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RE: PageMaker vs. InDesign (vs. FrameMaker) for university course s
Subject:RE: PageMaker vs. InDesign (vs. FrameMaker) for university course s From:"Brierley, Sean" <Sean -at- Quodata -dot- Com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 3 Apr 2001 15:05:35 -0400
While no tool lasts forever, don't believe the urban legend about
FrameMaker.
I don't believe Adobe has announced they are dropping PageMaker. Indeed, I
thought the official line was that PageMaker and InDesign target different
audiences, therefore they each have a separate niche. Personally, I think
that's a crock and PageMaker is doomed, but that's hardly official.
Currently, PageMaker has quite an installed base. InDesign is brand new and
does not have the installed base. Plus, it seems clearly to not yet be
mature.
I am unsure what you mean when you write your intent is to teach
"tools/principles."
If your intent is to teach tools, then tool is important. Want to teach the
new one that has a small installed base that is likely to grow as the tool
and its features mature or do you want to teach the tool that has a large,
established installed base and a feature set that is unlikely to grow?
If your intent is to teach the genre of tool for creating documents using
marketing, color, typography, and an emphasis on non-repeating page layouts,
then I'm sure either will do.
For technical documents that use a rigid structure, a lot of repeating
elements, generated lists and tables, then FrameMaker, Ventura, Interleaf,
and, yes, Word, are the tools and genre you are after, not PageMaker, Quark,
or InDesign. But, you know that. Tell them I said so, see if that helps
<vbg>.
Cheers,
Sean
sean -at- quodata -dot- com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: msammons -at- ix -dot- netcom -dot- com [SMTP:msammons -at- ix -dot- netcom -dot- com]
>
> BACKGROUND:
> I teach technical writing at a large university where we share computer
> labs and software with other depts., such as Communications.
> We are currently teaching PageMaker 6.5. In the tech writing program,
> desktop publishing is a required course to teach students page
> design/layout and principles of using templates, styles, etc.
>
> The Comm department wants the school to buy InDesign to "stay current" and
> because "Adobe is no longer going to sell PageMaker."
>
> Based on the info I've been reading over the years from this discussion
> list, I've been arguing for FrameMaker. No one is listening.
>
> MY QUESTION
>
> I know the rumors have been flying about Adobe dropping FrameMaker.
> -Anyone know if they are going to drop PageMaker?
> -Should we teach InDesign instead? Anyone even use it? Will our students
> benefit by learning one package over the other if our goal is to teach
> tools/principles?
>
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