

Hi!

I'm still using the trial version and need to make a recommendation to a
client on if FrameMaker is the right tool for their system instruction
manuals.  Client has a job shop and sells many unique system configurations
made from standard components to private and government clients.  The idea
is to quickly assemble a unique manual for each system order shipped.  If I
recommend FM, then client will buy FM and pay for training for several
users.  The client is biased against Word, and frankly for any
document larger than 50 pages, I agree.  Word gets tangled on itself over
large files.

I've never used FM before and trying to learn 9.0.  I'm an advanced user of
Word, in Windows 7 (technical writer using Word for over 15 years).  I
bought and went through most of "Classroom in a Book" for FM9, but I'm
stumbling over the vocabulary (things like Headings versus Markers don't
seem to be 1:1 meanings, for example).  Dummies books have always given me a
great head start, but the only one out there I can find is Framemaker 5.5
for Dummies.  My thought is that Dummies/FM 5.5 could at least help me
understand how FM "works/thinks", achieve a rudimentary glossary, so then I
can use other FM training tools.

What I'm tasked to do is to create multiple individual files with unique
content, and create various manuals with different file combinations - each
manual with a table of contents and index and automatic page numbering.  I
think I'm supposed to learn unstructured first in order to do this?  Or do I
need to learn structured first and make some master templates?  Any
suggestions or perhaps anyone care to send me an example to play with?
Maybe I should forget about FrameMaker and try something else?  I'm open to
your suggestions.

Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Corrie in Tempe, AZ