RE: Change workflow to use FM and RH together?

[Jeff Coatsworth]

Remember - Linking only works if you've got the Technical Communications Suite 
(TCS); otherwise Importing is your only option of getting FM content into RH.

From: framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com 
[mailto:framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Anjaneai S
Sent: August-08-13 7:31 PM
To: Terri Schultz
Cc: framers@lists.frameusers.com
Subject: Re: Change workflow to use FM and RH together?

Hi Terri,

Here is an idea/steps how you can achieve this--

Firstly, if there is a scope for content within Framemaker to be updated at 
various stages, go for Link option for bringing in book/documents from 
Framemaker (for Both UK  US English)  to RoboHelp. (File-- Link-- Framemaker 
documents)

1# One way is after linking your documents and converting all your FrameMaker 
documents into topics within Robohelp. Create 2 Conditional Built tag an apply 
them on US and UK English separately from Project manager and while generating 
your output, Select the CBT for which you want to generate the help.
Alternately, you can apply Conditional Text to your English US/UK Content 
within Framemaker and directly publish it from there (File -- Publish). You 
might require to create two different TOC for English US/UK content

2#  Yes, you can create Help using FM Files, that is a standard workflow. But 
the opposite is not a feasible solution.

I did not understand when you say --  One issue that is *always* raised is 
that the docs have pictures/screenshots/images and the help doesn't. The Help 
file can also have graphics.

As you have been working on Fm for quite some time, I'll share some steps to 
implement this from Rh End:--

1) Create (or Open Existing)  Robohelp project
2) Go to File-- Link--FrameMaker document and browse- your FM (US) Book and 
select open. (Repeat the same for English UK book)
3) This would Link your Book under Project Manager
4) Make a right click to Book and Select Generate (You should repeat this step 
whenever there is any modification at Framemaker's end
5) Now create and apply the CBT (UK and US) to your Topics within Project 
Manager (Drag and Drop them over any topic to apply it)
6) Generate your Help, say Webhelp, under Webhelp properties, Exclude the UK 
CBT from output.

I hope I have not confused you further. :)

Thanks,
Anjaneai



On Fri, Aug 9, 2013 at 1:58 AM, Terri Schultz 
tjs_bad...@hotmail.commailto:tjs_bad...@hotmail.com wrote:
Background:

My department uses FrameMaker 11, unstructured, and RoboHelp 10.

We do user's manuals in FrameMaker (one version for the US and one version for 
the UK) as separate books; minimal use of variables and/or conditional text. 
These docs are made available to customers as PDFs. I've used FM for 15+ years 
and consider myself an average FM user, not a power user. I used to use 
variables at a previous job, but my current job/co-workers don't use 
variables/conditional text.

We do help files in RoboHelp, one help project for the US and one help project 
for the UK.

There are many smaller/ancillary documents done in FM, InDesign, and or Word. 
These docs are made available to customers as PDFs. I consider myself a 
beginner/basic RoboHelp user. I use RoboHelp, but it is mostly editing content 
and applying pre-existing styles, etc.

The powers-that-be don't see that the information is the same (or mostly the 
same) between the help and the docs (I am trying to convince them that this is 
the way it is). One issue that is *always* raised is that the docs have 
pictures/screenshots/images and the help doesn't. There are also discussions 
about using MindTouch to deliver information to customers; I don't know if that 
means that we would stop using FM and RH.

Questions:

1. I know that we could (possibly) have one set of FM files that could be used 
to provide a US document and a UK document. I don't know *where* to start to 
make this happen. I don't have any authority to spend money and there is no 
budget to pay for consulting. I am looking for free advice/suggestions where to 
find out how to do this.

2. I believe we could either use our FM files to create help, or use our help 
files to create docs.As with #1, I want to know where to learn how to do 
this.

I'm not looking for theory/big picture ideas. I need some nuts-and-bolts, 
how-to advice. At the very least, I want to show that we could gain some 
efficiency if we stop maintaining one set of FM source files for the US and 
another set for the UK.

I hope this makes sense.

Thank you for any and all suggestions!

Terri



___


You are currently subscribed to framers as 
anjan...@gmail.commailto:anjan...@gmail.com.

