Marcus, Marcus, Marcus: > > I attempted to make the point that a study of the third-party plugins > > would indicate to Adobe the gaps in FrameMaker's functionality that > > they need to address, and chose indexing plugins as an example where > > there are many independent plugins to improve this functionality. > > While I agree that plugin usage indicates shortfalls in the current > product, I don't accept that Adobe should take direction from that. Most
> of the plugins mentioned have been developed to support hardcopy > publishing, but Adobe know as well as anyone that that market is in > chronic decline. I'm surprised that you of all people should associate functionality with presentation. It's a bit similar to separating format from content. 8^) And I'm surprised that you equate indexes only with hardcopy. I was trying to make the point that when there are a bunch of plugins to support indexing (= data entry), Adobe should get the message -- that the indexing functionality in FrameMaker sucks. It was NOT a plea to reproduce third-party plugins as is, just their functionality -- do we really want the slick user interface of IXgen (sorry, Frank)? Whether that index finishes up in a hardcopy book, PDF, help file, or web site is immaterial. Getting index entries into FrameMaker is more difficult than it need be. And hardcopy isn't dead. If you and I are like other people, how many times do we print out a help topic or web page to read it? And in the wonderful world of personalised content that adapts to the custom product you have ordered, the country you are in, the access privileges you have, and the set of topics you have chosen to print, wouldn't it be wonderful if you have chosen to print out your own personalised workshop manual for your custom 2009 Turbo Tarburner with optional hydrogen fuel cell and electric motor (as against the standard biodiesel motor), racing slicks, two-tone duco and hard-top convertible four-door. And of course this personalised manual would come with its own custom index. When your head is under the bonnet, Google doesn't work too well with your Haynes repair manual.. Regards, Hedley -- Hedley Finger Training Content Developer and Tools Specialist MYOB Australia Pty Ltd <http://myob.com/au> P.O. box 371 Blackburn VIC 3130 Australia 12 Wesley Court Tally Ho Business Park East Burwood VIC 3151 Australia <mailto:hedleyDOTfingerATmyobDOTcom> Tel. +61 3 9222 9992 x 7421, Mob. (cell) +61 412 461 558 ? MYOB Technology Pty Ltd 2007