Ghost Formatting
Hi Kristy, Nice to see that you are working on similar things as me several years ago (only B747, mostly). About the character format: what does the point size say when you click outside of the text frame? Brgds, Bodvar 2012/7/10 Kristy Nolan > First, thanks to all who have helped with my EDD questions recently. I > know I am on the right track. A great help! > > ** ** > > For today?s question, I seem to have some formatting coming in that I > cannot figure out where it originated. These issues have to do with > character formatting, which I have set up in the EDD. The paragraph is one > of the few I have not gotten to quite work right in the EDD, so have it set > up in the paragraph catalog. When I import the EDD and style sheet into the > content, all characters look correct. However, if I apply the character to > a word, it changes size. This happens in all three of my alert types: Note, > Caution, and Warning. It does not occur anywhere else. Nowhere (that I can > find) is 12 pt related to any alert. > > ** ** > > Here?s the example. Note is a paragraph format. B737 AOM is a title that > should be italicized. If already marked TXT Italics before importing the > EDD and style sheet, stays at the correct 10 pt Arial, as is the rest of > the para. When I apply TXT Italics from the list of allowable elements > after importing the EDD and style sheet, it becomes 12 pt Arial. The > italics part does work. > > ** ** > > Any ideas where to look? Or what to fix? > > ** ** > > Thanks for any input! > > Kristy > > -- > > * * > CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE * > This e-mail message and all attachments transmitted with it may contain > legally privileged and confidential information intended solely for the use > of the addressee. If the reader of this message is not the intended > recipient, you are hereby notified that any reading, dissemination, > distribution, copying, or other use of this message or its attachments is > strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please > notify the sender immediately and delete this message from your system. > Thank you. * > > > ___ > > > You are currently subscribed to framers as bodvar 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/bodvar%40gmail.com > > Send administrative questions to listadmin at frameusers.com. Visit > http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info. > > -- Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried. -- Gilbert K. Chesterton -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.frameusers.com/pipermail/framers/attachments/20120710/d6b78551/attachment.html> -- next part ------ A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 12516 bytes Desc: not available URL: <http://lists.frameusers.com/pipermail/framers/attachments/20120710/d6b78551/attachment.jpe>
Support needed!
If you can't convince your boss that you need FrameMaker, you might want to take a look at ThirtySix Software's SmartDocs. I've been using it for about six months now on a set of large specifications. It offers reusable snippets, variables, and conditional text, all inside Word. The interface for managing all of this is actually easier and more efficient than FrameMaker's, as you can create "snapshots" that set all of your variable values and conditional text settings with one click. It does require Word 2007 or later and SharePoint as a back end. I would still prefer to use FrameMaker, just because it is more robust than Word and faster on large documents, but SmartDocs itself is pretty solid and hasn't given me any major problems. It's more stable than I expected given the house of cards foundation it sits on. As always with Word, you'll want to keep your documents cleanly formatted with styles and have a solid template to start with. Regards Keith > -Original Message- > From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers- > bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of John Sgammato > Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 2:04 PM > To: 'laura at lavadome.net'; framers at lists.frameusers.com > Subject: RE: Support needed! > > It seems to me the safest approach is to escalate it to your manager, > explaining why your current tools are the right tools for the job. Explain how > sophisticated your docs are and why Word won't be up to the task. The > challenge would be to make the docs less sophisticated and harder to > manage as a trade-off for the suggested flexibility. > Then you could opine that the problem was not a lack of flexibility, but > rather > a lack of training if the person truly needed to edit the doc at that moment, > or else possibly the original complainer simply overreacted to a perceived > blocker while you were out of the office. > Never complain to the boss - but raise the issue with clarifying information > and provide an "out" if possible. In this case, the clarifying info supports > the > manager, and the out is that the original complainer is solving the wrong > problem. Redefining the problem on more favorable terms is a useful > strategy. > Good luck! > john > > -Original Message- > From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers- > bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of laura at lavadome.net > Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 3:58 AM > To: framers at lists.frameusers.com > Subject: Support needed! > > Dear all > > Please tell me I'm not going mad or being unreasonable. > > Have just come into work to find that the company which acquired us a few > months ago wants me to use Powerpoint for creating datasheets instead of > InDesign (definite) and "a more flexible tool" (Word) instead of our beloved > Framemaker (proposed). > > I could cry. I am the only tech author in the company of about 100 people > and the marketing department used PP for datasheets which they say is > "adequate" for the job. This all arose on Friday when someone else needed > to edit a version of my ID files when I was on holiday. Now I come in to > find: > > "...For more technical documentation (e.g. product manuals) then I > understand the argument for use of a more specialist tool - but even here > we can use more flexible tools." > > Such as? I have long user guides with masses of conditional text. > Just let Word have a shot at that. In fact, they were trying to do just that > before I started this job 4 years ago - and it wasn't working. > > Sorry to clog up the forum with this but I think of you all as friends who > feel > the same way about FM as I do. > > How do I persuade them otherwise? In fact, it's just one person really I > think > I need to convince - not in my office. > > I can just about cope with datasheets in PP but using anything other than > Frame for long user guides is unthinkable. > NOTICE OF CONFIDENTIALITY This e-mail, including all materials contained in or attached to this e-mail, contains proprietary and confidential information solely for the internal use of the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please notify us immediately by return e-mail or otherwise and ensure that it is permanently deleted from your systems, and do not print, copy, distribute or read its contents. AVIS DE CONFIDENTIALIT? Le pr?sent courriel, y compris tous les documents qu'il contient ou qui y sont joints, renferme des renseignements exclusifs et confidentiels destin?s uniquement ? l'usage interne du destinataire pr?vu. Si vous avez re?u le pr?sent courriel par erreur, veuillez nous aviser imm?diatement, notamment par retour de courriel, et vous assurer qu'il est supprim? de fa?on permanente de vos syst?mes; veuillez ?galement vous abstenir d'imprimer, de copier, de distribuer ou de lire son contenu.
