RE: FM8 benefits
Vista compatibility. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rene Stephenson Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 3:18 PM To: FrameUsers Subject: FM8 benefits Hi All, I am working up a justification for a client to move from FM 7.2 to FM 8.0. Theirs is an unstructured FM environment with a shared-file architecture that uses a lot of text insets and condition tags and variables. I have told them that FM 8 would greatly simplify their condition catalog due to the use of boolean expressions to show/hide conditions, which would eliminate a lot of their "x+y" tags. But, since they already got the unlimited undo (well, more or less) in FM 7, they're not convinced that just the boolean conditions would be sufficient to justify the expense. I'm wondering if there's something else I'm missing, like being able to apply conditions to a column at a time, rather than just complete rows or text within a table cell...? Maybe there's something better about how FM 8 handles text insets? It would help, I think, if they were a structured shop, because it seems most of the FM 8 benefits are targeted to the structured use of FM...but I'm happy to be corrected! Thanks, Rene L. Stephenson ___ 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/dorianne.gutierrez%4 0polarislibrary.com Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info. ___ 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.
FM8 benefits
If the primary reason to move to Frame 8 is to go structured and take advantage of conditions using attributes, then I suggest they go structured in 7.2 and use ABCM from West St. Consulting. Or go to FM8 for other reasons (like track changes) and still use ABCM. The frame implementation of condition by attribute seems very clumsy to me. By comparison ABCM (or Sourcerer) is much easier to use (and free). And for text insets, I suggest using Insets Plus (also from West. St. also free.) The big issue is not moving to FM8, it is moving to structured FrameMaker. (which I think is a good thing, but will probably be more costly to them in time and effort than buying the fm8 licenses.) Fred -- Fred Wersan Senior Technical Writer MAK Technologies 68 Moulton St. Cambridge, MA 02138 617-876-8085
Re: FM8 benefits
Thanks for the great tips and assessment, Fred! I'll check out ABCM and Insets Plus. I did finally receive approval for FM 8.0, so when I upgrade my personal copy, I'll get the TCS for myself. That way I can truly investigate that option as well as retain the flexibility for other clients. I'll have to look at whether their project timeline would allow for moving to structured FM before I can pitch any cost/feasibility to them, but I do see some potentially great benefits. Thanks EVERYONE for your priceless input!! Rene L. Stephenson - Original Message From: Fred Wersan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> If the primary reason to move to Frame 8 is to go structured and take advantage of conditions using attributes, then I suggest they go structured in 7.2 and use ABCM from West St. Consulting. Or go to FM8 for other reasons (like track changes) and still use ABCM. The frame implementation of condition by attribute seems very clumsy to me. By comparison ABCM (or Sourcerer) is much easier to use (and free). And for text insets, I suggest using Insets Plus (also from West. St. also free.) The big issue is not moving to FM8, it is moving to structured FrameMaker. (which I think is a good thing, but will probably be more costly to them in time and effort than buying the fm8 licenses.) ___ 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.
FM8 benefits
Thanks for the great tips and assessment, Fred! I'll check out ABCM and Insets Plus. I did finally receive approval for FM 8.0, so when I upgrade my personal copy, I'll get the TCS for myself. That way I can truly investigate that option as well as retain the flexibility for other clients. I'll have to look at whether their project timeline would allow for moving to structured FM before I can pitch any cost/feasibility to them, but I do see some potentially great benefits. Thanks EVERYONE for your priceless input!! Rene L. Stephenson - Original Message From: Fred Wersan If the primary reason to move to Frame 8 is to go structured and take advantage of conditions using attributes, then I suggest they go structured in 7.2 and use ABCM from West St. Consulting. Or go to FM8 for other reasons (like track changes) and still use ABCM. The frame implementation of condition by attribute seems very clumsy to me. By comparison ABCM (or Sourcerer) is much easier to use (and free). And for text insets, I suggest using Insets Plus (also from West. St. also free.) The big issue is not moving to FM8, it is moving to structured FrameMaker. (which I think is a good thing, but will probably be more costly to them in time and effort than buying the fm8 licenses.)
Re: FM8 benefits
If the primary reason to move to Frame 8 is to go structured and take advantage of conditions using attributes, then I suggest they go structured in 7.2 and use ABCM from West St. Consulting. Or go to FM8 for other reasons (like track changes) and still use ABCM. The frame implementation of condition by attribute seems very clumsy to me. By comparison ABCM (or Sourcerer) is much easier to use (and free). And for text insets, I suggest using Insets Plus (also from West. St. also free.) The big issue is not moving to FM8, it is moving to structured FrameMaker. (which I think is a good thing, but will probably be more costly to them in time and effort than buying the fm8 licenses.) Fred -- Fred Wersan Senior Technical Writer MAK Technologies 68 Moulton St. Cambridge, MA 02138 617-876-8085 ___ 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.
