One point that I haven't seen mentioned yet is the ability to customize the tools.
FrameMaker has a robust SDK, plus FrameScript, dzBatcher, FrameAC, and a wide variety of available plug-ins/scripts to perform a myriad of tasks. While many similar tools may exist for Ileaf/Quicksilver, a comparison of costs will be very revealing. And if customization is needed that is not already available from third-parties, what will it cost to program the desired capability? Compare a scripted solution (e.g. FrameScript), a DLL plug-in for Frame (C programming via the FDK) and Ileaf/Quicksilver using their Lisp-based programming language. On Wednesday, January 18, 2006 04:21 PM, Sims, Joseph wrote: | The company I work for uses Frame, Interleaf and Word in | three separate offices. (PC version) Management has requested | that we create a uniform style for documentation starting | now. They're expecting us to share content and presumably | document templates. In my opinion, all of us should use | Frame, but the Interleaf users have dug in their heels. It's | become a non-constructive us vs. them conflict. As a result, | I need to come up with a list of business reasons why | Interleaf is not the correct choice for the company. | | I know of several from prior discussions on the list, but need more. | | 1. IL to PDF conversions can be less straightforward than | Frame to PDF conversions. Does IL generate bookmarks? | 2. Translation memory tools don't support IL, dramatically | increasing costs. | 3. Interleaf/Quicksilver/Broadvision corp. is far more likely | to end up in Chapter 11 than Adobe. | 4. Frame is more widely used and offers greater compatibility | with the rest of the publishing world. | | Does anyone have any additional words of wisdom? Particularly | ones that can have costs assigned to them? | | Thanks, | Joe - Lester ------------------------------------------------------- Lester C. Smalley Email: lsmalley AT infocon DOT com Information Consultants, Inc. Phone: 302-239-2942 FAX: 302-239-1712 Yorklyn, DE 19736 Web: www.infocon.com -------------------------------------------------------