Support needed!
It seems to me the safest approach is to escalate it to your manager, explaining why your current tools are the right tools for the job. Explain how sophisticated your docs are and why Word won't be up to the task. The challenge would be to make the docs less sophisticated and harder to manage as a trade-off for the suggested flexibility. Then you could opine that the problem was not a lack of flexibility, but rather a lack of training if the person truly needed to edit the doc at that moment, or else possibly the original complainer simply overreacted to a perceived blocker while you were out of the office. Never complain to the boss - but raise the issue with clarifying information and provide an "out" if possible. In this case, the clarifying info supports the manager, and the out is that the original complainer is solving the wrong problem. Redefining the problem on more favorable terms is a useful strategy. Good luck! john -Original Message- From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of la...@lavadome.net Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 3:58 AM To: framers at lists.frameusers.com Subject: Support needed! Dear all Please tell me I'm not going mad or being unreasonable. Have just come into work to find that the company which acquired us a few months ago wants me to use Powerpoint for creating datasheets instead of InDesign (definite) and "a more flexible tool" (Word) instead of our beloved Framemaker (proposed). I could cry. I am the only tech author in the company of about 100 people and the marketing department used PP for datasheets which they say is "adequate" for the job. This all arose on Friday when someone else needed to edit a version of my ID files when I was on holiday. Now I come in to find: "...For more technical documentation (e.g. product manuals) then I understand the argument for use of a more specialist tool - but even here we can use more flexible tools." Such as? I have long user guides with masses of conditional text. Just let Word have a shot at that. In fact, they were trying to do just that before I started this job 4 years ago - and it wasn't working. Sorry to clog up the forum with this but I think of you all as friends who feel the same way about FM as I do. How do I persuade them otherwise? In fact, it's just one person really I think I need to convince - not in my office. I can just about cope with datasheets in PP but using anything other than Frame for long user guides is unthinkable. L ___ You are currently subscribed to framers as jsgammato at imprivata.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/jsgammato%40imprivata.com Send administrative questions to listadmin at frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
Support needed!
Laura, The simple argument is that Frame can do conditional text and Word cannot. Explain all of the benefits of conditional text, (and throw in variables, book files, etc). I worked at a company 12 years ago where they did OEM software for Multiple Listing Services. They had 10 word files, one for each customer. I told them that in FrameMaker, I could have one file with 10 conditions, which was manageable. Trying to maintain 10 Word files with 80% identical content was not possible. They saw the logic and bought me Frame. If people want to edit your files, create a PDF and enable it for commenting a review. Then all they need is the free Adobe Reader to make comments on it. If they force you to go to Word, time to look for another job. -Gillian -Original Message- From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of la...@lavadome.net Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 12:58 AM To: framers at lists.frameusers.com Subject: Support needed! Dear all Please tell me I'm not going mad or being unreasonable. Have just come into work to find that the company which acquired us a few months ago wants me to use Powerpoint for creating datasheets instead of InDesign (definite) and "a more flexible tool" (Word) instead of our beloved Framemaker (proposed). I could cry. I am the only tech author in the company of about 100 people and the marketing department used PP for datasheets which they say is "adequate" for the job. This all arose on Friday when someone else needed to edit a version of my ID files when I was on holiday. Now I come in to find: "...For more technical documentation (e.g. product manuals) then I understand the argument for use of a more specialist tool - but even here we can use more flexible tools." Such as? I have long user guides with masses of conditional text. Just let Word have a shot at that. In fact, they were trying to do just that before I started this job 4 years ago - and it wasn't working. Sorry to clog up the forum with this but I think of you all as friends who feel the same way about FM as I do. How do I persuade them otherwise? In fact, it's just one person really I think I need to convince - not in my office. I can just about cope with datasheets in PP but using anything other than Frame for long user guides is unthinkable. L ___ You are currently subscribed to framers as gillian.flato at nexenta.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/gillian.flato%40nexenta.com Send administrative questions to listadmin at frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
Re: Ghost Formatting
Hi Kristy, Nice to see that you are working on similar things as me several years ago (only B747, mostly). About the character format: what does the point size say when you click outside of the text frame? Brgds, Bodvar 2012/7/10 Kristy Nolan > First, thanks to all who have helped with my EDD questions recently. I > know I am on the right track. A great help! > > ** ** > > For today’s question, I seem to have some formatting coming in that I > cannot figure out where it originated. These issues have to do with > character formatting, which I have set up in the EDD. The paragraph is one > of the few I have not gotten to quite work right in the EDD, so have it set > up in the paragraph catalog. When I import the EDD and style sheet into the > content, all characters look correct. However, if I apply the character to > a word, it changes size. This happens in all three of my alert types: Note, > Caution, and Warning. It does not occur anywhere else. Nowhere (that I can > find) is 12 pt related to any alert. > > ** ** > > Here’s the example. Note is a paragraph format. B737 AOM is a title that > should be italicized. If