Re: FM8 benefits
Book-level missing controls...de ja vous... like 5.5 all over again! Sounds like a job for (da-da-dahn) Super Frame Developer! In fly the heroes from Silicon Prairie, FrameExpert, Systec, Cudspan, [itl], et al...! Rene L. Stephenson - Original Message From: Linda G. Gallagher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Rene, I'm using the track edits feature so that my reviewers and I can see the exact changes I make. It's a lot like Word's feature. Now, if only they'd put all the controls at the book level, too. ___ 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.
FM8 benefits
Book-level missing controls...de ja vous... like 5.5 all over again! Sounds like a job for (da-da-dahn) Super Frame Developer! In fly the heroes from Silicon Prairie, FrameExpert, Systec, Cudspan, [itl], et al...! Rene L. Stephenson - Original Message From: Linda G. Gallagher Rene, I'm using the track edits feature so that my reviewers and I can see the exact changes I make. It's a lot like Word's feature. Now, if only they'd put all the controls at the book level, too.
Re: FM8 benefits
Thanks, Matt. They already use WebWorks to get multiple help outputs using FM conditions for multiple versions and product-specific and market-specific versions, but I have mentioned the use of embedded 3D images and interactive drawings...until one of them went to the Adobe site and found out it's not as straight-forward as the marketing presentation made it seem, due to the need for a 3D graphic rendering program. And, RH in TCS doesn't work as transparently with the native FM files for single-sourcing as the old WWP, either. (As a matter of fact, I think it was someone on this list who pointed out that part...) Personally, I think it's such a tight fiscal climate for them that any expenditure over about $200 is going to be a hard sell. I personally see the TCS value and will upgrade my personal copies, regardless of what the client does. Rene L. Stephenson - Original Message From: Matt Sullivan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> There are a ton of features related to the TCS integration. Specifically: embedded 3d interactive simulations output to Help with simulations using FM conditions to output to multiple help formats & versions If applicable, these more than justify the upgrade, but you need to upgrade to the TCS, not just FM8 -Matt Sullivan GRAFIX Training, Inc. An Adobe Authorized Training Center www.grafixtraining.com 888 882-2819 -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rene Stephenson Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 12:18 PM To: FrameUsers Subject: FM8 benefits Hi All, I am working up a justification for a client to move from FM 7.2 to FM 8.0. Theirs is an unstructured FM environment with a shared-file architecture that uses a lot of text insets and condition tags and variables. I have told them that FM 8 would greatly simplify their condition catalog due to the use of boolean expressions to show/hide conditions, which would eliminate a lot of their "x+y" tags. But, since they already got the unlimited undo (well, more or less) in FM 7, they're not convinced that just the boolean conditions would be sufficient to justify the expense. I'm wondering if there's something else I'm missing, like being able to apply conditions to a column at a time, rather than just complete rows or text within a table cell...? Maybe there's something better about how FM 8 handles text insets? It would help, I think, if they were a structured shop, because it seems most of the FM 8 benefits are targeted to the structured use of FM...but I'm happy to be corrected! Thanks, Rene L. Stephenson ___ 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/matt%40grafixtraining.co m Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info. ___ 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.
FM8 benefits
Thanks, Matt. They already use WebWorks to get multiple help outputs using FM conditions for multiple versions and product-specific and market-specific versions, but I have mentioned the use of embedded 3D images and interactive drawings...until one of them went to the Adobe site and found out it's not as straight-forward as the marketing presentation made it seem, due to the need for a 3D graphic rendering program. And, RH in TCS doesn't work as transparently with the native FM files for single-sourcing as the old WWP, either. (As a matter of fact, I think it was someone on this list who pointed out that part...) Personally, I think it's such a tight fiscal climate for them that any expenditure over about $200 is going to be a hard sell. I personally see the TCS value and will upgrade my personal copies, regardless of what the client does. Rene L. Stephenson - Original Message From: Matt Sullivan There are a ton of features related to the TCS integration. Specifically: embedded 3d interactive simulations output to Help with simulations using FM conditions to output to multiple help formats & versions If applicable, these more than justify the upgrade, but you need to upgrade to the TCS, not just FM8 -Matt Sullivan GRAFIX Training, Inc. An Adobe Authorized Training Center www.grafixtraining.com 888 882-2819 -Original Message- From: framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Rene Stephenson Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 12:18 PM To: FrameUsers Subject: FM8 benefits Hi All, I am working up a justification for a client to move from FM 7.2 to FM 8.0. Theirs is an unstructured FM environment with a shared-file architecture that uses a lot of text insets and condition tags and variables. I have told them that FM 8 would greatly simplify their condition catalog due to the use of boolean expressions to show/hide conditions, which would eliminate a lot of their "x+y" tags. But, since they already got the unlimited undo (well, more or less) in FM 7, they're not convinced that just the boolean conditions would be sufficient to justify the expense. I'm wondering if there's something else I'm missing, like being able to apply conditions to a column at a time, rather than just complete rows or text within a table cell...? Maybe there's something better about how FM 8 handles text insets? It would help, I think, if they were a structured shop, because it seems most of the FM 8 benefits are targeted to the structured use of FM...but I'm happy to be corrected! Thanks, Rene L. Stephenson ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as matt at grafixtraining.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/matt%40grafixtraining.co m Send administrative questions to listadmin at frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
