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Oh, this opens a can of worms. In our contracts, we state that we are not
responsible for technical accuracy - it is on the client to be accurate in
their reviews. We cannot be more accurate than the info we get. What they
are about to do ensures that any hope for accuracy is gone.
We strongly discourage letting the client mess about in the Frame files. We
tell them that it is a difficult program to learn, with a steep curve. If
they insist, we let them but we strongly encourage that they take a class.
And that Frame is like messing about with someones code. If you break it, it
may take hours to fix. We will bill those hours at a nasty rate - usually
double our normal rate.
If they really want to, let them but let them know in writing 3 things - 1
that you will bill hourly for the clean up time you spend fixing what they
break - and they will break - and 2 that you are no longer responsible for
the final result. 3 You also need one computer setup exactly according to
your specifications so that the files are all found, the fonts are all
there, etc. These conditions will probably prevent them from messing about.
But we do deliver a final manual in PDF and all the frame files on CD. If
they have a frame expert, they can pick up from there, if needed. But we
really don't like them doing this during the project....
sharon
Sharon Burton-Hardin
President of the Inland Empire chapter of the STC
www.iestc.org
Anthrobytes Consulting
www.anthrobytes.com
Check out www.WinHelp.net!
See www.sharonburton.com!
| I've been waiting for this to happen...our system has steadily been
evolving
| to allow a great deal of customization. I have no idea, however, what
would
| be involved in allowing a customer access to source documentation files
(in
| FrameMaker, yet) for their own editing. Also, looking down the road, how
can
| documents be set up to allow each customer to adapt their own
documentation?
|
| What are the long range maintenance implications? What about copyrights,
| updates, guaranteed accuracy, etc.?
|
