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Conference tnpubs::i-exchange

Title:	I-TEAM/SES CONFERENCE

Moderator:	TNPUBS::EWART

Created:	Wed May 10 1995
Last Modified:	Wed Nov 27 1996
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	49
Total number of notes:	126

7.0. "Real-Time Writing Team's Use of FrameMaker" by HELIX::STOLBERG () Fri Jun 23 1995 09:33

I'm a member of the real-time writing team.  We have decided to use
FrameMaker V5 (or higher) to produce the user information for our client's
next generation of real-time products.  Our decision to use FrameMaker was
based on business, technical, and easy-of-use requirements.

The following information might be of use to other writing teams
considering FrameMaker as an authoring tool:

o We've been able to generate a single EDMS-compliant PostScript file from
  multiple input files.  For V4, the input files can be at the granularity
  of front matter, chapters, appendices, etc. You can get a single
  PostScript file by including the various files in a book file (like a VAX
  Document profile) and printing "the book file" to a "file."  We've done
  this and have sent the resulting output file to the SSB organization for
  EDMS compliance testing.  It passed.   

o An individual in the SCO writing group has developed a FrameMaker
  template based on the VAX Document CUP.7x9 doctype specification.  At
  this point, it does not include support for routine or command sections.
  Our team will be adding that support.

o We have started our project using VAX Document and plan to port ASCII
  output to the FrameMaker environment after we get the software and have
  added the support we need to the 7x9 template.  We'll report information
  on the porting process and effort in this notes conference.

If you would like more information about any of the preceding items, feel
free to contact me.

donna

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
7.1	Avalanche FastTAG?	OZROCK::HUNTJ		`Wed Aug 02 1995 21:10`	5
	If you are going to "port ASCII output to the FrameMaker environment", have you considered using Avalanche's FastTAG product? Or aren't we speaking to Interleaf subsidiaries these days? :-( JH
7.2	Avaleaf	DONVAN::KEEFE		`Thu Aug 03 1995 14:55`	18
	I have a copy of FastTAG, and the doc set. It's based on the imaginative assumption that you can distinguish text objects by visual characteristics. They call this the ability to see "structure". It is not very useful when looking at an ASCII file where visual clues are at a minimum, if present at all. Oh, it's less than two lines long, with 50% initial caps--it must be a head! While we're at it, let's build a tunnel from New York to London for a steam railway. I assume "port ASCII output to the FrameMaker environment" simply means to process the SDML for mail/line, importing the result in FrameMaker, then applying styles. Interleaf and Avalanche are well suited to each other. Neil
7.3	easier to convert SDML than MAIL output	HELIX::WARNER	It's only work if they make you do it	`Wed Aug 09 1995 12:05`	15
	> o We have started our project using VAX Document and plan to port ASCII > output to the FrameMaker environment after we get the software and have > added the support we need to the 7x9 template. We'll report information > on the porting process and effort in this notes conference. Actually, we quickly found it was easier to convert our SDML source files to FrameMaker directly, rather than creating DOCUMENT MAIL output and converting that. MAIL inserts a lot of white space that's a pain to get rid of, and you need to refer to a PS output or the source file anyway to be sure you're using the right structure. Another thing, font changes don't show up in MAIL either. -Ross
7.4	So, does this mean you just imported SDML files as ASCII files into Frame?	VAXUUM::HARAMUNDANIS		`Thu Aug 24 1995 15:29`	5
	I was not quite clear on the process you were describing for getting from SDML to FrameMaker. Importing the files as ASCII text, then stripping out the tags, etc. in Frame? Thanks in advance for the clarification.
7.5		HELIX::WARNER	It's only work if they make you do it	`Thu Aug 24 1995 21:16`	4
	Yes that's what we meant; as opposed to processing for MAIL output and using that in Frame. -Ross