[Framers] Pros/Cons: Separate file per chapter, or one REALLY BIG FILE for an entire book

[Craig, Alison]

I definitely agree with Rick. And you can share files between authors this way as well.

Separate FM chapters also lend themselves to the production of "sub-set" publications.

We produce a small manual with only the basics required by Medical Device Regulatory regimes in various countries and we translate that. Then we have an "extended" user manual that has many more bells and whistles (100 pages vs 400 pages) and does not require translation.

Also, for a Service Manual we produce a standard PDF as well a version with an individual PDF per chapter. This allows Service to disseminate only the required (and controlled) chapter to handle a service call.


Alison Craig
Technical Documentation Specialist
acraig at bkultrasound.com<mailto:acraig at bkultrasound.com> | bkultrasound.com<www.bkultrasound.com>

From: Framers [mailto:framers-bounces+acraig=bkultrasound.com at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Rick Quatro
Sent: Monday, November 07, 2016 10:55 AM
To: 'Lin Sims'; 'Frame Users'
Subject: Re: [Framers] Pros/Cons: Separate file per chapter, or one REALLY BIG FILE for an entire book

Hi Lin,

No question in my mind: Separate files for each chapter, mainly because it
easier to author, reorganize, and maintain separate FrameMaker documents.
FrameMaker books work quite well for organizing documents. Please let me
know if you have any questions or comments.

Rick

Rick Quatro
Carmen Publishing Inc.
rick at frameexpert.com<mailto:rick at frameexpert.com>
585-366-4017



-----Original Message-----
From: Framers
[mailto:framers-bounces+rick=rickquatro.com at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf
Of Lin Sims
Sent: Monday, November 07, 2016 1:46 PM
To: Frame Users
Subject: [Framers] Pros/Cons: Separate file per chapter, or one REALLY BIG
FILE for an entire book

Pretty much what it says in the title. I'm guessing there have been
discussions about this in the past, and I plan to look for those, but I
thought I'd toss this out there anyway.

We're talking chapters that can run a couple hundred (or more) pages loaded
with tables, graphics, and conditional text so that they can be used to
single-source multiple documents (no, don't talk to me about DITA, my
non-tech-writing boss wants it in unstructured).

--
Lin Sims
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