Frame vs. Flare for My Needs

Thu Feb 26 06:19:29 PST 2015

I haven't used Flare actively in a year or so... but after several years
daily experience, I'd say:

   - Fewer bugs -- nope
   - Better conversion -- depends. I use MIF2Go to get to HTML/RTF/XHTML.
   Flare isn't better than that. FM 12 is pretty good for exporting. Flare is
   adequate or better -- better than early native FM export, but not up to
   MIF2Go, and maybe not as good as FM 12 -- I haven't tried a direct
   comparison.
   - Better support -- yes, definitely, *if you pay for it*. You can get
   someone on the phone and they'll work on the problem until you have a fix.
   If you don't pay for support... you're relying on peer users, pretty much.

Art Campbell
          art.campbell at gmail.com
  "... In my opinion, there's nothing in this world beats a '52 Vincent and
a redheaded girl." -- Richard Thompson
                                                      No disclaimers apply.
                                                               DoD 358

I support www.TheGrotonLine.com, hyperlocal news for Groton MA.

On Thu, Feb 26, 2015 at 4:44 AM, Reng, Dr. Winfried <wreng at tycoint.com>
wrote:

>  Hi,
>
>
>
> In my company there are also discussions to choose
>
> MadCap Flare as a common authoring tool.
>
> I see different requirements among us. Some need
>
> HTML or CHM, others only PDF.
>
> The arguments from MadCap Flare users here are:
>
> o Less bugs.
>
> o Better conversion to CHM and HTML.
>
> o Better support.
>
> (I do not know if all these are also valid for FM 12 or upcoming FM 13!)
>
>
>
> Can those who use or used Flare comment on these?
>
> Are these arguments valid?
>
>
>
> What other experiences do you have?
>
> Which features do you miss?
>
> I see that Flare does not allow text on top of graphics.
>
> I could not find out whether you can enter simple tabs.
>
> I have problems adjusting table column widths.
>
> I have even problems to zoom in when I have the print layout selected.
>
> Flare does not support separate DTDs.
>
>
>
> Best regards
>
>
>
> Winfried
>
>
>
> *From:* framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com [mailto:
> framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] *On Behalf Of *Kevin Ryan
> *Sent:* Wednesday, February 25, 2015 9:21 PM
> *To:* framers at lists.frameusers.com
> *Subject:* Frame vs. Flare for My Needs
>
>
>
> Hi,
>
>
>
> I could use the advice of some Frame veterans on whether a switch from
> Frame to Flare might be a delusion-inspired wrong turn for me, or possibly
> the right way to go.
>
>
>
> My company's primary documentation output is PDF user/training/reference
> guides authored on FrameMaker 7. Not the current Frame version, I know, but
> sufficient with our good templates to produce solid, professional-looking
> documents we're proud of. Other current deliverables include
> context-sensitive HTML topics produced via Mif2go and a limited number of
> "Process Assistance" MS Word topics.  These latter are a sort of MS-Word
> help equivalent that our customers can download from our application, edit
> if necessary, and even upload back into our application for others if they
> want to. I create Process Assistance MS-Word topics by cutting from Frame
> and pasting into Word, followed by manual reformatting (ouch).
>
>
>
> Our customers (utilities) have been requesting another MS Word output:
> Editable MS Word versions of our 20-300 page PDF manuals so that they can
> edit them for their own purposes (such as internal training).
> Unfortunately, we've been unable to find a workable Frame-to-Word
> conversion process to this end.  I can do manual reformatting to Word in
> our short Process Assistance topics, but to do it on entire manuals would
> give me a nervous breakdown.
>
>
>
> So, with better MS-Word output generation as my primary goal, I've been
> considering a switch to Flare. Its capability to output in PDF, Word, and
> HTML seems as though it might ultimately streamline our processes. As I
> test Flare by my 30-day trial, though, I'm reminded of the many things
> FrameMaker does really well — things I might be losing if I made the
> switch:  For example, precise page layouts, complex graphics, robust
> tables. To its credit, Flare seems to offer output versatility, excellent
> documentation and support, and a lot of Marketing momentum.
>
>
>
> Am I misguiding myself?  Barking up the wrong tree?
>
>
>
> Thanks for any opinions or comments.
>
>
>
> *Kevin Ryan*
>
> *Technical Writer*
>
> [image: cid:image001.jpg at 01C97FA7.A9E51B40]
>
> Systems & Software, Inc.
>
> 426 Industrial Avenue
>
> Suite 140
>
> Williston, VT 05495
>
> 802.865.1170 phone
>
> 802.865.1171 fax
>
>
>
>
>    ------------------------------
>
> *Save the Date! 2015 Harris Customer Training Conference:*
> <http://www1.harriscomputer.com/en/conference/>
> October 21–23, 2015, Atlanta, Georgia - Atlanta Marriott Marquis.
>
>
>
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