Hi Verner: Most emphatically, no! You don't have to have a CMS system with structured FrameMaker! I don't.
I have a similar situation: * 3500 pages * multi-channel output * re-use using conditional text and a few text insets * no translation * file version control system (CVS) I'm reaping the benefits of structured FM because: * Some of my SMEs prefer to work in XML; structured FM allows me to round-trip to XML * Some of the documentation is generated from the source SW code (comments as well as examples). A script turns the source code into XML, and I pull it into FM. * The SMEs and myself who work in FrameMaker prefer to work with the structure. We don't have to guess what style of paragraph or character to use in a given situation because our choices are limited by the structure, and then a title is a title, and we don't have to worry about whether it's a heading1 or heading2. You'll reap much more benefits because of all the translation you have to do, but I think you already know that. So, think about what you would need a CMS to do. If you are only using conditional text and not text insets, then your books can still be divided into chapter files. That gives you a relatively small number of files to manage. If Master Control (I'm not familiar with it) doesn't allow you to set the status of a file (such as edited, not edited, translated, at the translators), then I'm sure you could manage this in a spreadsheet. No, it won't be integrated, but it'll be free. Fei Min Lorente -----Original Message----- From: framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Andersen, Verner Engell VEA Sent: Monday, May 04, 2009 4:42 AM To: framers@lists.frameusers.com; FrameMaker discussion list (omsys) (FrameMaker discussion list(omsys)) Subject: Alternative to expensive CMS system Hi We are evaluating wheteher we should migrate to Structured Framemaker. Our situation: * 4200 English source pages to convert, * no multi-channel output, * releatively small possibility of reuse, approximately 30% (if we can use conditions) * translation into more than 20 languages. We have Trados translation memory and the company is going to implement Master Control, a document control sw system. I know, it is now that we should discuss the situation with an unbiased consultant! We have already contacted one consultant. They had a very large system in mind, which was also used in the car industry and companies producing cell phones. Such a system would cost hundres of thousands of dollars. As I understand it, you only get real value out of structured Framemaker if you have a CMS system. Are there other content management systems that can do the job and be integrated with a translation memory system? Best regards, Verner Andersen Med venlig hilsen - Best regards Verner Andersen Technical Writer Radiometer Medical ApS Phone +45 3827 3612 Fax +45 3827 2727 verner.ander...@radiometer.dk -------------------------------------------------------- Radiometer Medical ApS Akandevej 21 2700 Bronshoj Denmark Phone: +45 38 27 38 27 CVR: 27 50 91 85 -------------------------------------------------------- Please be advised that this email may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, please do not read, copy or re-transmit this email. If you have received this email in error, please notify us by email by replying to the sender and by telephone (call us collect at +1 202-828-0850) and delete this message and any attachments. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and assistance. In addition, Danaher and its subsidiaries disclaim that the content of this email constitutes an offer to enter into, or the acceptance of, any contract or agreement or any amendment thereto; provided that the foregoing disclaimer does not invalidate the binding effect of any digital or other electronic reproduction of a manual signature that is included in any attachment to this email. _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to Framers as feimin.lore...@onsemi.com. Send list messages to fram...@lists.frameusers.com. To unsubscribe send a blank email to framers-unsubscr...@lists.frameusers.com or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/feimin.lorente%40ons emi.com Send administrative questions to listad...@frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info. _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to Framers as arch...@mail-archive.com. Send list messages to fram...@lists.frameusers.com. To unsubscribe send a blank email to framers-unsubscr...@lists.frameusers.com or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to listad...@frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.