already marked TXT Italics before importing the > EDD and style sheet, stays at the correct 10 pt Arial, as is the rest of > the para. When I apply TXT Italics from the list of allowable elements > after importing the EDD and style sheet, it becomes 12 pt Arial. The > italics part does work. > > ** ** > > Any ideas where to look? Or what to fix? > > ** ** > > Thanks for any input! > > Kristy > > -- > > * * > CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE * > This e-mail message and all attachments transmitted with it may contain > legally privileged and confidential information intended solely for the use > of the addressee. If the reader of this message is not the intended > recipient, you are hereby notified that any reading, dissemination, > distribution, copying, or other use of this message or its attachments is > strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please > notify the sender immediately and delete this message from your system. > Thank you. * > > > ___ > > > You are currently subscribed to framers as bod...@gmail.com. > > Send list messages to framers@lists.frameusers.com. > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > framers-unsubscr...@lists.frameusers.com > or visit > http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/bodvar%40gmail.com > > Send administrative questions to listad...@frameusers.com. Visit > http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info. > > -- Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried. -- Gilbert K. Chesterton <>___ You are currently subscribed to framers as arch...@mail-archive.com. Send list messages to framers@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.
Ghost Formatting
First, thanks to all who have helped with my EDD questions recently. I know I am on the right track. A great help! For today's question, I seem to have some formatting coming in that I cannot figure out where it originated. These issues have to do with character formatting, which I have set up in the EDD. The paragraph is one of the few I have not gotten to quite work right in the EDD, so have it set up in the paragraph catalog. When I import the EDD and style sheet into the content, all characters look correct. However, if I apply the character to a word, it changes size. This happens in all three of my alert types: Note, Caution, and Warning. It does not occur anywhere else. Nowhere (that I can find) is 12 pt related to any alert. Here's the example. Note is a paragraph format. B737 AOM is a title that should be italicized. If already marked TXT Italics before importing the EDD and style sheet, stays at the correct 10 pt Arial, as is the rest of the para. When I apply TXT Italics from the list of allowable elements after importing the EDD and style sheet, it becomes 12 pt Arial. The italics part does work. Any ideas where to look? Or what to fix? Thanks for any input! Kristy *** CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE *** This e-mail message and all attachments transmitted with it may contain legally privileged and confidential information intended solely for the use of the addressee. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any reading, dissemination, distribution, copying, or other use of this message or its attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete this message from your system. Thank you. -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.frameusers.com/pipermail/framers/attachments/20120710/ac2d11c2/attachment.html> -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 12516 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: <http://lists.frameusers.com/pipermail/framers/attachments/20120710/ac2d11c2/attachment.jpg>
table tags don't seem to be recognized in Acrobat X pdf
I browse this list occasionally so forgive me I'm not following standard procedure. And I realize this isn't an Acrobat forum, but FM and Acrobat work so closely together I have to create 508-compliant pdfs from FM, and I thought I was clicking along just fine until some of my pdfs started to get kicked back to me in the last month because they weren't considered compliant anymore. Specifically they are mentioning I need a header in the table tag and I need to defining the scope (of the table, I guess). When I was first trying to create 508 compliant pdfs from FM, I remember seeing a table tag (marked with a tiny little table icon) in the reading order layout in Acrobat. But now I don't see those table tag icons anymore in the pdf reading order. I just see a generic sort of object tab (a little brown box thingy) for everything in the reading order, including tables. I haven't changed my table tags in FM. The only changes over the last few years have been to upgrade through a couple of versions of Acrobat (from Acrobat 7/8 to Acrobat X now) and from FM 7.2 to FM 9. I want to work smarter, not harder, so I want to get things correct in the FM source rather than fix things in Acrobat afterwards, but I have no idea why my table tags don't seem to make it through to the pdf. I always create tables from the Table menu and define a header row and put the table in its own paragraph (using a tag called Table). Also, when I try to fix things in the pdf and check the table header and table row tagging, I can't even force the table to be recognized as a table. I can't even get the Table Editor button to be active (it stays grayed out no matter what I do). There's this Table Inspector feature people talk about but I don't see that anywhere. Anyone have some advice on how to properly tag tables so they are recognized as tables in FM? I'm hoping it is something simple I'm overlooking. I went for so long with nobody saying my pdf was not 508 compliant that I have no idea when things might have changed in how FM table tagging has changed. Maybe I'm messing up the PDF options when I make the pdf, though I am enabling the Tagged pdf option. Help! Using FM 9 and Acrobat X on Win 7. Kathy Blake | Documentation Dept. 3M Health Information Systems Div SLC Office, 575 West Murray Blvd. | Murray, UT Office: 801 265 4462 kblake2 at mmm.com | www.3MHIS.com -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.frameusers.com/pipermail/framers/attachments/20120710/9eb0e653/attachment.html> -- next part -- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 1110 bytes Desc: not available URL: <http://lists.frameusers.com/pipermail/framers/attachments/20120710/9eb0e653/attachment.gif>
Support needed!
