[Framers] How do you identify an advanced Framemaker user?

Tue Apr 17 06:37:36 PDT 2018

Lin: Consider making a list of why Word annoys you and share it with others
internally or on the list here.

For example:

1. Numbering
   a. Restarting and continuing lists
   b. Subordinate lists
4. Resetting numbering
   c. within lists
   d. between lists
5. Just get me FM

As for Advanced Users: First off, is it an advanced user who creates content
as an author or one who builds templates? Or even one who has to work with
structure and build/maintain the EDD?

In all cases, a few things to think about or ask them about:

Do they know about this discussion list?
How long have they used FM?
Can they define what a reference page, master page, and body page is and
does?
Do they know what text frames and text lines are?
Do they import images by reference?
Can they troubleshoot numbering (see the above sample)?
How do they manage paragraph or character tags?
Can they import formats between documents?
How do they propose to deal with a document that has manual overrides in it?
Can they generate a book, TOC, and IX file from templates without guidance?
Is there something that YOU learn from them about the tool?
How did they learn FM?

That's a short list from me. Oh, and add in this one: Have them teach you a
feature (even if you know it) and see what their workflow is.

Bernard

PS. I also used to ask for a cover letter and resume in FM format. Serious
users provided me with a way to gauge how they use the tool for a document
that may have unique challenges. I got to see their approach to tags, empty
paragraphs, watermarks, variables, or whatever else they felt like putting
into it. A great insight.

-----Original Message-----
From: Framers
[mailto:framers-bounces+bernard=publishingsmarter.com at lists.frameusers.com]
On Behalf Of Lin Sims
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2018 9:27 AM
To: An email list for people using Adobe FrameMaker software.
Subject: Re: [Framers] How do you identify an advanced Framemaker user?

That's WORD users who do that!

(Finally back in the workforce, currently using Word because until
yesterday I was a contractor, not an employee. Hoping they get me Frame
soon, because Word is driving me right up a tree.)

On Mon, Apr 16, 2018 at 11:29 AM, Art Campbell <art.campbell at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Advanced FM users usually have kind of a 1000 yard stare...
> And may have little square marks on their faces from banging their heads
on
> the keyboard.
>
>
> 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
>
>
> On Mon, Apr 16, 2018 at 10:36 AM, Robert Lauriston <robert at lauriston.com>
> wrote:
>
> > If I had a badly maintained FrameMaker book with a lot of cruft on the
> > reference pages, inconsistent styles, and so on, I'd ask them to
> > identify problems and say how they'd clean them up.
> >
> > I'd ask to see one or more templates they'd created and have them
> > detail the process of creating a new book from them.
> >
> > Actually, the first thing I'd suggest would be to consider whether
> > it's time to move on from FrameMaker.
> >
> > On Sun, Apr 15, 2018 at 9:31 AM, Carol J. Elkins
> > <celkins at awrittenword.com> wrote:
> > > Over the next couple of years, I need to help my major client find and
> > train
> > > an in-house replacement for me as I wind down my freelance practice.
> They
> > > will not consider an independent contractor next time, so it may be
> > harder
> > > to recruit and identify someone with the required skills. I've built
20
> > > years of documentation for this client in unstructured Framemaker, and
> > > managing these thousands of documents and books depends less on
someone
> > > being a good technical writer than being an excellent Framemaker user.
> > >
> > > For those of you who are corporate employers, I'd like to know how you
> > > screen candidates to identify those who truly are advanced Framemaker
> > users.
> > > Is there a test you employ? Do you ask them to build a template from
> > > scratch? Are there certifications that you require? Do you use a
> > recruiting
> > > service? How would you locate qualified candidates (in addition to
> > posting
> > > to Frameusers)?
> > >
> > > Note that I am NOT recruiting; that is still a few years down the road
> > 8-).
> > > I just need to start thinking about the best way to replace myself. My
> > > long-time designated backup is also planning to retire in the next
> > couple of
> > > years, so I have to start again to find the best person for my job. I
> am
> > > willing to train them how to do my job, but it requires their already
> > being
> > > a master of Framemaker.
> > _______________________________________________
> >
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> >
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> >
> _______________________________________________
>
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>
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-- 
Lin Sims
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