FM8 benefits
Vista compatibility. -Original Message- From: framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Rene Stephenson Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 3:18 PM To: FrameUsers Subject: FM8 benefits Hi All, I am working up a justification for a client to move from FM 7.2 to FM 8.0. Theirs is an unstructured FM environment with a shared-file architecture that uses a lot of text insets and condition tags and variables. I have told them that FM 8 would greatly simplify their condition catalog due to the use of boolean expressions to show/hide conditions, which would eliminate a lot of their "x+y" tags. But, since they already got the unlimited undo (well, more or less) in FM 7, they're not convinced that just the boolean conditions would be sufficient to justify the expense. I'm wondering if there's something else I'm missing, like being able to apply conditions to a column at a time, rather than just complete rows or text within a table cell...? Maybe there's something better about how FM 8 handles text insets? It would help, I think, if they were a structured shop, because it seems most of the FM 8 benefits are targeted to the structured use of FM...but I'm happy to be corrected! Thanks, Rene L. Stephenson ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as dorianne.gutierrez at polarislibrary.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/dorianne.gutierrez%4 0polarislibrary.com Send administrative questions to listadmin at frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
FM8 benefits
Rene, I'm using the track edits feature so that my reviewers and I can see the exact changes I make. It's a lot like Word's feature. Now, if only they'd put all the controls at the book level, too. HTH. ~ Linda G. Gallagher TechCom Plus, LLC lindag at techcomplus dot com www.techcomplus.com 303-450-9076 or 800-500-3144 User guides, online help, FrameMaker and WebWorks ePublisher templates -Original Message- From: framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Rene Stephenson Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 1:18 PM To: FrameUsers Subject: FM8 benefits Hi All, I am working up a justification for a client to move from FM 7.2 to FM 8.0. Theirs is an unstructured FM environment with a shared-file architecture that uses a lot of text insets and condition tags and variables. I have told them that FM 8 would greatly simplify their condition catalog due to the use of boolean expressions to show/hide conditions, which would eliminate a lot of their "x+y" tags. But, since they already got the unlimited undo (well, more or less) in FM 7, they're not convinced that just the boolean conditions would be sufficient to justify the expense. I'm wondering if there's something else I'm missing, like being able to apply conditions to a column at a time, rather than just complete rows or text within a table cell...? Maybe there's something better about how FM 8 handles text insets? It would help, I think, if they were a structured shop, because it seems most of the FM 8 benefits are targeted to the structured use of FM...but I'm happy to be corrected! Thanks, Rene L. Stephenson ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as lindag at techcomplus.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/lindag%40techcomplus.com Send administrative questions to listadmin at frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
FM8 benefits
There are a ton of features related to the TCS integration. Specifically: embedded 3d interactive simulations output to Help with simulations using FM conditions to output to multiple help formats & versions If applicable, these more than justify the upgrade, but you need to upgrade to the TCS, not just FM8 -Matt Sullivan GRAFIX Training, Inc. An Adobe Authorized Training Center www.grafixtraining.com 888 882-2819 -Original Message- From: framers-boun...@lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of Rene Stephenson Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 12:18 PM To: FrameUsers Subject: FM8 benefits Hi All, I am working up a justification for a client to move from FM 7.2 to FM 8.0. Theirs is an unstructured FM environment with a shared-file architecture that uses a lot of text insets and condition tags and variables. I have told them that FM 8 would greatly simplify their condition catalog due to the use of boolean expressions to show/hide conditions, which would eliminate a lot of their "x+y" tags. But, since they already got the unlimited undo (well, more or less) in FM 7, they're not convinced that just the boolean conditions would be sufficient to justify the expense. I'm wondering if there's something else I'm missing, like being able to apply conditions to a column at a time, rather than just complete rows or text within a table cell...? Maybe there's something better about how FM 8 handles text insets? It would help, I think, if they were a structured shop, because it seems most of the FM 8 benefits are targeted to the structured use of FM...but I'm happy to be corrected! Thanks, Rene L. Stephenson ___ You are currently subscribed to Framers as matt at grafixtraining.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/matt%40grafixtraining.co m Send administrative questions to listadmin at frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