On 7/10/2012 2:57 AM, laura at lavadome.net wrote: > Please tell me I'm not going mad or being unreasonable. > > Have just come into work to find that the company which acquired us a > few months ago wants me to use Powerpoint for creating datasheets > instead of InDesign (definite) and "a more flexible tool" (Word) instead > of our beloved Framemaker (proposed). > > I could cry. I am the only tech author in the company of about 100 > people and the marketing department used PP for datasheets which they > say is "adequate" for the job. This all arose on Friday when someone > else needed to edit a version of my ID files when I was on holiday. Now > I come in to find: > > "...For more technical documentation (e.g. product manuals) then I > understand the argument for use of a more specialist tool - but even > here we can use more flexible tools." > > Such as? I have long user guides with masses of conditional text. > Just let Word have a shot at that. In fact, they were trying to do just > that before I started this job 4 years ago - and it wasn't working. DISCLAIMER: I work for WebWorks. Laura, Finding ways to make Word a better tool for your needs may not be your ideal approach, but it may be an easier sale politically. There are a couple of products that enable more flexible document handling within Word. One is by ThirtySix Software, called SmartDocs. It offers extremely advanced conditional text controls (beyond FrameMaker). It can also integrate with a SharePoint server for content reuse, etc. It isn't cheap, but it can definitely beef up Word's capabilities. Another alternative might be WebWorks ePublisher. It publishes content from Word sources. Part of the package includes a Word menu to give you basic conditional text support. Not nearly as advanced as SmartDocs, but it might do the trick for you. ePublisher is happy to process either WebWorks conditions or SmartDocs conditions during publishing. Also, though I know nothing about it, you could check out Doc-to-Help. They single-source publish from Word documents just like ePublisher. Ben Allums allums at webworks.com 512-381-8885
Support needed!
Laura...I just ran into this at PGE in their Academy (training dept). I believe they feel that PP converts easily to simulations, which is why they are going forward with that for some courses. I agree with you that it is not the right tool for large courses and not all types of documentation. Good luck convincing the powers at be. Deborah Riffin Writing for Business 408-206-1423 (cell) 408-249-3623 (office/fax) "Accuracy and Excellence" -Original Message- From: laura To: framers Sent: Tue, Jul 10, 2012 10:20 am Subject: Support needed! Dear all Please tell me I'm not going mad or being unreasonable. Have just come into work to find that the company which acquired us a few months ago wants me to use Powerpoint for creating datasheets instead of InDesign (definite) and "a more flexible tool" (Word) instead of our beloved Framemaker (proposed). I could cry. I am the only tech author in the company of about 100 people and the marketing department used PP for datasheets which they say is "adequate" for the job. This all arose on Friday when someone else needed to edit a version of my ID files when I was on holiday. Now I come in to find: "...For more technical documentation (e.g. product manuals) then I understand the argument for use of a more specialist tool - but even here we can use more flexible tools." Such as? I have long user guides with masses of conditional text. Just let Word have a shot at that. In fact, they were trying to do just that before I started this job 4 years ago - and it wasn't working. Sorry to clog up the forum with this but I think of you all as friends who feel the same way about FM as I do. How do I persuade them otherwise? In fact, it's just one person really I think I need to convince - not in my office. I can just about cope with datasheets in PP but using anything other than Frame for long user guides is unthinkable. L ___ You are currently subscribed to framers as writing4business at aol.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/writing4business%40aol.com Send administrative questions to listadmin at frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info. -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.frameusers.com/pipermail/framers/attachments/20120710/90758ef8/attachment.html>
Ghost Formatting
First, thanks to all who have helped with my EDD questions recently. I know I am on the right track. A great help! For today's question, I seem to have some formatting coming in that I cannot figure out where it originated. These issues have to do with character formatting, which I have set up in the EDD. The paragraph is one of the few I have not gotten to quite work right in the EDD, so have it set up in the paragraph catalog. When I import the EDD and style sheet into the content, all characters look correct. However, if I apply the character to a word, it changes size. This happens in all three of my alert types: Note, Caution, and Warning. It does not occur anywhere else. Nowhere (that I can find) is 12 pt related to any alert. Here's the example. Note is a paragraph format. B737 AOM is a title that should be italicized. If already marked TXT Italics before importing the EDD and style sheet, stays at the correct 10 pt Arial, as is the rest of the para. When I apply TXT Italics from the list of allowable elements after importing the EDD and style sheet, it becomes 12 pt Arial. The italics part does work. Any ideas where to look? Or what to fix? Thanks for any input! Kristy *** CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE *** This e-mail message and all attachments transmitted with it may contain legally privileged and confidential information intended solely for the use of the addressee. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any reading, dissemination, distribution, copying, or other use of this message or its attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete this message from your system. Thank you.<>___ You are currently subscribed to framers as arch...@mail-archive.com. Send list messages to framers@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.
