I agree that for efficient, cost-effective localization, you need to be in XML. We just helped a customer reduce the cost of translation for one document from $20K to $6K. And this is the number for just one book and one product. (As a side note, this particular customer went to Arbortext from Frame.)
Interesting that you had trouble getting XMetal to produce PDF. I know Arbortext doesn't. Liz On Thu, Jul 30, 2009 at 8:08 AM, Joe Campo<joe.ca...@solidworks.com> wrote: > Hi Verner > We are migrating to XMetal DITA from RoboHelp and Frame/webworks. We > like that XMetal is in one package and we don't have to worry about > maintaining multiple applications to output our deliverables (chm, > single html, and pdf). Granted the PDF output has been difficult to > achieve, but we have a Tools person who has been able to customize > output to meet our needs. > > Translation was another driver in adopting XMetal. We localize into many > languages and the ease of working with pure XML files makes life much > easier for Translators, who could not process .fm files directly. > > As the others have written, analyze and base your choice on your needs. > Mind that converting legacy to XML DITA, no matter what your tool, will > have a huge impact on translation memory. If you do translation, make > sure to involve that team for input. > > Good luck. > Joe Campo > DS SolidWorks > Concord, MA USA > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Framemaker vs XMetal for structured authoring > (Andersen, Verner Engell VEA) > 2. Re: Framemaker vs XMetal for structured authoring (Yves Barbion) > 3. Re: Framemaker vs XMetal for structured authoring (Writer) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:04:20 +0200 > From: "Andersen, Verner Engell VEA" <verner.ander...@radiometer.dk> > Subject: Framemaker vs XMetal for structured authoring > To: <framers@lists.frameusers.com>, "FrameMaker discussion list > (omsys) (FrameMaker discussion list (omsys))" > <fram...@omsys.com> > Message-ID: > > <fd738d92925fdd4183417fcae6660d7605015...@dhreinsvxb03.messaging.danaher > ad.com> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Hi > I currently use unstructured Framemaker for pdf output. I single-source > my content - and via Webworks Publisher I output to context-sensitive > help in Webworks help format. > > My 5 colleagues use Word and output to pdf for printing. We plan to go > structured and are considering whether we should use Framemaker or > XMetal. > > Do any of you know where I can find an unbiased comparison of the two > tools? > > I have been told that the major disadvantage of using Framemaker is that > you are required to save in binary format to keep the > Framemaker-specific XML processing instructions (pls). If you store in > xml-format you cannot retrieve and maintain conditional text. Callouts > on drawings (the graphics tool in Framemaker) will be rasterized, and > even paragraph styles can be discarded if you save a document as XML. > > What are the implications of sacrificing saving documents as XML? > > Another advantage in favor of XMetal should be that it has > vendor-supported integration with most content management systems (CMS). > Apparently XMetal seems to be the best choice. > > What are your comments? > > Thanks, > > Verner > > _______________________________________________ > > > You are currently subscribed to Framers as calto...@gmail.com. > > Send list messages to fram...@lists.frameusers.com. > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > framers-unsubscr...@lists.frameusers.com > or visit > http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/caltonia%40gmail.com > > Send administrative questions to listad...@frameusers.com. Visit > http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info. > _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to Framers as arch...@mail-archive.com. Send list messages to fram...@lists.frameusers.com. To unsubscribe send a blank email to framers-unsubscr...@lists.frameusers.com or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/archive%40mail-archive.com Send administrative questions to listad...@frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.