What he's saying is that FM files are "binary", which means they're not composed entirely of printable characters (that's a simplified explanation). You can't do the "normal" type of ClearCase operation on them. That probably freaks him out. It shouldn't; I have used ClearCase and other SCM products before with FM files with no problems.
I can only guess that he has a set process that doesn't account for binary files. If so, I can't imagine how he handles graphics files like JPGs. Maybe he thinks that he's responsible for merging changes that multiple writers make to the same FM file. I can't imagine that you are doing this anyway. I can not honestly think of any other reason to use XML instead of FM. I should explain that diff/merge handles the typically programming situation. Two or more engineers must edit the same source file. They then have to check their changes back in. Inevitably, one gets there first, leaving the other to check in his or her changes on the changes made by the first one. Rather than having one set of edits overwrite the other, the SCM program runs a "diff" (named after the old UN*X command) on the files to find out what's different between the two. Based on this, it suggests a merge strategy. The engineer checking in the file works with the program to make the merge. Engineers quite often have to share source files. In the old days, they shared .h header files used by the C programming language. Nowadays, they may share a Java resource bundle, an XML configuration file, or other source file. In comparison, writers usually don't do this. We use SCM to make different versions (branches) of our files, back them up, and integrate them with the product build process. As I have said, FM files work fine in SCM, and PDF files also work. Show this e-mail to your engineer. I'd like to know what his response is. Tammy Van Boening wrote: > All, > > My SCM guy is swearing that Framemaker and Clear Quest/Case don't play > nicely together. I am not even remotely knowledgeable enough about Clear > Quest/Case to refute any of his concerns. At previous gigs, we used > either CMVC and therefore, just checked in/out the PDFs (never had to > deal w/ the Framemaker source files) or VSS, which meant that Framemaker > source files were not an issue. VSS handled them just fine. If anybody > can provide any insight whatsoever about using Framemaker and having > Clear Quest/Case as your source control tool that would be great. Is > there anything special that I have to do with the Framemaker source > files. (Right now, my SCM guy wants me to save them as XML files - I > can't intelligently explain as to why this is his reasoning), and I > don't see any need to link the Framemaker files in a book in Clear Case, > but he says that has to be done and he needs to figure out how. So, any > and all advice is appreciated. > > Thanks in Advance, > > TVB > > Tammy Van Boening > Engineering Technical Writer > InsureWorx > 303-729-7733 > tvanboening at insureworx.com > *********************************************************************** > Keep Smiling - At least until you get your own way > > _______________________________________________ > > > You are currently subscribed to Framers as jmalin at jmalin.com. > > Send list messages to framers at lists.frameusers.com. > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > framers-unsubscribe at lists.frameusers.com > or visit > http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/jmalin%40jmalin.com > > Send administrative questions to lisa at frameusers.com. Visit > http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info. > > >
