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Ken, this discussion has been on the list in some detail in the past three or four years (see, for instance, http://goo.gl/63Gc). I seem to recall Geoff Hart may have dedicated one of his vintage analyses to Frame vs. Indy awhile back, too. Can't be sure, but this link, http://goo.gl/1Kuj, will get you started.
HTH,
Jim
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+jim -dot- pinkham=voith -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+jim -dot- pinkham=voith -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Ken Poshedly
Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 7:59 AM
To: Techwr-l
Subject: Pro's and Con's -- FrameMaker vs InDesign
Uh-oh!
The non-English-speaking engineers at my company's home offices in China use InDesign to produce non-English-language technical manuals for the company's line of heavy equipment. The company's group translators (all young
20-somethings) who have no real tech writing experience simply use Word to produce English-language manuals. The layout and accuracy of technical matter and English is way below par because those kids simply have no access to the machines nor the technical expertise to explain things correctly nor enough English-language comprehension to do a good job. The company just wants books out on deadline.
We -- a group of 3 tech writers -- here in the U.S. all come from extensive FrameMaker backgrounds (a combined total of 25 years), with technical expertise and obviously dern guud englsh. What we do is use those other "English-language"
manuals from China (errors and all) to somehow perform miracles and produce well-arranged, more accurate and professional tech pubs (operation manuals, workshop manuals, parts books).
I'm now hearing grumbling that the Chinese engineers who already use InDesign want us in the U.S. to move to InDesign. We are adamant that it's a bad move and our supervisor here and who knows nothing about this stuff wants solid arguements why we should stay with FrameMaker.
We've compiled a list but I'd like to hear from y'all with your own ideas regarding ease of use, co$t, capability -- anything we can use in our corner.
I've already posted this to the Frameusers list and the silence is deafening.
Help anyone?
-- Ken in metro Atlanta
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