Re: Alternatives to Frame? (long)

[Dan Emory <danemory@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 09:26 AM 3/15/00 -0000, Mark Barratt wrote:
>
>(OK, I know I said wait and see, but no XML round-tripping, no Unicode, no
>TEX-algorithm H&J, no PostScript printing, no attachment of master pages to
>para/element tags just about does it for me)
>
>So what are the alternatives to FrameMaker(+SGML)?
>---------------------------------Snip
==========================================================
It's very sad. I would be almost certain that Adobe management has decided
there will be no further improvements to the core product, which left the
Frame contingent within Adobe with no alternative but to grasp at the WWP
lite and book-wide commands straws as the only way to justify a new major
release. Adobe management has apparently decided to stand pat with
FrameMaker and reap whatever it can while FrameMaker (and its installed
base) endures a slow death.
FrameMaker has now become the equivalent of the spare tire in most new cars
(it's only good enough to get you to the next gas station, or the next new
single-source long-document authoring system).
 
It once again demonstrates the utter stupidity of Adobe management.
Because, with a few crucial additions to the core software (Unicode, XML
round-tripping for FM+SGML, remediation of some of the long-standing bugs
such as the footnote/endnote problem) FrameMaker 6.0 could have survived for
years as the pre-eminent single-source long-document authoring system. With
those improvements to the core, the third-party software community
(Quadralay, Omni Systems, Filtrix, Finite Matters, Refined Reports, et al),
as well as FrameScript developers (Quattro, et al) could have seen a bright
future in sustaining the Frame product line with new and improved plug-ins,
scripts, and conversion products. Instead, they're now going to conclude
that FrameMaker is in its death swoon, and they'd better cut their losses
and move on. 
     ====================
     | Nullius in Verba |
     ====================
Dan Emory, Dan Emory & Associates
FrameMaker/FrameMaker+SGML Document Design & Database Publishing
Voice/Fax: 949-722-8971 E-Mail: danemory@primenet.com
10044 Adams Ave. #208, Huntington Beach, CA 92646
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