Re: Move from Ventura to FrameMaker wise?

[Shlomo Perets <shlomo2 -at- microtype -dot- com>]

Yves Barbion wrote:
> ... Compelling reasons to move to FrameMaker? From the top of my head:
> ...  - smooth "Save as PDF" with all the hyperlinks and bells and 
whistles included ...

I had used Ventura Publisher extensively (versions 1.0 to 4.1). It was as a 
very promising product for its time. I was very dissatisfied with the first 
Corel versions (especially 5.x) and switched to FrameMaker when it became 
available for Windows (FM3.0). Ventura Publisher was entirely 
redesigned/rewritten by Corel and it practically has no resemblance to the 
VP5 or earlier. I did not have the chance to inspect the latest VP versions 
so cannot comment specifically on moving from VP to FM.

One comment as to FM->PDF. FrameMaker is a great tool to use for the 
authoring of high-quality interactive PDFs of complex technical 
documentation and document collections. A summary of built-in PDF 
capabilities can be found in a presentation I had last month in the San 
Diego STC chapter, http://www.stc-sd.org/events-meetings/meeting_past.htm

I strongly recommend, however, not to use the "Save as PDF" function 
(including not in FM7.2), but print to PS file(s) and distill. Limitations 
of FM's "Save as PDF" include:

* Distilling warnings/errors are not reported by FrameMaker.
(When using "Save as PDF", FrameMaker uses Distiller; it does not write the 
PDF directly).

* Switching of printer drivers in the process of Saving as PDF is not 
reported, even though the PDF may not match the current FrameMaker layout 
(line/page breaks) or have issued with missing fonts.
For a demonstration of how switching the printer driver changes line breaks 
(and in the case of this sample file also the page count), see 
http://www.microtype.com/resources/FM-linebreaks.avi (448K).

* Bugs specific to the "Save as PDF" process -- such as missing text in 
shaded table cells (when "Tagged PDF" turned on), or problems with 
cross-file links.
For more info and sample files, see "FrameMaker Annoyances: Bugs & Issues" 
http://www.microtype.com/FM_bugs.html#FM71
(note: this problem is listed under FM7.1 but applies to FM7.2 as well)


Shlomo Perets

MicroType, http://www.microtype.com * ToolbarPlus Express for FrameMaker
FrameMaker/Acrobat training & consulting * FrameMaker-to-Acrobat 
TimeSavers/Assistants
Template Design, Single Sourcing, FM-to-PDF & Technical Indexing seminars


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