Support needed!
Your situation reminds me of the place I worked where the CEO's wife complained, "Can't you come up with a solution that involves Microsoft products?" Nonetheless, I was in a situation with more reasonable management that I managed to convince. I did it by listing what I needed to do that I couldn't do in MS Word: . Conditional text . Large files (MS Word has memory management problems) . Numbered lists (MS Word has bugs that limit the number of such lists you can have) . Flexible variables (you can set them at once from an external file in FrameMaker, while MS Word doesn't have this capability) . Customization that doesn't make you vulnerable to viruses (the #1 way computers get infected via MS Word is through its macros) The final selling point was a file I found on the Internet that showed Microsoft Press using FrameMaker. I was able to say "Even *Microsoft* doesn't use Word for creating books!" The word "flexible" in this person's message is also clearly a euphemism for either "cheaper," "one that the rest of the idiots here know," or "one that runs in native mode on my Mac." Are there any other tech writers in the company that acquired you? If so, find out what they use. If someone else is using FrameMaker, you've got a better defense. If you're the only one using it, you may be screwed. Good luck, --Lynn From: To: Date: 07/10/2012 10:22 AM Subject:Support needed! Sent by:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com Dear all Please tell me I'm not going mad or being unreasonable. Have just come into work to find that the company which acquired us a few months ago wants me to use Powerpoint for creating datasheets instead of InDesign (definite) and "a more flexible tool" (Word) instead of our beloved Framemaker (proposed). I could cry. I am the only tech author in the company of about 100 people and the marketing department used PP for datasheets which they say is "adequate" for the job. This all arose on Friday when someone else needed to edit a version of my ID files when I was on holiday. Now I come in to find: "...For more technical documentation (e.g. product manuals) then I understand the argument for use of a more specialist tool - but even here we can use more flexible tools." Such as? I have long user guides with masses of conditional text. Just let Word have a shot at that. In fact, they were trying to do just that before I started this job 4 years ago - and it wasn't working. Sorry to clog up the forum with this but I think of you all as friends who feel the same way about FM as I do. How do I persuade them otherwise? In fact, it's just one person really I think I need to convince - not in my office. I can just about cope with datasheets in PP but using anything other than Frame for long user guides is unthinkable. L ___ You are currently subscribed to framers as lgold at us.ibm.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/lgold%40us.ibm.com Send administrative questions to listadmin at frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info. -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.frameusers.com/pipermail/framers/attachments/20120710/f1262c12/attachment.html>
RE: Support needed!
It seems to me the safest approach is to escalate it to your manager, explaining why your current tools are the right tools for the job. Explain how sophisticated your docs are and why Word won't be up to the task. The challenge would be to make the docs less sophisticated and harder to manage as a trade-off for the suggested flexibility. Then you could opine that the problem was not a lack of flexibility, but rather a lack of training if the person truly needed to edit the doc at that moment, or else possibly the original complainer simply overreacted to a perceived blocker while you were out of the office. Never complain to the boss - but raise the issue with clarifying information and provide an "out" if possible. In this case, the clarifying info supports the manager, and the out is that the original complainer is solving the wrong problem. Redefining the problem on more favorable terms is a useful strategy. Good luck! john -Original Message- From: framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of la...@lavadome.net Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 3:58 AM To: framers@lists.frameusers.com Subject: Support needed! Dear all Please tell me I'm not going mad or being unreasonable. Have just come into work to find that the company which acquired us a few months ago wants me to use Powerpoint for creating datasheets instead of InDesign (definite) and "a more flexible tool" (Word) instead of our beloved Framemaker (proposed). I could cry. I am the only tech author in the company of about 100 people and the marketing department used PP for datasheets which they say is "adequate" for the job. This all arose on Friday when someone else needed to edit a version of my ID files when I was on holiday. Now I come in to find: "...For more technical documentation (e.g. product manuals) then I understand the argument for use of a more specialist tool - but even here we can use more flexible tools." Such as? I have long user guides with masses of conditional text. Just let Word have a shot at that. In fact, they were trying to do just that before I started this job 4 years ago - and it wasn't working. Sorry to clog up the forum with this but I think of you all as friends who feel the same way about FM as I do. How do I persuade them otherwise? In fact, it's just one person really I think I need to convince - not in my office. I can just about cope with datasheets in PP but using anything other than Frame for long user guides is unthinkable. L ___ You are currently subscribed to framers as jsgamm...@imprivata.com. Send list messages to framers@lists.frameusers.com. To unsubscribe send a blank email to framers-unsubscr...@lists.frameusers.com or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/jsgammato%40imprivata.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 framers@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.
