Hi Anthony:
What encouraging news! I asked Adobe for a "FrameMaker Light" back in 2005 or so. I entered the suggestion on their website, as well as emailed it to one of the guys in charge of FrameMaker 8, but I hadn't heard anything since. We currently have seven licenses of FrameMaker 7.2. I'm the lone writer, so if there were a light version, we could switch to one full version and six light ones. But with a reduced cost and an easier interface, I think we could expand that to twenty. Even now, we're on the verge of buying more licenses (and moving to FrameMaker 10) because it's kind of popular with the SMEs around here. I'm using structured except for the legacy stuff, so I would want the Light version to let users set attribute values as well as use the list of elements. They also have to be able to import XML files into FrameMaker. Yes, we use shared text right now, but I tend to manage it. I could see the SMEs getting involved in making changes to it, though, so that would be a good feature to include in the Light version. Of course, they have to be able to create tables and cross-references. They don't do this often, but they should be able to change variable values, too. And updating the book is essential. We'd like to see the price down around $200 for individual licenses, or an appropriate deal on a site license. Floating licenses wouldn't be good because we have lots of SMEs who travel and couldn't be connected to the network. Please don't go to a dongle (sad story there). Sarah O'Keefe had a good idea back when I was asking for FrameMaker Light, and that was to make a FrameMaker XML editor version, but of course that would only apply to structured users. I just read Alan's response and I realize that FrameMaker Light isn't needed by everyone, but for some of us, it would be perfect. Fei Min From: [email protected] [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Anthony Davey Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 5:57 AM To: framers at lists.frameusers.com Subject: Frame Light, what's the potential market? Cross posted to dita-frameusers, so ignore as needed ... I had an interesting discussion with the Frame Product Manager a few days ago at the London launch event for TCS3. It seems there is the motivation to develop a business case for 'Frame Light' which could be used by SMEs to create and review content, but little else. I work in an environment where I am the only Frame user (experimenting with 10 at the moment) in an organisation with over 100 SMEs producing content in Word. Most do their own thing, or come to me to 'fix' or standardise stuff once it is collected together. So, I would want 'Frame Light' to allow content creation in structured or unstructured format (including DITA one day), but that requires the content provider to use only the pre-determined paragraph formats and a few text styles (emphasis, bold, sub- and superscript); and insert images by reference. I can get around a need to define conditional text by using different paragraph format names. All this in templates that can only be developed or altered by full license holders. To support the development of a business case can you post what (other) functionality you would want Frame Light to have, how many licenses you would (ideally) want in your organisation, how many full Frame licenses you currently have (for comparison purposes), how you would want FL delivered (local install, web-based, floating licenses), and what you would want/need to pay for it to get it accepted as an alternative to Whatever word processing your SMEs currently use? Creating more disciplined (structured), reusable, content which can be output with a similar look and feel, and doesn't reinvent a wheel each time an SME puts fingers to keyboard, is a concept which has almost reached its time in my organisation. Others may be close, or even ahead, so there must be demand for this. Please let me know. Best regards, Ant _____________________________________________________________________ The content of this email (and any attachment) is confidential. It may also be legally privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure. This email should not be used by anyone who is not an original intended recipient, nor may it be copied or disclosed to anyone who is not an original intended recipient. If you have received this email by mistake please notify us by emailing the sender, and then delete the email and any copies from your system. 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