Re: Which is better, FM with DocBook or DITA

[Steve Rickaby]

At 09:56 +0100 8/6/07, Steve Rickaby wrote:

If you decide to follow the DocBook route, you might be interested in the 
packaged DocBook product, DocFrame, from Scriptorium Press, which is designed 
to take some of the pain out of using DocBook with FrameMaker:

http://www.scriptorium.com/docframe/index.html

... but I was wrong: I am informed that DocFrame is not based on DocBook. My 
apologies for any confusion.

-- 
Steve
___


You are currently subscribed to Framers as [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Send list messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED]

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
or visit 
http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com

Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit
http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.

Which is better, FM with DocBook or DITA

[mc...@allette.com.au]

Diane Gaskill wrote:

> Now I have another question, almost as complicated.  Structured FM can
> work with both OASIS XML standards: DocBook and DITA.  But which one is
> the better standard to use?  Or does it make any difference?  One of our
> divisions in Japan has decided on AT with Docbook 4.2 because it is what
> one of our OEM customers use.  They want us to do the same.  We would
> rather use FM, but are undecided on which standard to use.

The structure that you use should be one that best describes the data,
even if that means creating your own. (I think there's a good chance that
you should.) Deciding on a structure based on tools rather than data
requirements is putting the cart before the horse. It's the equivalent of
telling technical writers that the manual to be written for a new piece of
software has to be 320 pages long so it will fit in the boxes that have
already been made.

What if Japan decides on DocBook and you spend the next year aligning with
them, only to have them change their mind? Or what if they upgrade the
version that they're using and you can't keep pace? Why tie your
documentation strategy to what they're doing?

Why don't you do whatever best describes the data, then use XSLT to
convert to whatever format your partners require? It might look easier to
do the same thing as other groups are, but it's false economy. The closer
you're all tied together, the harder it is for anyone to change anything.
Keep your data agile.


Marcus

Which is better, FM with DocBook or DITA

[Steve Rickaby]

At 09:56 +0100 8/6/07, Steve Rickaby wrote:

>If you decide to follow the DocBook route, you might be interested in the 
>packaged DocBook product, DocFrame, from Scriptorium Press, which is designed 
>to take some of the pain out of using DocBook with FrameMaker:
>
>

... but I was wrong: I am informed that DocFrame is not based on DocBook. My 
apologies for any confusion.

-- 
Steve

RE: Which is better, FM with DocBook or DITA

[Sarah O'Keefe]

I appreciate the mention of DocFrame, but it's not a DocBook 
implementation___


You are currently subscribed to Framers as [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Send list messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED]

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
or visit 
http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com

Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit
http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.

Which is better, FM with DocBook or DITA

[Gordon McLean]

Depends on your needs Diane. And I wouldn't worry about FM 'playing' with
either, getting the right standard is more important than the tool and FM is
capable of round-trip to either standard.

I'm assuming you will be storing the content as XML, pulling it from a CMS
(or CCMS as I heard recently) and using the standard to help control the
input (using FM as the editor). If not then the following may still be of
use but not a direct answer.

You can specialise (customise) either to meet your specific needs. In a
nutshell, and I'm not expert but from what I've read etc etc, DocBook looks
very comprehensive and may be overkill for some... DITA has fewer elements
and was created specifically to support topic/task based documentation.

Personally I've been looking at DITA I think DocBook is overkill for our
needs but you'd need to do some more digging into each standard first. Get
your requirements together (from EVERYONE who will be contributing content)
and then assess each standard.

I know that the DITA guys and gals have a working committee in the process
of looking at interoperability but it's early days for that (the premise
being that you should be able to use, for example, a DITA topic within a
DocBook manual).

I'm sure there will be whitepapers out there on this, or at the very least
some well informed opinions from people more knowledgeable in this area than
I, so fire up Google.

This may be of use as well: http://norman.walsh.name/2006/03/24/dita2006
(scroll down for some great content!)

HTH

Gordon


-Original Message-
From:
framers-bounces+gordon.mclean=grahamtechnology.com at lists.frameusers.com
[mailto:framers-bounces+gordon.mclean=grahamtechnology.com at lists.frameusers.
com] On Behalf Of Diane Gaskill
Sent: 08 June 2007 07:00
To: framers at lists.frameusers.com
Subject: Which is better, FM with DocBook or DITA

Hi everyone,

You might remember that a few weeks ago I asked about FM vs AT.  I got some
REALLY good information which is now all in a huge spreadsheet that I will
make available when it is complete.  Many thanks to all of you who provided
all that great information.

Now I have another question, almost as complicated.  Structured FM can work
with both OASIS XML standards: DocBook and DITA.  But which one is the
better standard to use?  Or does it make any difference?  One of our
divisions in Japan has decided on AT with Docbook 4.2 because it is what one
of our OEM customers use.  They want us to do the same.  We would rather use
FM, but are undecided on which standard to use.

According to Adobe,

FM 7.2 supports DocBood 4.1 and xDocBook 4.1.2.  Does anyone know if it
supports later versions such as 4.2?  I found info on the OASIS website that
says the latest verion they support is 4.4, and other information that says
there is a least a verion 5.0 of DocBook. 

Thanks everybody!

Diane Gaskill
Hitachi Data Systems
___


You are currently subscribed to Framers as
Gordon.McLean at grahamtechnology.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/gordon.mclean%40grahamte
chnology.com

Send administrative questions to listadmin at frameusers.com. Visit
http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.


No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.8.11/838 - Release Date: 07/06/2007
14:21




This email (and any attachments) is private and confidential, and is intended 
solely for the
addressee. If you have received this communication in error please remove it 
and inform us via
telephone or email. Although we take all possible steps to ensure mail and 
attachments
are free from malicious content, malware and viruses, we cannot accept any 
responsibility
whatsoever for any changes to content outwith our administrative bounds. The 
views represented
within this mail are solely the view of the author and do not reflect the views 
of the organisation
as a whole.

Graham Technology plc
Registered in Scotland company no. SC143434
Registered Office India of Inchinnan, Renfrewshire, Scotland PA4 9LH

http://www.grahamtechnology.com