As long as the old thread turned so intensely to speculation...
Based on absolutely NO INSIDE INFORMATION, my own guess is that
sooner or later Adobe will marry some combination of InDesign and
FrameMaker, to carry on the FrameMaker product line.
My personal speculation is based on:
* InDesign's finally got most of the features it needs
* InDesign's finally taking over large parts of the markets it aimed to conquer
* InDesign's built as a core engine that employs specialized plug-in
modules, so the "missing" FrameMaker features can be developed as
modules, especially now that the major development of ID is
accomplished
* While dedicated FrameMaker users aren't necessarily zealots, they
share these sentiments:
- "We won't give up our FrameMaker until 'they' rip it from my cold,
repetitive-stress-threatened hands!" and,
- "I sure wish FrameMaker would do...<fill in your favorite feature
requests and bug fixes here>"
The significant points in the genetic profiles that each product line
brings to the nuptial event:
FrameMaker - long list of long document features, such as
*cross-references and end notes
* table formats
*XML round tripping
* guided context-sensitive structured editing
* third-party add-ons for help systems
* user-defined generated lists
* user-defined and system variables, including running headers/footers
* paragraph formats for straddles and side headings
InDesign - long list of typographical and international language
features, and graphic features, such as
* full UniCode
* full OpenType
* right-to-left languages
* document-wide layers for layout and conditional display
* Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat layer support for layout and
conditional display
* full built-in cross-platform JavaScript scripting support, many
free and commercial scripts in place
* multiple saved workspaces, for different tool arrangements for
different tasks, projects, or users
* infinite multiple undo (up to RAM capacity)
* Macintosh OS X native
* User-defined keystroke shortcuts
* object styles
* XML snippets (reusable file fragments)
* color controls (select/remove all unused colors, etc.)
* story editor view
* multiple window views of a file
* InCopy companion application for authors and collaborative workflows
* versioning with Version Cue
The catch? The parties to this union must agree to raise the
offspring to retain, respect, and perform according to the
long-established long-document FrameMaker traditions (MINUS THE
BUGS!).
If you immediately imagine a scene on a dark and stormy night, in a
tower laboratory, with shouts of, "It's...alive!!! We've invented a
replacement for Microsoft Publisher," well, it COULD happen<G>.
It IS Friday, the funny day. If you were reading this in "The Onion,"
or on April Fool's Day, you might smile, and you'd certainly move on
to something that's demanding your attention. That's what I'll be
doing, until Adobe drops whatever shoes they're holding.
Regards,
Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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