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This is almost right. Flare is "XML-based." If you look at the actual code, however, you find that Flare uses proprietary tags (such as this: "p class="Bullet1" MadCap:autonum=""). This means you cannot simply reuse Flare content in non-Flare based systems. Help & Manual, in contrast, works with and enables you to author in only (well-formed) XML. It also saves all topics in XML.
Having said that, I would add that in itself Flare seems to work pretty well as a content management system.
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+lporrello=illumina -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lporrello=illumina -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Will Husa Documentation Solutions
Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 8:30 AM
To: 'Julie Stickler'; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: RoboHelp 9 vs. Flare 7
The difference is that MadCap Flare is XML and RoboHelp is HTML.
XML was designed to transport and store data, with focus on what data is.
HTML was designed to display data, with focus on how data looks.
That's why Flare is better for content management and RoboHelp is better for WebHelp.
=============================
Will Husa
Technical Writer
Will Husa Documentation Solutions
Phone: 708.927.3569
Skype ID: william.husa
will -dot- husa -at- 4techwriter -dot- com
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+will -dot- husa=4techwriter -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+will -dot- husa=4techwriter -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Julie Stickler
Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 9:11 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: RoboHelp 9 vs. Flare 7
I know that. But I found Craig's recommendation, which mentions that both handle WebHelp well, was a bit confusing. Really, if they both handle it well, then what does he see as the difference?
On Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 6:34 PM, Rick Stone <rstone75 -at- kc -dot- rr -dot- com> wrote:
> RoboHelp offers Word format as an output option. Seem's it's always
> offered that format. It does require that Word is installed in order
> to offer that option. I'm not sure if Flare has the same requirements.
>
>
> On 2/6/2012 5:13 PM, Julie Stickler wrote:
>>
>> On Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 3:20 PM, Cardimon, Craig<ccardimon -at- m-s-g -dot- com>
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> If your output is primarily WebHelp, then RoboHelp is the better
>>> selection.
>>> By the same token, if your output is PDF, WORD and WebHelp, then
>>> MadCap Flare is the better selection.
>>
>> So, if you're not single-sourcing, buy RoboHelp, but if you are
>> single-sourcing buy Flare? Why not just go with Flare, because
>> sooner or later you KNOW someone is going to ask "Can you give that
>> to me in Word format?"
>>
>
--
Julie Stickler http://heratech.wordpress.com/
Blogging about Agile and technical writing ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