Formatting in EDD
Kristy, As I understand it, the signal words "Note, Caution, Warning" must be on the same line as the actual note text. That is a little tricky but doable. You need separate elements for the Note, Caution, Warning headers and the text that follows. Set text range formatting for both elements. If you add an attribute to the container element to choose the correct header this makes your editing a lot easier than having to handle three different elements. Using Prefix rules in the EDD, you can control the text of the headers. Don't forget to add the "\t" in the prefixes and set the first tab stop in the Note paragraph format far enough to the right so that the note text is separated from the header. As the Note must have its type attribute set explicitly, I also use the EDD to clearly signal to the author when this has not been done, by adding an informative text and setting the text color to red. I normally keep all my formats outside of the EDD - only applying ParagraphFormatTag and CharacterFormatTag but that does not change the outcome. Using direct formatting, format change lists in the EDD or assigning tags that can be changed in the Paragraph and Character Designers do not make any difference in what you try to do. Here is a working example of the Note element including the required formatting: Element (Container): Note General rule: NoteHeader, NoteText Attribute list Name: type Choice Required Choices:Information, Caution, Warning Text format rules In all contexts. Use paragraph format: Note Element (Container): NoteHeader General rule: Prefix rules If context is: Note [ type = ?Information? ] Prefix: Note\t Else, if context is: Note [ type = ?Caution? ] Prefix: Caution\t Else, if context is: Note [ type = ?Warning? ] Prefix: WARNING !\t Else Prefix: *** SET NOTE TYPE ATTRIBUTE *** Text format rules If context is: Note [ type = ?Information? ] Text range. Else, if context is: Note [ type = ?Caution? ] Text range. Font properties Underline: Single Else, if context is: Note [ type = ?Warning? ] Text range. Font properties Underline: Double Else Text range. Font properties Color: Red Element (Container): NoteText General rule: Text format rules In all contexts. Text range. Good luck with the work. If you need any further assistance, drop me an e-mail. Jang JANG Communication Coaching - Copywriting - Consulting Amsterdam - Netherlands Tel. +31 20 755 8466 Cell +31 6 5478 1632 http://www.jang.nl > 2012/7/5 Kristy Nolan > >> Hi guys! >> >> ** ** >> >> Frame 10, structured question. I am trying to clean up our EDD and can?t >> figure out how to designate some formatting. I have elements for Note, >> Caution, and Warning. Most of the formatting is fine (e.g., font, size, >> weight). However, the direction I have is single underline ?Caution? and >> double underline ?Warning.? Not the whole paragraph, just the term. I know >> how to do this if I go the style sheet route where I designate everything >> there. >> >> ** ** >> >> I tried creating character formats in the EDD ? one for single and one for >> double underlines, but not working. May not even be on the right track >> there. >>
RE: Support needed!
Just a few thoughts: Do you use conditional text to create multiple manuals from one book? If so, you will have to recreate an individual Word manual for every product - which will absolutely guarantee that they will have to hire at least one more writer and slow down manual completion. Additionally, if you then translate those manuals, turn times and costs will soar even with reuse through a TM. Higher costs in time and money are usually excellent tools of persuasion. I've taken over a series of Marketing docs recently (Product Specifications) and by using conditional text, they are much easier to control as a significant amount of information is repeated between products - but it's detailed, finicky crap that's prone to errors if you have to keep it up-to-date in 6 different source files. Marketing loves the fact that they no longer have to deal with it (the web/graphics guys was doing a mediocre job of it in Word) and Management likes the fact that the data is much more reliable. FYI: I am also a sole writer and after convincing everyone that the move to Frame was necessary (an 18 month process), management has come to depend on it - even though no one else can use it while I'm on vacation. They've been able to hold off on a second writer (bad for me!) and translation costs are much better given that they get 6 product manuals translated in one go. One other thing... Why can't anyone in Marketing use InDesign? As tech writer, I've never used it, but 95% of what comes out of our Marketing department is done in InDesign! Maybe look online to see what you can find about job descriptions for Marketing types and show them that InDesign (or a similar program) is an industry standard program. Ditto for tech writing. Local technical schools may offer some information you can borrow to add weight to your arguments as well. Alison -Original Message- From: framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of la...@lavadome.net Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 12:58 AM To: framers@lists.frameusers.com Subject: Support needed! Dear all Please tell me I'm not going mad or being unreasonable. Have just come into work to find that the company which acquired us a few months ago wants me to use Powerpoint for creating datasheets instead of InDesign (definite) and "a more flexible tool" (Word) instead of our beloved Framemaker (proposed). I could cry. I am the only tech author in the company of about 100 people and the marketing department used PP for datasheets which they say is "adequate" for the job. This all arose on Friday when someone else needed to edit a version of my ID files when I was on holiday. Now I come in to find: "...For more technical documentation (e.g. product manuals) then I understand the argument for use of a more specialist tool - but even here we can use more flexible tools." Such as? I have long user guides with masses of conditional text. Just let Word have a shot at that. In fact, they were trying to do just that before I started this job 4 years ago - and it wasn't working. Sorry to clog up the forum with this but I think of you all as friends who feel the same way about FM as I do. How do I persuade them otherwise? In fact, it's just one person really I think I need to convince - not in my office. I can just about cope with datasheets in PP but using anything other than Frame for long user guides is unthinkable. L ___ You are currently subscribed to framers as alison.cr...@ultrasonix.com. Send list messages to framers@lists.frameusers.com. To unsubscribe send a blank email to framers-unsubscr...@lists.frameusers.com or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/alison.craig%40ultrasonix.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 framers@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.
