In my previous posts on my favorite FrameMaker things (“brown paper packages tied up in string”), I covered the new and old features that helped me update Publishing Fundamentals: Unstructured FrameMaker 11.
I haven’t yet mentioned some of the most eye-popping new features of FrameMaker 11. If you’d like more information about them, see the videos and Reviewer’s Guide at Adobe’s FrameMaker product page (Golly, that narrator’s got a great voice 
.) The multimedia and 3D features are quite slick, DITA support is greatly improved and more intuitive, and structure view improvements are now on par with what many of us wanted many, many moons ago! (filed under “Better late than never!”)
I also appreciate the improvements to the TCS integration with RoboHelp and Captivate. With each release, the linking gets better, but for my money, not quite enough! The available formats also follow along nicely, with the latest version outputting both Kindle and HTML5. Now if only I can track down those niggling EPUB errors… Ah well, hope springs eternal, and I look forward to the release of a FrameMaker 12, where I dream of numbered lists that number, CSS that doesn’t require a web developer, and EPUB via RoboHelp that passes the absolute strictest of standards out of the box.
Of course that all reminds me of the end of Maria’s song from The Sound of Music:
When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I’m feeling sad,
I simply remember
my favorite things
and then I don’t feeel so bad!
Scriptorium’s Publishing Fundamentals: Unstructured FrameMaker 11 is slated for release in January 2013. It will be available in print through online bookstores and in EPUB format from Scriptorium’s online store.
Matt Sullivan trains individuals and groups on the applications that make up the Adobe Technical Communication Suite. He is certified as an Adobe Certified Instructor in all applications that are in the suite.
You can reach him on Twitter (@mattrsullivan) or by email (matt@mattrsullivan.com).
January 16, 2013 at 5:32 pm
Hi again (thanks for respons a while ago)
A couple of more issues:
(0. In your draft table of contents, the plural form “Appendixes” appears. I have always thought that plural of “Appendix” is “Appendices”…)
1. In your book, would you include recommendations about whether buying Frame 11 only, or the Suite which includes RoboHelp 10 at twice the price? Has Adobe dropped the academic price offer?
2. An idea for an interesting use: I am a university professor, and look for a tool for syncronous distance teaching. In class, I’d like to use Frame in Author view and (touch) type in Frame instead of on the black/white board. This is fine for text, math and possibly tables. It would be nice if one could use a digitizer/tablet for drawing (Wacom style digitizer); the drawing could be prettified after class. This way, I could get lecture notes which could be handed out directly after class.
Ok — now comes the interesting (?) part. I normally use a chalk to write in columns on a black board. This could be emulated if I have e.g 4 projectors/monitors side by side, and could flow the text from projector to projector as I type/write. I’m not talking about showing the Windows dektop on (e.g) four projectors, but I talk about flowing text into the projectors. And about the possibility to at times “clear a column”/”wash the column”.
Is something like this possible at all?
January 16, 2013 at 7:44 pm
Hi Bernt,
0. Yes, Appendixes and Indexes…I”d say I’m 60% on the side of using Appendices and Indeces, but Sarah had used Appendixes previously, so who am I to argue?
1. FM v. TCS is more of a personal decision, with many factors that I’ve written about over the years. See: http://framemaker.mattrsullivan.com/2009/12/23/strategies-for-purchasi ng-adobe-software/ for some thoughts.
2. I use GoToTraining and other Citrix products as well as Adobe Connect for synchronous training, but I’m not sure I understand your wish-list/use case for FrameMaker here.
Interesting (?) part. If I’m following you properly, I believe you would appreciate the Adobe Connect workspaces, and the ability to mimic a classroom environment. You might want to check out a free trial, or remind me to explain further (once the book is out).