| While I cannot speak to all of the plans that are underway for all projects
spaces, there are plans to upgrade Windows systems to Windows95 in an orderly
and phased approach. Win95 will apparently provide better performance and
multitasking to the PC, which will be a great benefit.
Regarding FrameMaker, there is no general trend to move to FrameMaker. We are
looking at a pilot project to test Frame5+SGML, but so far there is no clear
decision to use FrameMaker or the newer version Frame5+SGML. It is not clear
that using Frame products will give us a more powerful and flexible publishing
system than using Word. With more powerful PCs and an understanding of how
to use Word effectively, there are several reasons why people may prefer
Word to other tools. One important reason is ease of learning; a second is
ease of transfer of material between tools of the MS Office suite (EXCEL,
Word, Powerpoint), and also use with other MS tools (Clipboard, Paintbrush).
Also, it is relativly easy to create WinHelp files from this set of tools.
Frame tools can be useful in helping us deliver hardcopy, and for some
authors this may become a preferred tool, but most of us have multiple
output requirements, including several online forms, and these may not be
so easily served by the Frame toolset.
Some projects require SGML because we are sharing or exchanging files and
information with external third parties or other companies or consortia. Today
the only tool we recommend in this space is ArborText Publisher. We are
however looking at Frame5+SGML (Frame's FrameMaker tool with an SGML component)
that is due to come out soon to determine if this will be an easier tool to use
than ArborText. The ArborText tool, if used on the PC, still requires
a Unix system to prepare the final publication-ready .PS file, and for some
users this is not a good solution.
We are also looking at a tool by Microstar called Near&Far Author. This is a
tool that you install on top of Word. This means that when you install it,
the Word menus have added elements that let you see the structure of your
document and let you create either RTF or SGML files. For some users, this
may be an alternative tool.
As with every project, the key thing is to consider what are the requirments
you are trying to meet, and then adopt the tool or tool set that best meets
those requirements. This should also be the message you pass on to clients,
particularly if they request that you use a specific tool if they cannot provide
a sound reason for use of that tool.
Let me know if there are further questions in this area.
Kathy
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