Support needed!
Just a few thoughts: Do you use conditional text to create multiple manuals from one book? If so, you will have to recreate an individual Word manual for every product - which will absolutely guarantee that they will have to hire at least one more writer and slow down manual completion. Additionally, if you then translate those manuals, turn times and costs will soar even with reuse through a TM. Higher costs in time and money are usually excellent tools of persuasion. I've taken over a series of Marketing docs recently (Product Specifications) and by using conditional text, they are much easier to control as a significant amount of information is repeated between products - but it's detailed, finicky crap that's prone to errors if you have to keep it up-to-date in 6 different source files. Marketing loves the fact that they no longer have to deal with it (the web/graphics guys was doing a mediocre job of it in Word) and Management likes the fact that the data is much more reliable. FYI: I am also a sole writer and after convincing everyone that the move to Frame was necessary (an 18 month process), management has come to depend on it - even though no one else can use it while I'm on vacation. They've been able to hold off on a second writer (bad for me!) and translation costs are much better given that they get 6 product manuals translated in one go. One other thing... Why can't anyone in Marketing use InDesign? As tech writer, I've never used it, but 95% of what comes out of our Marketing department is done in InDesign! Maybe look online to see what you can find about job descriptions for Marketing types and show them that InDesign (or a similar program) is an industry standard program. Ditto for tech writing. Local technical schools may offer some information you can borrow to add weight to your arguments as well. Alison -Original Message- From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of la...@lavadome.net Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 12:58 AM To: framers at lists.frameusers.com Subject: Support needed! Dear all Please tell me I'm not going mad or being unreasonable. Have just come into work to find that the company which acquired us a few months ago wants me to use Powerpoint for creating datasheets instead of InDesign (definite) and "a more flexible tool" (Word) instead of our beloved Framemaker (proposed). I could cry. I am the only tech author in the company of about 100 people and the marketing department used PP for datasheets which they say is "adequate" for the job. This all arose on Friday when someone else needed to edit a version of my ID files when I was on holiday. Now I come in to find: "...For more technical documentation (e.g. product manuals) then I understand the argument for use of a more specialist tool - but even here we can use more flexible tools." Such as? I have long user guides with masses of conditional text. Just let Word have a shot at that. In fact, they were trying to do just that before I started this job 4 years ago - and it wasn't working. Sorry to clog up the forum with this but I think of you all as friends who feel the same way about FM as I do. How do I persuade them otherwise? In fact, it's just one person really I think I need to convince - not in my office. I can just about cope with datasheets in PP but using anything other than Frame for long user guides is unthinkable. L ___ You are currently subscribed to framers as alison.craig at ultrasonix.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/alison.craig%40ultrasonix.com Send administrative questions to listadmin at frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
Re: Formatting in EDD
Kristy, As I understand it, the signal words "Note, Caution, Warning" must be on the same line as the actual note text. That is a little tricky but doable. You need separate elements for the Note, Caution, Warning headers and the text that follows. Set text range formatting for both elements. If you add an attribute to the container element to choose the correct header this makes your editing a lot easier than having to handle three different elements. Using Prefix rules in the EDD, you can control the text of the headers. Don't forget to add the "\t" in the prefixes and set the first tab stop in the Note paragraph format far enough to the right so that the note text is separated from the header. As the Note must have its type attribute set explicitly, I also use the EDD to clearly signal to the author when this has not been done, by adding an informative text and setting the text color to red. I normally keep all my formats outside of the EDD - only applying ParagraphFormatTag and CharacterFormatTag but that does not change the outcome. Using direct formatting, format change lists in the EDD or assigning tags that can be changed in the Paragraph and Character Designers do not make any difference in what you try to do. Here is a working example of the Note element including the required formatting: Element (Container): Note General rule: NoteHeader, NoteText Attribute list Name: type Choice Required Choices:Information, Caution, Warning Text format rules In all contexts. Use paragraph format: Note Element (Container): NoteHeader General rule: Prefix rules If context is: Note [ type = “Information” ] Prefix: Note\t Else, if context is: Note [ type = “Caution” ] Prefix: Caution\t Else, if context is: Note [ type = “Warning” ] Prefix: WARNING !\t Else Prefix: *** SET NOTE TYPE ATTRIBUTE *** Text format rules If context is: Note [ type = “Information” ] Text range. Else, if context is: Note [ type = “Caution” ] Text range. Font properties Underline: Single Else, if context is: Note [ type = “Warning” ] Text range. Font properties Underline: Double Else Text range. Font properties Color: Red Element (Container): NoteText General rule: Text format rules In all contexts. Text range. Good luck with the work. If you need any further assistance, drop me an e-mail. Jang JANG Communication Coaching - Copywriting - Consulting Amsterdam - Netherlands Tel. +31 20 755 8466 Cell +31 6 5478 1632 http://www.jang.nl > 2012/7/5 Kristy Nolan > >> Hi guys! >> >> ** ** >> >> Frame 10, structured question. I am trying to clean up our EDD and can?t >> figure out how to designate some formatting. I have elements for Note, >> Caution, and Warning. Most of the formatting is fine (e.g., font, size, >> weight). However, the direction I have is single underline ?Caution? and >> double underline ?Warning.? Not the whole paragraph, just the term. I know >> how to do this if I go the style sheet route where I designate everything >> there. >> >> ** ** >> >> I tried creating character formats in the EDD ? one for single and one for >> double underlines, but not working. May not even be on the right track >> there. >> ___ You are currently subscribed to framers as arch...@mail-archive.com. Send list messages to framers@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.
