Frame's File Comparison Feature

[Jeff Coatsworth]

First I would get your copy of FM9 patched - currently it's at p250.
Next I would look at moving to structured FM - translation costs are the biggest argument I've ever seen for making the case to move to a structured environment.
If you can't afford the time to do that, are there significant parts of your documentation that have already been translated and don't change? If so, then you could certainly cut down on your costs by only getting the chunks that have changed translated. That means breaking stuff up into "pseudo-structured" bits - lots of smaller topics or text insets, but not full structured FM.

-----Original Message-----
From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Alison Craig
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2010 1:49 PM
To: 'FrameMaker Forum'
Subject: Frame's File Comparison Feature

Version: FM9 (9.0p237)
Unstructured
OS: XP Pro with SP3
FM Experience: 11 months
Tech Comm Experience: 15 years
Trans/Localization Experience: 10 years
Writing Team: 1 (me)

We translate our manuals and I am constantly trying to find ways to trim translation costs (depending on the language and frequency of translation updates, it runs from $5,000 to $11,000 to translate a manual). As we are a Medical Device company, translation is mandated so it's something we just have live with.

In various List threads, I've read about using Frame's file comparison ability to determine changes from one release to the next. As a Frame newbie, I wondered if anyone could give me more information about this feature? Can it be used to mitigate the amount of translation sent to the Language Service Provider (LSP) and if it can, how do I do this?

FYI: My current procedure is to send the LSP all the relevant native Frame (and Visio) files. I let them handle the MIF conversion (as I don't pay a project management fee, I let them work for their money. Besides, I have never worked with MIF files - but there is a first time for everything).

Budget is always an issue, so if I need to buy any other tools to make this feasible, I would have to present an ROI case (even for something that only cost $100). But if there is a way to send a smaller amount of text and then put the files back together without a hassle once they were completed, I know I could swing the purchase of new tools.

Any help would appreciated,

Alison

Alison Craig, Technical Writer
Ultrasonix Medical Corporation
Tel: (604) 279-8550, ext 127
E-mail: alison.craig at ultrasonix.com<mailto:alison.craig at ultrasonix.com>


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