FrameMaker - Creating and publishing content: Updated for 2015 Release

by Matt R. Sullivan, Rick Quatro (Contribution by)

Overview

Welcome to FrameMaker - Creating and Publishing Content. Adobe's FrameMaker software is the industry leader in technical publishing, and the release of FrameMaker 2015 continues that tradition. FrameMaker specializes in long-document formatting and automates mundane but essential tasks, such as maintaining running headers and footers, and updating tables of contents. It offers an easy path to producing multiple output formats, including print, PDF, and mobile formats.

This book shows new users how to use unstructured FrameMaker, the most popular of the FrameMaker user interface options, to streamline their publishing workflows for greater efficiency and productivity.

I've provided new screenshots throughout, as well as coverage of the new features in FrameMaker 12 and FrameMaker 2015. There's even something for the most knowledgeable Frame folks. There's a separate list of the features added by version, and lots of best-practice details transposed from my own "shop-worn" copy.

One of the most significant changes since the FrameMaker 11 version of this book is the emergence of the mobile web. FrameMaker has kept pace with new technologies like HTML5, EPUB, and Kindle. This book gives you the detail you need for many of the available FrameMaker options for multichannel output.

In addition to writing about FrameMaker, I practice what we preach. I've trained, consulted and written about FrameMaker since the early versions. In fact, the book you are holding was itself produced in FrameMaker 2015.

This book is intended as user reference, not as a training guide. If you are quite new to FrameMaker, I suggest you visit training.techcommtools.com for free and paid FrameMaker courseware, as well as look at my schedule of FrameMaker training classes available online or in southern California.

If you would like to express interest in additional FrameMaker or Technical Communication Suite subjects, please visit www.techcommtools.com.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780996715799
Publisher:	Tech Comm Tools
Publication date:	10/06/2015
Edition description:	FrameMaker Reference ed.
Pages:	622
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.60(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Matt is the founder of Tech Comm Tools (you can subscribe to his free newsletter at www.techcommtools.com). Along with FrameMaker consulting, Matt is most interested in helping organizations improve their use of video and interactive media within their documentation, and delivering that content to users via mobile devices. Along with training and consulting services, you can access free and paid courseware at http: //training.techcommtools.com. Connect with Matt on social platforms using his personal social id, mattrsullivan, or his Tech Comm Tools id, tc2ls.

Rick is president of Carmen Publishing Inc. and has been working with FrameMaker since 1993. He has written over 6,600 scripts since 1997 for clients worldwide. He is recognized as one of the top FrameMaker automation experts in the world.

Table of Contents

-Getting Started with FrameMaker New Since FrameMaker 8 Who Should Read This Book What's in This Book FrameMaker Strengths FrameMaker Strengths Uses for FrameMaker Creating Your First Document Understanding the Document Window FrameMaker Interface Options Understanding File Configuration and Preferences Switching Between Structured and Unstructured Interfaces -Creating and Manipulating Text Word-Processing Features Standard Word-Processing Features Tracking Changes Working with Footnotes Importing Text from Other Applications Establishing a Workflow in FrameMaker Creating and Editing Content File organization Indexing Printing Single Sourcing and Digital Publishing Digital Publishing Workflows Language Support Templates User roles Definition of a FrameMaker Template Why You Should Care About Templates Getting Started with Templates Importing Settings from a Template File What Makes a "Good" Template? Formatting Text with Paragraph Tags The purpose of paragraph tags Applying Paragraph Tags Avoiding Formatting Overrides Autonumbering Details Formatting Text with Character Tags Maintaining consistency with character tags Applying Character Tags Creating Character Tags Deleting Character Tags Additional Character Tags Tips Understanding Table Design Table tag advantages Inserting Tables Creating a Table Tag Cross-References Advantages of cross-references Inserting Cross-References Setting Up Cross-Reference Formats Storing Content in Variables Advantages of variables Inserting Variables System Variable Definitions Creating User Variables -Controlling Page Layout Understanding Master Pages Displaying Master Pages Assigning Master Pages to Body Pages Text Flows Text flow considerations Understanding Text Flows Switching from Single- to Double-Sided Pages Importing Graphic Content Anchoring Graphics Graphic Formats Placing Graphics on the Reference Pages Importing Graphics on a Master Page Object Styles Using object styles Create an Object Style Using Object Styles in a Regular Workflow Placing Rich Media Supported Formats Placing a Multimedia File Full-Motion Video Interactive Simulations 3D Objects FrameMaker's Graphics Tools Modifying Objects Rearranging Objects Transparency in Graphics Image Hotspots -Building Books Setting Up Book Files Creating a Book File Managing Numbering Creating Tables of Contents Setting Up the Table of Contents File Customizing the Table of Contents Mini TOC Creating Indexes The mechanics of a generated index Creating the Index File Creating Index Entries Creating glossaries Generated versus static glossary files -Creating Output Print, PDF Output, and Package Setting up a FrameMaker PDF Review Adobe PDF printer setup Package Digital Publishing Accessing the Publish pod Exploring the Publish pod Color Output Defining custom colors Understanding Types of Color Applying Color to Text and Objects Managing Color Definitions Viewing Colors Controlling Colors for Output -Advanced Techniques Setting Up Conditional Text How Conditional Text Works Conditional Text Examples Using conditional text in digital publishing Automation with ExtendScript Interacting with FrameMaker ExtendScript Creating and Editing Scripts Principles of Successful Script Writing Creating Interactive Content with Hypertext Setting Up a Basic Hypertext Link Creating Hotspots Hypertext Command Reference Writing Equations Understanding the Equations Pod Working with MathML Content Reuse with Text Insets Advantages of using text insets Planning Modular Text Dropbox and Cloud Collaboration Using a Content Management System (CMS) Creating a Custom Connection to a CMS -Appendixes FrameMaker and Technical Communication Web Resources Editing maker.ini Creating a MIF File Viewing a MIF File Cool Stuff You Can Do with MIF

Editorial Reviews

Top customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars - Excellent complete reference book for unstructured FrameMaker

By WisdomFusion on July 5, 2016

Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase

Excellent complete reference book for unstructured FrameMaker, good to both new users and professional users. It covers the new features in FrameMaker 12 and FrameMaker 2015, and extendscript could help me out of mess repetitive tasks. Thanks.

5.0 out of 5 starsIf you have FrameMaker, you need this book.

By Larry Foutz on October 12, 2016

Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

I have been using FM for too long without this book. It rates more than five stars.

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

By Amazon Customer on April 18, 2017

Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase

Everything for the FrameMaker tragic.

From the Publisher