Frame Light, what's the potential market?

[Fei Min Lorente]

Hi Anthony:

 

What encouraging news! I asked Adobe for a "FrameMaker Light" back in
2005 or so. I entered the suggestion on their website, as well as
emailed it to one of the guys in charge of FrameMaker 8, but I hadn't
heard anything since.

 

We currently have seven licenses of FrameMaker 7.2. I'm the lone writer,
so if there were a light version, we could switch to one full version
and six light ones. But with a reduced cost and an easier interface, I
think we could expand that to twenty. Even now, we're on the verge of
buying more licenses (and moving to FrameMaker 10) because it's kind of
popular with the SMEs around here.

 

I'm using structured except for the legacy stuff, so I would want the
Light version to let users set attribute values as well as use the list
of elements. They also have to be able to import XML files into
FrameMaker.

 

Yes, we use shared text right now, but I tend to manage it. I could see
the SMEs getting involved in making changes to it, though, so that would
be a good feature to include in the Light version.

 

Of course, they have to be able to create tables and cross-references.
They don't do this often, but they should be able to change variable
values, too. And updating the book is essential.

 

We'd like to see the price down around $200 for individual licenses, or
an appropriate deal on a site license. Floating licenses wouldn't be
good because we have lots of SMEs who travel and couldn't be connected
to the network. Please don't go to a dongle (sad story there).

 

Sarah O'Keefe had a good idea back when I was asking for FrameMaker
Light, and that was to make a FrameMaker XML editor version, but of
course that would only apply to structured users.

 

I just read Alan's response and I realize that FrameMaker Light isn't
needed by everyone, but for some of us, it would be perfect.

 

Fei Min

 

From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com
[mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Anthony Davey
Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 5:57 AM
To: framers at lists.frameusers.com
Subject: Frame Light, what's the potential market?

 

Cross posted to dita-frameusers, so ignore as needed ...

 

I had an interesting discussion with the Frame Product Manager a few
days ago at
the London launch event for TCS3.  It seems there is the motivation to
develop a
business case for 'Frame Light' which could be used by SMEs to create
and review
content, but little else.
 
I work in an environment where I am the only Frame user (experimenting
with 10
at the moment) in an organisation with over 100 SMEs producing content
in Word.
Most do their own thing, or come to me to 'fix' or standardise stuff
once it is
collected together.
 
So, I would want 'Frame Light' to allow content creation in structured
or
unstructured format (including DITA one day), but that requires the
content
provider to use only the pre-determined paragraph formats and a few text
styles
(emphasis, bold, sub- and superscript); and insert images by reference.
I can
get around a need to define conditional text by using different
paragraph format
names.  All this in templates that can only be developed or altered by
full
license holders.
 
To support the development of a business case can you post what (other)
functionality you would want Frame Light to have, how many licenses you
would
(ideally) want in your organisation, how many full Frame licenses you
currently
have (for comparison purposes), how you would want FL delivered (local
install,
web-based, floating licenses), and what you would want/need to pay for
it to get
it accepted as an alternative to Whatever word processing your SMEs
currently
use?
 
Creating more disciplined (structured), reusable, content which can be
output
with a similar look and feel, and doesn't reinvent a wheel each time an
SME puts
fingers to keyboard, is a concept which has almost reached its time in
my
organisation. Others may be close, or even ahead, so there must be
demand for
this.  Please let me know.
 
Best regards,
Ant 


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