FM9 Newbie looking for best self training tools

[Gaghan, Steven P.]

I have to agree about the 'FrameMaker 7 - The Complete Reference Book'. It is still a great resource. Also, you should check out the FrameMaker wiki on the Scriptorium site. http://wiki.scriptorium.com/tiki-index.php Both of those resources have helped me tremendously too, and we are using FrameMaker 9.

Steve
 

Steven P. Gaghan
Technical Writer
Tech Pubs
MEDRAD, INC. 
One MEDRAD Drive
Indianola, PA 15051
(412) 767-2400 x3062


-----Original Message-----
From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Jim Collins
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 11:23 AM
To: framers at lists.frameusers.com
Subject: RE: FM9 Newbie looking for best self training tools

I do not have the book from Scriptorium for Frame 8 but based on the great
reviews it always gets here in this list, I strongly recommend it. 

Everyone goes through a fairly long learning curve with Frame - probably an
indication of how powerful it is. It took me several weeks to get
comfortable with it too (7.0) even with the help of a friend who had been
using it for years. 

Though it is undoubtedly better to get the newest book on Frame 8, if you
can find a cheap copy of FrameMaker 7 - The Complete Reference (also by
Sarah O'keefe), it is my current reference and so far has covered any
questions I have while trying to use Frame 9 (unstructured).

Jim


Jim Collins
JC Write
jim at jcwrite.com
http://www.jcwrite.com
209-566-0935


-----Original Message-----
From: N Collins [mailto:nccollins57 at gmail.com] 
Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 9:24 AM
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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