Adobe Framemaker

Description

Powerful online/paper-based publishing package. Well suited to large, complex documentation projects. Standard and SGML versions available for UNIX, Mac and Windows.

Strengths

  • Easy to assemble complex (multi-file) documents ("books")
  • Easy re-ordering of chapters/sections/parts
  • Powerful frame feature for placing text and graphics
  • Automatic update of tables of contents, indexes, master indexes
  • Automatic update of numbering streams and cross references between documents
  • Imports many graphic and text formats (including Word)
  • Use of master pages to provide layout for document pages. Master pages provide a reliable method of ensuring that headers and footers work as required
  • Ability to create hyperlinks in documents then export to other formats (including PDF and HTML)
  • Integrated line-drawing tools
  • Scientific equations
  • Conditional text
  • User-defined variables
  • Ability to import styles, conditional text and other elements from other documents

Weaknesses

  • "Dated" feel to user interface
  • Significant knowledge required to create and format tables of contents
  • No native macro language or automation features
  • Single level of undo