Send list messages to 
framers@lists.frameusers.commailto:framers@lists.frameusers.com.

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
framers-unsubscr...@lists.frameusers.commailto:framers-unsubscr...@lists.frameusers.com
or visit 
http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/anjaneai%40gmail.com

Send administrative

Change workflow to use FM and RH together?

[Anjaneai S]

Hi Terri,

Here is an idea/steps how you can achieve this--

Firstly, if there is a scope for content within Framemaker to be updated at
various stages, go for Link option for bringing in book/documents from
Framemaker (for Both UK & US English)  to RoboHelp. *(File-- Link--
Framemaker documents)*

*1#* One way is after linking your documents and converting all your
FrameMaker documents into topics within Robohelp. Create 2 Conditional
Built tag an apply them on US and UK English separately from Project
manager and while generating your output, Select the CBT for which you want
to generate the help.
Alternately, you can apply Conditional Text to your English US/UK Content
within Framemaker and directly publish it from there (File -- Publish). You
might require to create two different TOC for English US/UK content

*2#  *Yes, you can create Help using FM Files, that is a standard workflow.
But the opposite is not a feasible solution.

I did not understand when you say -- " One issue that is *always* raised is
that the docs have pictures/screenshots/images and the help doesn't." The
Help file can also have graphics.

As you have been working on Fm for quite some time, I'll share some steps
to implement this from Rh End:--

1) Create (or Open Existing)  Robohelp project
2) Go to File-- Link--FrameMaker document and browse- your FM (US) Book and
select open. (Repeat the same for English UK book)
3) This would Link your Book under Project Manager
4) Make a right click to Book and Select Generate (You should repeat this
step whenever there is any modification at Framemaker's end
5) Now create and apply the CBT (UK and US) to your Topics within Project
Manager (Drag and Drop them over any topic to apply it)
6) Generate your Help, say Webhelp, under Webhelp properties, Exclude the
UK CBT from output.

I hope I have not confused you further. :)

Thanks,
Anjaneai




On Fri, Aug 9, 2013 at 1:58 AM, Terri Schultz wrote:

> Background:
>
> My department uses FrameMaker 11, unstructured, and RoboHelp 10.
>
> We do user's manuals in FrameMaker (one version for the US and one version
> for the UK) as separate books; minimal use of variables and/or conditional
> text. These docs are made available to customers as PDFs. I've used FM
> for 15+ years and consider myself an average FM user, not a power user. I
> used to use variables at a previous job, but my current job/co-workers
> don't use variables/conditional text.
>
> We do help files in RoboHelp, one help project for the US and one help
> project for the UK.
>
> There are many smaller/ancillary documents done in FM, InDesign, and or
> Word. These docs are made available to customers as PDFs. I consider
> myself a beginner/basic RoboHelp user. I use RoboHelp, but it is mostly
> editing content and applying pre-existing styles, etc.
>
> The powers-that-be don't see that the *information *is the same (or
> mostly the same) between the help and the docs (I am trying to convince
> them that this is the way it is). One issue that is *always* raised is that
> the docs have pictures/screenshots/images and the help doesn't. There are
> also discussions about using MindTouch to deliver information to customers;
> I don't know if that means that we would stop using FM and RH.
>
> Questions:
>
> 1. I know that we could (possibly) have one set of FM files that could be
> used to provide a US document and a UK document. I don't know *where* to
> start to make this happen. I don't have any authority to spend money and
> there is no budget to pay for consulting. I am looking for free
> advice/suggestions where to find out *how *to do this.
>
> 2. I believe we could either use our FM files to create help, or use our
> help files to create docs.As with #1, I want to know where to learn *how
> *to do this.
>
> I'm not looking for theory/big picture ideas. I need some nuts-and-bolts,
> how-to advice. At the very least, I want to show that we could gain some
> efficiency if we stop maintaining one set of FM source files for the US and
> another set for the UK.
>
> I hope this makes sense.
>
> Thank you for any and all suggestions!
>
> Terri
>
>
>
> ___
>
>
> You are currently subscribed to framers as anjaneai 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/anjaneai%40gmail.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: 

Change workflow to use FM and RH together?

