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To quote an expert <smile>, tools is tools. Different models look a little
different, and familiar controls may be in different positions, but they're
all pretty much the same under the hood. *Don't* let FrameMaker intimidate
you. It's just software. You *know* you can handle it.
My recommendations:
1. Get these 2 books. Get them NOW.
a. Adobe FrameMaker 6.0 Classroom in a Book
Bk&Cd-Rom edition (October 25, 2000)
Adobe Pr; ISBN: 020170014X
b. The Masters Series: FrameMaker 6
by Thomas Neuburger
Email: inquiries -at- twelfthnight -dot- com
2. Join the Framers list. Subscribe at http://www.frameusers.com/
(subscription form is at bottom left of page)
Some of the discussions may be over your head at first. Don't worry
about that. There's a wealth of information in the searchable archives and
elsewhere on the frameusers.com site, and there are several masters on the
list who have infinite patience with newcomers to the Frame side of the
universe.
3. Have fun.
Spend some time playing with the software before you need it for a major
deadline-driven project. Try stuff---experiment with every new menu item,
and even with the ones that look familiar (because Frame will work slightly
differenly than the program you're used to). Become familiar with the
basic features by using Frame for all your letters and memos and even
shopping lists. Do a template for your neigborhood association newsletter
or a concert program or a church or club directory. When you're more
comfortable, do a quick and dirty personal procedures manual with a
half-dozen procedures, each in a separate document. Then turn it into a
book file, and play with all the book features.
You may not end up worshiping FrameMaker as the cure for all doc problems,
halitosis and flat feet, but you should be able to tackle (with a little
help from your friends) ANYTHING that gets thrown at you on the job.
Good luck!
/K@
-----Original Message-----
From: Maggie Secara [mailto:maggiros -at- hotmail -dot- com]
Speaking of tools... Depending on how things go in the next day or two, I
may find myself having to come up on Framemaker pretty quick....[snip]I've
only spent about 10 minutes with a Frame demo, once, and it was
surprisingly intimidating to me. Does anyone who's made the transition
from Word to Frame have any tricks for reducing the number of rocks on the
learning curve?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Develop HTML-based Help with Macromedia Dreamweaver! (STC Discount.)
**NEW DATE/LOCATION!** January 16-17, 2001, New York, NY. http://www.weisner.com/training/dreamweaver_help.htm or 800-646-9989.
Sponsored by DigiPub Solutions Corp, producers of PDF 2001
Conference East, June 4-5, Baltimore/Washington D.C. area. http://www.pdfconference.com or toll-free 877/278-2131.
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