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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi All<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Firstly this is a great resource the FrameUsers List, and admittedly I’ve lurked rather than contributed – but now all that could change.. be gentle
<span style="font-family:Wingdings">J</span> (so excuse any distribution or admin mistakes & feel free to advise accordingly).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m currently the sole tech writer in ‘Product A’ team, however I have a contractor starting in v soon (yippee), to help produce & finalise publications - typically just PDF printed books, with & next to me, on the same site.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So I’m rapidly sorting his resources i.e. hard/soft ware, desk, phone etc..
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My problem, or query is what version of Adobe FrameMaker (FM) should I advise the the company, a global electromechanical manufacturer to purchase, for the new starter? I’m currently running Adobe TCS2, using Adobe FM9 daily – purchased
way back in 2009 (wow really <span style="font-family:Wingdings">K</span>).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve priced the initial costs of moving myself to FM11 with a TCS upgrade, starting the contractor with FM11, and then add other minor additions such as Acrobat Pro to which the total exceeds £2000 ($3200).. ouch.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I could simplify things buy purchasing from a retailer, a old version of FM9. Though seems a) missed opportunity & slightly foolish to purchase an unsupported version now (I think?).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m hesitant to move to FM11, as another product group in the company, (will call them Product B team), is considering moving to FM9 - they’ve got the s/ware & licenses all paid up - but haven’t made the leap. Yep, you can lead a horse
to water, but you can’t make’ m drink it <span style="font-family:Wingdings">J</span>). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So the question really is what’s the back saving options and support like in FM11 for working on shared FM9 source content using multiple version of FM?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I can foresee the problem when working with the existing FM9 files, such as updating & publishing, with the new persons version (FM11) – they’d naturally save as FM 11, unless otherwise specifically back saved, to MIF 7? (Locking the older
FM9 user out opps)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Is there an obvious, easy way to have both version FM9 and FM11 working in harmony, on the same shared files (& more importantly) FM books, from the same network server folders (no CMS)?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Does any functionality ‘drop out’ of the FM9 files, if opened, updated/changed with FM 11 then back saved using the
<i>Mif7 </i>file format for the older team players on Product A and B teams on FM9?
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Is the above the preferred method, or is there other ways? With or without FM or Third party Add In’s?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(The FM 9 version files for product teams A & B, are relatively advanced, though are only unstructured non DITA currently - but contain & use Cond. Tags (15+), Variables, Multiple Master pages (40), Cross references (20), and Content Insets,
to single source Tech data, Revision tracking tags and Ext. references (artwork images etc ).
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I would be really interested in hearing from anyone whose got experience of sharing FM files with multiple versions of FrameMaker (FM)?
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And ideas/experience with multiple user licensing – if cheaper than buying each s/ware product separately?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Or do you have to move all members of an Authoring team to a uniformed version (FM11), and take the greater cost on the chin, for the pay off in efficient file sharing/usage?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks in advance,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sim<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">Simon Thomson<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">Email: <a href="mailto:sthomson@rapiscansystems.com">
<span style="color:blue">sthomson@rapiscansystems.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-language:EN-GB">Web: <a href="http://www.rapiscansystems.com/">
<span style="color:blue">www.rapiscansystems.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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