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First, you need to consider maintaining their existing documentation. If
you switch to InDesign, will you be able to get the present
documentation into that?
Other than that, I think it's just a matter of, why not let inertia have its way? Why spend time and money changing if change is not *really* necessary?
Is there any serious advantage to using InDesign, or is it simply a matter of your comfort level? If the latter, ask yourself if that is really a valid reason for going through the upheaval that sorrounds a major software change.
I assume you're asking because you're taking over the job. Who comes after you? How many people know InDesign vs. how many know FM?
________________________________
From: Chris Morton <salt -dot- morton -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Sent: Friday, April 5, 2013 3:53 PM
Subject: Justifying FM (was About The Cloud: Quick-Read Suggestions)
Thanks again for all who replied. It was a bit of fire hose, but then what
did I expect? Good stuff!
My next question pertains a small startup and their very basic
documentation. Their former techwriter used FrameMaker, which truly seems
to be overkill for their needs. I think it may have been initially chosen
because that's what the engineering veep thought was required for "real"
documentation. He doesn't use it himself. Or perhaps the original
techwriter (who I'm doing to replace) chose it because it thought it would
impress, or else he just wanted to be able to put that on his resume. Who
knows?
I last used FrameMaker 7 five years ago and found its UI to be very
unfriendly.Yes, I know the application's genesis and also know that Adobe
isn't about to retool FM to be more like other Windows apps (I see the same
issue with other Adobe apps). If I am forced to comply, FM it is. But if I
have a choice, I'd rather use InDesign. The company is not a manufacturer
and is not affiliated with the gubmint, so I don'tt see them repurposing
document elements anytime in the next several years (if then).
So what's the case *FOR* FM?
> Chris
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