FM9 Newbie looking for best self training tools

[Writer]

I agree. In addition, if you can get your hands on FrameMaker 5.5.6 for Dummies, it has additional useful conceptual information that seems to be discussed in more detail than the Scriptorium book (such as numbering, for example).

Nadine

--- On Mon, 7/12/10, Jeff Coatsworth <jeff.coatsworth at jonassoftware.com> wrote:

> From: Jeff Coatsworth <jeff.coatsworth at jonassoftware.com>
> Subject: RE: FM9 Newbie looking for best self training tools
> To: "N Collins" <nccollins57 at gmail.com>, "framers at lists.frameusers.com" <framers at lists.frameusers.com>
> Date: Monday, July 12, 2010, 9:15 AM
> I would recommend the excellent
> manual "Publishing Fundamentals: Unstructured Framemaker 8"
> by Sarah O'Keefe - available through the Scriptorium website
> (www.scriptorium.com) for less than $20. Even though the
> interface has changed in FM9, the same actions that are
> described in FM8 in the book still work in 9. It's a great
> starter book for beginners (I'm one of them too).  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com
> [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com]
> On Behalf Of N Collins
> Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 12:24 PM
> To: framers at lists.frameusers.com
> Subject: FM9 Newbie looking for best self training tools
> 
> 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
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