[Jeff Coatsworth]

Remember - Linking only works if you've got the Technical Communications Suite 
(TCS); otherwise Importing is your only option of getting FM content into RH.

From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com 
[mailto:framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Anjaneai S
Sent: August-08-13 7:31 PM
To: Terri Schultz
Cc: framers at lists.frameusers.com
Subject: Re: Change workflow to use FM and RH together?

Hi Terri,

Here is an idea/steps how you can achieve this--

Firstly, if there is a scope for content within Framemaker to be updated at 
various stages, go for Link option for bringing in book/documents from 
Framemaker (for Both UK & US English)  to RoboHelp. (File-- Link-- Framemaker 
documents)

1# One way is after linking your documents and converting all your FrameMaker 
documents into topics within Robohelp. Create 2 Conditional Built tag an apply 
them on US and UK English separately from Project manager and while generating 
your output, Select the CBT for which you want to generate the help.
Alternately, you can apply Conditional Text to your English US/UK Content 
within Framemaker and directly publish it from there (File -- Publish). You 
might require to create two different TOC for English US/UK content

2#  Yes, you can create Help using FM Files, that is a standard workflow. But 
the opposite is not a feasible solution.

I did not understand when you say -- " One issue that is *always* raised is 
that the docs have pictures/screenshots/images and the help doesn't." The Help 
file can also have graphics.

As you have been working on Fm for quite some time, I'll share some steps to 
implement this from Rh End:--

1) Create (or Open Existing)  Robohelp project
2) Go to File-- Link--FrameMaker document and browse- your FM (US) Book and 
select open. (Repeat the same for English UK book)
3) This would Link your Book under Project Manager
4) Make a right click to Book and Select Generate (You should repeat this step 
whenever there is any modification at Framemaker's end
5) Now create and apply the CBT (UK and US) to your Topics within Project 
Manager (Drag and Drop them over any topic to apply it)
6) Generate your Help, say Webhelp, under Webhelp properties, Exclude the UK 
CBT from output.

I hope I have not confused you further. :)

Thanks,
Anjaneai



On Fri, Aug 9, 2013 at 1:58 AM, Terri Schultz mailto:tjs_badger at hotmail.com>> wrote:
Background:

My department uses FrameMaker 11, unstructured, and RoboHelp 10.

We do user's manuals in FrameMaker (one version for the US and one version for 
the UK) as separate books; minimal use of variables and/or conditional text. 
These docs are made available to customers as PDFs. I've used FM for 15+ years 
and consider myself an average FM user, not a power user. I used to use 
variables at a previous job, but my current job/co-workers don't use 
variables/conditional text.

We do help files in RoboHelp, one help project for the US and one help project 
for the UK.

There are many smaller/ancillary documents done in FM, InDesign, and or Word. 
These docs are made available to customers as PDFs. I consider myself a 
beginner/basic RoboHelp user. I use RoboHelp, but it is mostly editing content 
and applying pre-existing styles, etc.

The powers-that-be don't see that the information is the same (or mostly the 
same) between the help and the docs (I am trying to convince them that this is 
the way it is). One issue that is *always* raised is that the docs have 
pictures/screenshots/images and the help doesn't. There are also discussions 
about using MindTouch to deliver information to customers; I don't know if that 
means that we would stop using FM and RH.

Questions:

1. I know that we could (possibly) have one set of FM files that could be used 
to provide a US document and a UK document. I don't know *where* to start to 
make this happen. I don't have any authority to spend money and there is no 
budget to pay for consulting. I am looking for free advice/suggestions where to 
find out how to do this.

2. I believe we could either use our FM files to create help, or use our help 
files to create docs.As with #1, I want to know where to learn how to do 
this.

I'm not looking for theory/big picture ideas. I need some nuts-and-bolts, 
how-to advice. At the very least, I want to show that we could gain some 
efficiency if we stop maintaining one set of FM source files for the US and 
another set for the UK.

I hope this makes sense.

Thank you for any and all suggestions!

Terri



___


You are currently subscribed to framers as anjaneai at 
gmail.com<mailto:anjaneai at gmail.com>.

Send list messages to framers at lists.frameusers.com<mailto:framers at 
lists.frameusers.com>.