Support needed!
Dear all Please tell me I'm not going mad or being unreasonable. Have just come into work to find that the company which acquired us a few months ago wants me to use Powerpoint for creating datasheets instead of InDesign (definite) and "a more flexible tool" (Word) instead of our beloved Framemaker (proposed). I could cry. I am the only tech author in the company of about 100 people and the marketing department used PP for datasheets which they say is "adequate" for the job. This all arose on Friday when someone else needed to edit a version of my ID files when I was on holiday. Now I come in to find: "...For more technical documentation (e.g. product manuals) then I understand the argument for use of a more specialist tool - but even here we can use more flexible tools." Such as? I have long user guides with masses of conditional text. Just let Word have a shot at that. In fact, they were trying to do just that before I started this job 4 years ago - and it wasn't working. Sorry to clog up the forum with this but I think of you all as friends who feel the same way about FM as I do. How do I persuade them otherwise? In fact, it's just one person really I think I need to convince - not in my office. I can just about cope with datasheets in PP but using anything other than Frame for long user guides is unthinkable. L ___ You are currently subscribed to framers as arch...@mail-archive.com. Send list messages to framers@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.
Re: comparing variables in .fm files in FM10
Slightly off topic, but I made a product that manages variables on the web. You have a PHP web app running on your web server, and then Maker interfaces with it directly. The variable definitions are extracted out of the document as a text file and posted onto the web site. Then you can import one or more of the variables from each catalog that's up there (if you want to). So it did two things... Enhanced variables management in Maker, and set up global, centralized management of your enterprise variables on a web site. It got a 100% yawn, I might add (if that much). Not one person so much as wanted to give it a beta test. So I haven't looked at it for a year or so. If this is real important, I might be able to massage it into something that would answer this problem... cud ___ You are currently subscribed to framers as arch...@mail-archive.com. Send list messages to framers@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.
comparing variables in .fm files in FM10
Slightly off topic, but I made a product that manages variables on the web.? You have a PHP web app running on your web server, and then Maker interfaces with it directly.? The variable definitions are extracted out of the document as a text file and posted onto the web site.? Then you can import one or more of the variables from each catalog that's up there (if you want to).? So it did two things...? Enhanced variables management in Maker, and set up global, centralized management of your enterprise variables on a web site.? It got a 100% yawn, I might add (if that much).? Not one person so much as wanted to give it a beta test.? So I haven't looked at it for a year or so.? If this is real important, I might be able to massage it into something that would answer this problem... cud -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.frameusers.com/pipermail/framers/attachments/20120710/0811d812/attachment.html>
Support needed!
Dear all Please tell me I'm not going mad or being unreasonable. Have just come into work to find that the company which acquired us a few months ago wants me to use Powerpoint for creating datasheets instead of InDesign (definite) and "a more flexible tool" (Word) instead of our beloved Framemaker (proposed). I could cry. I am the only tech author in the company of about 100 people and the marketing department used PP for datasheets which they say is "adequate" for the job. This all arose on Friday when someone else needed to edit a version of my ID files when I was on holiday. Now I come in to find: "...For more technical documentation (e.g. product manuals) then I understand the argument for use of a more specialist tool - but even here we can use more flexible tools." Such as? I have long user guides with masses of conditional text. Just let Word have a shot at that. In fact, they were trying to do just that before I started this job 4 years ago - and it wasn't working. Sorry to clog up the forum with this but I think of you all as friends who feel the same way about FM as I do. How do I persuade them otherwise? In fact, it's just one person really I think I need to convince - not in my office. I can just about cope with datasheets in PP but using anything other than Frame for long user guides is unthinkable. L
