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Long-time reader, first-time poster. Go easy on me. ;-)
I'm looking at Macromedia's new version of Contribute, a "team-based" web
development tool that includes an add-in called "Flash Paper". With Flash
Paper, you can supposedly transform electronic documents (e.g., an MS Word
file) into the Flash format. The add-in converts your document to a Flash
.SWF that can be embedded within any HTML web page.
The pros: From what I can tell, documents created with Flash Paper have the
same basic benefits as an Adobe PDF---but Flash Paper lets you implement the
documents more seemlessly on a web page: whereas a PDF would have to be
opened in a separate window, a Flash Paper could simply be inserted on the
same page.
The cons: Users cannot select or modify any of the content of the Flash
Paper. Any changes to the Flash paper would have to come in the source
document.
What I want to know:
-->What has your experience been with using Contribute and/or Flash Paper
for creating or distributing technical information via the web?
-->Any value for single sourcing or content management?
-->Can you see any new and exciting potential for either of these products,
or is Macromedia simply supplying Flash Paper as an alternative to Adobe
PDF?
Cheers,
Tom
Tom Van Waardhuizen
Technical Writer
Documentation Strategies, Inc. http://www.docstrats.com/
tom -at- docstrats -dot- com
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