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
framers-unsubscribe at lists.frameusers.com<mailto:framers-unsubscribe at 
lists.frameusers.com>
or visit 
http://lists.frameusers.com/mailma

Change workflow to use FM and RH together?

[Terri Schultz]

Background: 
My department uses FrameMaker 11, unstructured, and RoboHelp 10.
We do user's manuals in FrameMaker (one version for the US and one version for 
the UK) as separate books; minimal use of variables and/or conditional text. 
These docs are made available to customers as PDFs. I've used FM for 15+ years 
and consider myself an average FM user, not a power user. I used to use 
variables at a previous job, but my current job/co-workers don't use 
variables/conditional text.
We do help files in RoboHelp, one help project for the US and one help project 
for the UK.
There are many smaller/ancillary documents done in FM, InDesign, and or Word. 
These docs are made available to customers as PDFs. I consider myself a 
beginner/basic RoboHelp user. I use RoboHelp, but it is mostly editing content 
and applying pre-existing styles, etc.
The powers-that-be don't see that the information is the same (or mostly the 
same) between the help and the docs (I am trying to convince them that this is 
the way it is). One issue that is *always* raised is that the docs have 
pictures/screenshots/images and the help doesn't. There are also discussions 
about using MindTouch to deliver information to customers; I don't know if that 
means that we would stop using FM and RH. 
Questions:
1. I know that we could (possibly) have one set of FM files that could be used 
to provide a US document and a UK document. I don't know *where* to start to 
make this happen. I don't have any authority to spend money and there is no 
budget to pay for consulting. I am looking for free advice/suggestions where to 
find out how to do this. 
2. I believe we could either use our FM files to create help, or use our help 
files to create docs.As with #1, I want to know where to learn how to do 
this.
I'm not looking for theory/big picture ideas. I need some nuts-and-bolts, 
how-to advice. At the very least, I want to show that we could gain some 
efficiency if we stop maintaining one set of FM source files for the US and 
another set for the UK.
I hope this makes sense. 
Thank you for any and all suggestions!
Terri

  ___


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: Change workflow to use FM and RH together?

[Jeff Coatsworth]

Easy as pie - use conditional text in your FM docs for the US/UK parts - use RH 
to import your FM content for help builds or get TCS to link your FM source to 
a RH project. Continue to use FM for making good-looking PDFs.
Lots of resources for doing this on the Adobe Forums  TCS blog pages and on 
the TCS Google Group mailing list and to a lesser extent the HATT mailing list.

From: framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com 
[mailto:framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Terri Schultz
Sent: August-08-13 4:29 PM
To: framers@lists.frameusers.com
Subject: Change workflow to use FM and RH together?

Background:

My department uses FrameMaker 11, unstructured, and RoboHelp 10.

We do user's manuals in FrameMaker (one version for the US and one version for 
the UK) as separate books; minimal use of variables and/or conditional text. 
These docs are made available to customers as PDFs. I've used FM for 15+ years 
and consider myself an average FM user, not a power user. I used to use 
variables at a previous job, but my current job/co-workers don't use 
variables/conditional text.

We do help files in RoboHelp, one help project for the US and one help project 
for the UK.

There are many smaller/ancillary documents done in FM, InDesign, and or Word. 
These docs are made available to customers as PDFs. I consider myself a 
beginner/basic RoboHelp user. I use RoboHelp, but it is mostly editing content 
and applying pre-existing styles, etc.

The powers-that-be don't see that the information is the same (or mostly the 
same) between the help and the docs (I am trying to convince them that this is 
the way it is). One issue that is *always* raised is that the docs have 
pictures/screenshots/images and the help doesn't. There are also discussions 
about using MindTouch to deliver information to customers; I don't know if that 
means that we would stop using FM and RH.

Questions:

1. I know that we could (possibly) have one set of FM files that could be used 
to provide a US document and a UK document. I don't know *where* to start to 
make this happen. I don't have any authority to spend money and there is no 
budget to pay for consulting. I am looking for free advice/suggestions where to 
find out how to do this.

2. I believe we could either use our FM files to create help, or use our help 
files to create docs.As with #1, I want to know where to learn how to do 
this.

