Thanks Carol. However... I do not use FrameMaker. In fact, it's one of my least favorite tools! I know some peeps swear by it, not that there's anything wrong with that, but I ain't one of 'em! :)
I use AuthorIT for content (single-sourcing, content management, localization). My problem was... I have a week to "fix" the problem with content that applies to one vendor NOT applying to the other vendor. Did I have time to "do the right thing" and tear the topics apart (and rebuild them into topics appropriate for the vendor's product), or can I figure out something else. We ended up doing something else (basically, adding a note at the top of those topics where the "Note" that didn't apply was; and kinda doing an upsell at the same time). Note that the advantage that I have (using AIT) is that, say I have a topic with three paragraphs. All three paragraphs apply to one vendor, but the other vendor uses only the first and third. If I tear that topic apart, create three separate topics with the three paragraphs, and then create two new topics with the bits embedded, well, then... I've got content reuse. And don't have to "remember" to make changes in both books when something in that topic changes. Making it once, to one of the embedded bits, automatically makes the change in every place it's used. Unfortunately, I'm under back to back deadlines right now, and taking the time to tear things apart and rebuild 'em wasn't an option. Which is why I posted that I was mulling how to resolve the problem. (Not that I was looking for an answer, since I know what the correct answer was, but was trying to figure out another "not the best but will work" solution that'll get me thru till I have time -- time? what's THAT -- to implement the correct solution! <grin>) ...sue On 7/10/07, Carol Levine <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi, Sue. > > Thanks to Donna and Carla, I set up single sourcing last year for > documentation for, at the time, nine vendor platforms. Here's what I did: > > I created a folder for each vendor platform; each folder contains the > vendor-specific FrameMaker book, table of contents, list of tables, and > index files, as well as any vendor-specific files. I created another > folder > for the artwork and one for "Shared FrameMaker files". > > Each book contains the vendor-specific files plus any topics applicable to > the vendor (I did some major 'chunking' of the original guide in order to > accomplish this). > > Then, within each file, I applied conditional text as needed to > *whole*sentences and paragraphs. I used to conditionalize within > sentences, as in > "The CanonRicohToshiba system ...". However, that was very hard to read > and > maintain. So, in some cases, I duplicated paragraphs and conditionalized > for > the vendor. > > In addition, because the workflow was different for licensing some of the > machines, I created a unique licensing topic for each vendor, even though > 95% of the content was identical. Those topics went in to the > vendor-specific folder. > > In addition, at Carla and Donna's suggestions, I created a variables file > for each vendor. It includes the information, such as vendor name and part > number, that I use on each title page. The title page is in the shared > files > folder. When I generate a vendor book, I import the variables in the title > page. > > I hope this helps. Feel free to contact me with additional questions. > > Carol > > *Sue's original e-mail* > Blah blah blah (content for both). Then Yada Yada Yada (content specific > to > our product). Then Blah blah blah (content for both). > > As in, not easy to share an entire topic. And there are dozens of places. > So > the decision is: > 1. Do I rip apart the topics, and rebuild the paragraphs that apply to > each > doc type? > 2. Do I rip apart the topics and add a variable that includes Yada Yada > Yada > on the one, and empty on the other? > 3. Do I create a copy of the topic and pull out what doesn't pertain to > the > one? Thereby forcing me to then manage duplicate topics (changing content > in > one means to change in the other -- and yeah, I can flag them both to > remind > me to change the other one but still...). > 4. Do I frickin' ignore the problem and hope it goes away? <sigh> > ______________________________________________ > > Author Help files and create printed documentation with Doc-To-Help. > New release adds Team Authoring Support, enhanced Web-based help > technology and PDF output. 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