Honestly, it sounds like you need a XML solution complete with a content management system. If you're going to be assembling from bits and pieces to compose unique documents to support custom solutions off many standard components, you'll want a documentation workflow that is agile enough to take this on. Managing individual FM files can be done, but really, what you want is a CMS that can help you quickly find and assemble content with minimal futzing.
On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 12:24 PM, N Collins <nccollins57 at gmail.com> wrote: > Hi! > > I'm still using the trial version and need to make a recommendation to a > client on if FrameMaker is the right tool for their system instruction > manuals. ?Client has a job shop and sells many unique system configurations > made from standard components to private and government clients. ?The idea > is to quickly assemble a unique manual for each system order shipped. ?If I > recommend FM, then client will buy FM and pay for training for several > users. ?The client is biased against Word, and frankly for any > document larger than 50 pages, I agree. ?Word gets tangled on itself over > large files. > > I've never used FM before and trying to learn 9.0. ?I'm an advanced user of > Word, in Windows 7 (technical writer using Word for over 15 years). ?I > bought and went through most of "Classroom in a Book" for FM9, but I'm > stumbling over the vocabulary (things like Headings versus Markers don't > seem to be 1:1 meanings, for example). ?Dummies books have always given me a > great head start, but the only one out there I can find is Framemaker 5.5 > for Dummies. ?My thought is that Dummies/FM 5.5 could at least help me > understand how FM "works/thinks", achieve a rudimentary glossary, so then I > can use other FM training tools. > > What I'm tasked to do is to create multiple individual files with unique > content, and create various manuals with different file combinations - each > manual with a table of contents and index and automatic page numbering. ?I > think I'm supposed to learn unstructured first in order to do this? ?Or do I > need to learn structured first and make some master templates? ?Any > suggestions or perhaps anyone care to send me an example to play with? > Maybe I should forget about FrameMaker and try something else? ?I'm open to > your suggestions. > > Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated! > > Thanks! > > Corrie in Tempe, AZ > _______________________________________________ > > > You are currently subscribed to framers as techcommdood at gmail.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/techcommdood%40gmail.com > > Send administrative questions to listadmin at frameusers.com. Visit > http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info. > -- Bill Swallow Twitter: @techcommdood Blog: http://techcommdood.com LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/techcommdood