I'm not looking for theory/big picture ideas. I need some nuts-and-bolts, 
how-to advice. At the very least, I want to show that we could gain some 
efficiency if we stop maintaining one set of FM source files for the US and 
another set for the UK.

I hope this makes sense.

Thank you for any and all suggestions!

Terri


___


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: Change workflow to use FM and RH together?

[Anjaneai S]

Hi Terri,

Here is an idea/steps how you can achieve this--

Firstly, if there is a scope for content within Framemaker to be updated at
various stages, go for Link option for bringing in book/documents from
Framemaker (for Both UK  US English)  to RoboHelp. *(File-- Link--
Framemaker documents)*

*1#* One way is after linking your documents and converting all your
FrameMaker documents into topics within Robohelp. Create 2 Conditional
Built tag an apply them on US and UK English separately from Project
manager and while generating your output, Select the CBT for which you want
to generate the help.
Alternately, you can apply Conditional Text to your English US/UK Content
within Framemaker and directly publish it from there (File -- Publish). You
might require to create two different TOC for English US/UK content

*2#  *Yes, you can create Help using FM Files, that is a standard workflow.
But the opposite is not a feasible solution.

I did not understand when you say --  One issue that is *always* raised is
that the docs have pictures/screenshots/images and the help doesn't. The
Help file can also have graphics.

As you have been working on Fm for quite some time, I'll share some steps
to implement this from Rh End:--

1) Create (or Open Existing)  Robohelp project
2) Go to File-- Link--FrameMaker document and browse- your FM (US) Book and
select open. (Repeat the same for English UK book)
3) This would Link your Book under Project Manager
4) Make a right click to Book and Select Generate (You should repeat this
step whenever there is any modification at Framemaker's end
5) Now create and apply the CBT (UK and US) to your Topics within Project
Manager (Drag and Drop them over any topic to apply it)
6) Generate your Help, say Webhelp, under Webhelp properties, Exclude the
UK CBT from output.

I hope I have not confused you further. :)

Thanks,
Anjaneai




On Fri, Aug 9, 2013 at 1:58 AM, Terri Schultz tjs_bad...@hotmail.comwrote:

 Background:

 My department uses FrameMaker 11, unstructured, and RoboHelp 10.

 We do user's manuals in FrameMaker (one version for the US and one version
 for the UK) as separate books; minimal use of variables and/or conditional
 text. These docs are made available to customers as PDFs. I've used FM
 for 15+ years and consider myself an average FM user, not a power user. I
 used to use variables at a previous job, but my current job/co-workers
 don't use variables/conditional text.

 We do help files in RoboHelp, one help project for the US and one help
 project for the UK.

 There are many smaller/ancillary documents done in FM, InDesign, and or
 Word. These docs are made available to customers as PDFs. I consider
 myself a beginner/basic RoboHelp user. I use RoboHelp, but it is mostly
 editing content and applying pre-existing styles, etc.

 The powers-that-be don't see that the *information *is the same (or
 mostly the same) between the help and the docs (I am trying to convince
 them that this is the way it is). One issue that is *always* raised is that
 the docs have pictures/screenshots/images and the help doesn't. There are
 also discussions about using MindTouch to deliver information to customers;
 I don't know if that means that we would stop using FM and RH.

 Questions:

 1. I know that we could (possibly) have one set of FM files that could be
 used to provide a US document and a UK document. I don't know *where* to
 start to make this happen. I don't have any authority to spend money and
 there is no budget to pay for consulting. I am looking for free
 advice/suggestions where to find out *how *to do this.

 2. I believe we could either use our FM files to create help, or use our
 help files to create docs.As with #1, I want to know where to learn *how
 *to do this.

 I'm not looking for theory/big picture ideas. I need some nuts-and-bolts,
 how-to advice. At the very least, I want to show that we could gain some
 efficiency if we stop maintaining one set of FM source files for the US and
 another set for the UK.

 I hope this makes sense.

 Thank you for any and all suggestions!

 Terri



 ___


 You are currently subscribed to framers as anjan...@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/anjaneai%40gmail.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

Change workflow to use FM and RH together?