RE: FM8 benefits
There are a ton of features related to the TCS integration. Specifically: embedded 3d interactive simulations output to Help with simulations using FM conditions to output to multiple help formats & versions If applicable, these more than justify the upgrade, but you need to upgrade to the TCS, not just FM8 -Matt Sullivan GRAFIX Training, Inc. An Adobe Authorized Training Center www.grafixtraining.com 888 882-2819 -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rene Stephenson Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 12:18 PM To: FrameUsers Subject: FM8 benefits Hi All, I am working up a justification for a client to move from FM 7.2 to FM 8.0. Theirs is an unstructured FM environment with a shared-file architecture that uses a lot of text insets and condition tags and variables. I have told them that FM 8 would greatly simplify their condition catalog due to the use of boolean expressions to show/hide conditions, which would eliminate a lot of their "x+y" tags. But, since they already got the unlimited undo (well, more or less) in FM 7, they're not convinced that just the boolean conditions would be sufficient to justify the expense. I'm wondering if there's something else I'm missing, like being able to apply conditions to a column at a time, rather than just complete rows or text within a table cell...? Maybe there's something better about how FM 8 handles text insets? It would help, I think, if they were a structured shop, because it seems most of the FM 8 benefits are targeted to the structured use of FM...but I'm happy to be corrected! Thanks, Rene L. Stephenson ___ 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/matt%40grafixtraining.co m Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info. ___ 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.
RE: FM8 benefits
Rene, I'm using the track edits feature so that my reviewers and I can see the exact changes I make. It's a lot like Word's feature. Now, if only they'd put all the controls at the book level, too. HTH. ~ Linda G. Gallagher TechCom Plus, LLC lindag at techcomplus dot com www.techcomplus.com 303-450-9076 or 800-500-3144 User guides, online help, FrameMaker and WebWorks ePublisher templates -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rene Stephenson Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 1:18 PM To: FrameUsers Subject: FM8 benefits Hi All, I am working up a justification for a client to move from FM 7.2 to FM 8.0. Theirs is an unstructured FM environment with a shared-file architecture that uses a lot of text insets and condition tags and variables. I have told them that FM 8 would greatly simplify their condition catalog due to the use of boolean expressions to show/hide conditions, which would eliminate a lot of their "x+y" tags. But, since they already got the unlimited undo (well, more or less) in FM 7, they're not convinced that just the boolean conditions would be sufficient to justify the expense. I'm wondering if there's something else I'm missing, like being able to apply conditions to a column at a time, rather than just complete rows or text within a table cell...? Maybe there's something better about how FM 8 handles text insets? It would help, I think, if they were a structured shop, because it seems most of the FM 8 benefits are targeted to the structured use of FM...but I'm happy to be corrected! Thanks, Rene L. Stephenson ___ 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/lindag%40techcomplus.com Send administrative questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info. ___ 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.
FM8 benefits
Hi All, I am working up a justification for a client to move from FM 7.2 to FM 8.0. Theirs is an unstructured FM environment with a shared-file architecture that uses a lot of text insets and condition tags and variables. I have told them that FM 8 would greatly simplify their condition catalog due to the use of boolean expressions to show/hide conditions, which would eliminate a lot of their "x+y" tags. But, since they already got the unlimited undo (well, more or less) in FM 7, they're not convinced that just the boolean conditions would be sufficient to justify the expense. I'm wondering if there's something else I'm missing, like being able to apply conditions to a column at a time, rather than just complete rows or text within a table cell...? Maybe there's something better about how FM 8 handles text insets? It would help, I think, if they were a structured shop, because it seems most of the FM 8 benefits are targeted to the structured use of FM...but I'm happy to be corrected! Thanks, Rene L. Stephenson ___ 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.
FM8 benefits
Hi All, I am working up a justification for a client to move from FM 7.2 to FM 8.0. Theirs is an unstructured FM environment with a shared-file architecture that uses a lot of text insets and condition tags and variables. I have told them that FM 8 would greatly simplify their condition catalog due to the use of boolean expressions to show/hide conditions, which would eliminate a lot of their "x+y" tags. But, since they already got the unlimited undo (well, more or less) in FM 7, they're not convinced that just the boolean conditions would be sufficient to justify the expense. I'm wondering if there's something else I'm missing, like being able to apply conditions to a column at a time, rather than just complete rows or text within a table cell...? Maybe there's something better about how FM 8 handles text insets? It would help, I think, if they were a structured shop, because it seems most of the FM 8 benefits are targeted to the structured use of FM...but I'm happy to be corrected! Thanks, Rene L. Stephenson