Re: Tools query

["Metzger, Lucinda" <cmetzger -at- DUKANE -dot- COM>]

Becca,

If I were in your position I'd switch to another program. I've been
using Ventura for several years to create documents like you describe.
While Ventura used to be pretty stable, I'm having difficulties with
Ventura 7. Right now I've got a 200-page manual that I had to recreate
from scratch because Ventura kept corrupting the files after I converted
them from Ventura 4.2. I've finally got everything all laid out again,
but now I'm having problems getting the cross referencing to work
properly. From what I hear, this problem hasn't been fixed in Ventura 8,
either.

Aside from the bug factor, you might want to switch to another program
simply because Ventura isn't very widely used anymore. Most of the job
ads I see require experience in FrameMaker, Word, and PageMaker -- not
Ventura. It may not matter so much right now since you've just started a
new job, but if you decide to look for another job again in a few years
you won't want the interviewer to say "yes, ah, well, but we really want
someone who knows FrameMaker (or whatever)."

FrameMaker may very well be a good choice for you, since you say you do
a lot of extensive cross-referencing. If Ventura 8 doesn't pan out for
me, that's the package that I'll probably start looking at. In reference
to converting Ventura 4.2 to FrameMaker, I asked this question myself a
few months ago. Someone supplied a procedure for importing V4.2 files
into FrameMaker 4 or 5 -- look in the archives for Nov 25, 1997. The
subject line is "Importing Ventura Files into Other Apps". (Note: I
haven't tried the procedure myself.)

I have a lot more I could say on this subject but I need to get back to
that aforementioned manual. If you'd like to talk to me about my
experiences w/ Ventura, feel free to contact me directly.

Cindy
cmetzger -at- dukane -dot- com
>----------
>From:  Rebecca Price[SMTP:beccap -at- RUST -dot- NET]
>Sent:  Monday, June 15, 1998 9:46 PM
>To:    TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
>Subject:       Tools query
>
>I've searched the archives, and couldn't find much information on
>this.. I just got a new job where I need to assess the tools we're
>currently using and recommend changes (if any).  We're currently using
>a very old version of Ventura (4.2) under Windows 95 and Word for
>Windows 97.
>
>My options are:
>
>1) upgrade to the latest version of Ventura
>
>2) switch to FrameMaker or PageMaker
>
>3) switch to another program.
>
>Our documents aren't large (100 - 150 pages) but are *very* graphics
>and formatting intensive.  For example, there is extensive use of
>tables of contents, figure numbering and cross-referencing over
>several files (which kinda lets out using Word as our publication
>software).
>
>We make heavy machinery, and while there are some core products, but
>mostly everything is a variation on one of 3 or 4 basic types.  In
>essence every machine produced is unique and therefore has it's own
>user manual... although much can be copied from other manuals.
>
>I'm not familiar with Ventura, although all existing documents are in
>Ventura... a strong argument for staying with it.  But, I'm just not
>sure it's the most appropriate application.  At the moment I'm rather
>leaning toward FrameMaker, but it's awfully expensive, and money is a
>consideration.
>
>Has anyone one the list any experience in converting Ventura documents
>to FrameMaker?
>
>I'm not looking to start a religious war, here... just looking for
>reasoned comparisons of the various applications, or suggestions for
>other aps I might consider.