Hi, Sarah: (I also posted on your blog) "...UNTIL NOW...," as the late movie trailer guy might say, I've been under Adobe's non-disclosure agreement for ID CS4 pre-release testers.
"...BUT, IN A WORLD..." where disclosure can now be thrown to the winds, I'll add a few comments. ID's been sneaking up on FM's long technical-document authoring tool set for a few releases. ID CS3 added system- and user-defined variables, running headers, table styles (named table formats), cell styles, named object styles, and nested styles - the ability to specify a pattern that applies named character styles to matching content within paragraphs - and it improved numbered lists a HUGE amount. ID CS4 is closing in with new additions that matter to technical authors: cross-references, conditional text, smart text reflow (real-time adding new pages as needed, and deleting them when empty), along with boosting the already-powerful nested paragraph feature to include, selecting by a GREP pattern as you noted, and also by line number within the paragraph, so the nth line will get the character style you specify, no matter how it wraps or flows, and the ability to repeat (or loop) applying the sequence of styles (sort of a macro ability.) FrameMaker users who don't use CS3-level Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop will need time to adjust to Adobe's corporate user interface, and learning new ways to perform familiar tasks. Plus, just because something's on the package label, trust - but verify. Don't assume. Here are a few FrameMaker features that you may miss: * Run-in paragraphs * Side headings and side-heading area * Paragraphs that flow with text and also straddle multiple columns, and multiple columns AND side heads * Table sorting * No Track Changes * No logical conditional text expressions - AND and NOT were added in FM 8 * No "size matters" inter-paragraph spacing - FM uses the larger of space below and space above for paragraph spacing. ID, like most other applications, adds the space below and space above, which makes it more complicated to set up paragraph formats that will space as you need, regardless of who-follows-what. * Frame above /below paragraphs can contain graphics, text, or a mix. ID's rules above/below paragraph are great, but they aren't containers. Here are a few FrameMaker features in ID CS4 that are a little more complicated to do: * To jump to a cross-reference source from within FrameMaker, instead of Ctrl+Alt+Click, you click in the Cross-Reference panel * Index markers support multiple-level entries, but can't create multiple entries in one marker like FM's ":" technique * Without run-in paragraphs, you need to strategize to create TOC entries from a partial heading There's a very good third-party conversion tool that converts MIF files to InDesign (dtptools.com). However, migrating FrameMaker content to InDesign depends on what FrameMaker are in them for which InDesign has no direct counterpart, whether you use a commercial tool or do it manually. It's something like converting Microsoft Word files to FrameMaker. There's work to be done. The conversion tool's nearly-clonelike reproduction of FM pages in ID comes from its minute adjustments of paragraph formats, meaning many formats are overridden uniquely. Most of the tweaks are paragraph settings - space between, run-in, side heading, straddle headings, frame above/below, table-cell properties. One of the greatest ID features from early on is the INFINITE UNDO UNDO UNDO! It doesn't clear its history when you perform certain actions. You can experiment nearly forever, and roll back to "square one." ID saves every action you perform - an instant autosave; after a crash, it can restore almost every last one. If you're considering ID as a replacement for FM, test-drive ID in parallel with an FM project or two, to see if your wishes are rewarded or exceeded, and if your needs are served. During my testing, I compared the long-document features so much that I decided to write a book on the core issues for FrameMaker users moving to Indesign. FM Mac diehards - don't forget that ID works on Mac OS X, both Intel and PowerPC G4/G5 chips. FM's stuck at 7.0 on Classic or OS 9 on Mac. Regards, Peter Gold KnowHow ProServices _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to Framers as [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send list messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.