[Terri Schultz]

Background: 
My department uses FrameMaker 11, unstructured, and RoboHelp 10.
We do user's manuals in FrameMaker (one version for the US and one version for 
the UK) as separate books; minimal use of variables and/or conditional text. 
These docs are made available to customers as PDFs. I've used FM for 15+ years 
and consider myself an average FM user, not a power user. I used to use 
variables at a previous job, but my current job/co-workers don't use 
variables/conditional text.
We do help files in RoboHelp, one help project for the US and one help project 
for the UK.
There are many smaller/ancillary documents done in FM, InDesign, and or Word. 
These docs are made available to customers as PDFs. I consider myself a 
beginner/basic RoboHelp user. I use RoboHelp, but it is mostly editing content 
and applying pre-existing styles, etc.
The powers-that-be don't see that the information is the same (or mostly the 
same) between the help and the docs (I am trying to convince them that this is 
the way it is). One issue that is *always* raised is that the docs have 
pictures/screenshots/images and the help doesn't. There are also discussions 
about using MindTouch to deliver information to customers; I don't know if that 
means that we would stop using FM and RH. 
Questions:
1. I know that we could (possibly) have one set of FM files that could be used 
to provide a US document and a UK document. I don't know *where* to start to 
make this happen. I don't have any authority to spend money and there is no 
budget to pay for consulting. I am looking for free advice/suggestions where to 
find out how to do this. 
2. I believe we could either use our FM files to create help, or use our help 
files to create docs.As with #1, I want to know where to learn how to do 
this.
I'm not looking for theory/big picture ideas. I need some nuts-and-bolts, 
how-to advice. At the very least, I want to show that we could gain some 
efficiency if we stop maintaining one set of FM source files for the US and 
another set for the UK.
I hope this makes sense. 
Thank you for any and all suggestions!
Terri


-- next part --
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: 

Change workflow to use FM and RH together?

[Jeff Coatsworth]

Easy as pie - use conditional text in your FM docs for the US/UK parts - use RH 
to import your FM content for help builds or get TCS to link your FM source to 
a RH project. Continue to use FM for making good-looking PDFs.
Lots of resources for doing this on the Adobe Forums & TCS blog pages and on 
the TCS Google Group mailing list and to a lesser extent the HATT mailing list.

From: framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com 
[mailto:framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Terri Schultz
Sent: August-08-13 4:29 PM
To: framers at lists.frameusers.com
Subject: Change workflow to use FM and RH together?

Background:

My department uses FrameMaker 11, unstructured, and RoboHelp 10.

We do user's manuals in FrameMaker (one version for the US and one version for 
the UK) as separate books; minimal use of variables and/or conditional text. 
These docs are made available to customers as PDFs. I've used FM for 15+ years 
and consider myself an average FM user, not a power user. I used to use 
variables at a previous job, but my current job/co-workers don't use 
variables/conditional text.

We do help files in RoboHelp, one help project for the US and one help project 
for the UK.

There are many smaller/ancillary documents done in FM, InDesign, and or Word. 
These docs are made available to customers as PDFs. I consider myself a 
beginner/basic RoboHelp user. I use RoboHelp, but it is mostly editing content 
and applying pre-existing styles, etc.

The powers-that-be don't see that the information is the same (or mostly the 
same) between the help and the docs (I am trying to convince them that this is 
the way it is). One issue that is *always* raised is that the docs have 
pictures/screenshots/images and the help doesn't. There are also discussions 
about using MindTouch to deliver information to customers; I don't know if that 
means that we would stop using FM and RH.

Questions:

1. I know that we could (possibly) have one set of FM files that could be used 
to provide a US document and a UK document. I don't know *where* to start to 
make this happen. I don't have any authority to spend money and there is no 
budget to pay for consulting. I am looking for free advice/suggestions where to 
find out how to do this.

2. I believe we could either use our FM files to create help, or use our help 
files to create docs.As with #1, I want to know where to learn how to do 
this.

I'm not looking for theory/big picture ideas. I need some nuts-and-bolts, 
how-to advice. At the very least, I want to show that we could gain some 
efficiency if we stop maintaining one set of FM source files for the US and 
another set for the UK.

I hope this makes sense.

Thank you for any and all suggestions!

Terri


-- next part --
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: 
<http://lists.frameusers.com/pipermail/framers/attachments/20130808/02b6b0e8/attachment.html>