FM9 Newbie looking for best self training tools

[Bill Swallow]

Honestly, it sounds like you need a XML solution complete with a
content management system. If you're going to be assembling from bits
and pieces to compose unique documents to support custom solutions off
many standard components, you'll want a documentation workflow that is
agile enough to take this on. Managing individual FM files can be
done, but really, what you want is a CMS that can help you quickly
find and assemble content with minimal futzing.

On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 12:24 PM, N Collins <nccollins57 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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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-- 
Bill Swallow

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