FrameMaker vs Phrase
Introduction:
A very powerful expertise for a technical author are writing, enhancing, and design. Nonetheless, these expertise aren’t sufficient to make you a profitable technical author. You must also discover ways to use authoring instruments.
Probably the most broadly used publishing instruments are:
- FrameMaker:
- Microsoft Phrase
FrameMaker:
FrameMaker is a desktop publishing and authoring software developed by Adobe Techniques. It’s utilized by technical writers as a publishing device for creating giant paperwork. Its newest model is 7.2.
Benefits of FrameMaker:
- Helpful for writing giant and complicated paperwork.
- PDF creation is simple and person can create bookmarks, hyperlinks and different PDF options.
- It is simpler to vary the format of a doc utilizing Grasp Pages. The grasp web page is created each time a person creates a brand new doc. It’s used to find out the format of the doc.
- Textual content in tables will be rotated.
- Can print a scrolling web page with regular headers and footers, that means textual content will be in Panorama mode whereas headers and footers are in Portrait mode.
- It has good shade choices. These embrace CMYK and Pantone.
- It may well deal with a variety of graphics.
- Has numerous cross-book options. One in all them is to look and spell all the e book. This function is helpful for coping with giant books.
- Has good flexibility in numbering choices. It has built-in variables for chapter and quantity numbering. It may well additionally deal with lengthy numbered lists with none errors.
- Permits you to configure the numbering of steps or procedures.
- Cross reference will be simply added. You too can outline codecs in your cross-references.
- Can customise and save desk codecs.
- Character and paragraph format choice lists are displayed as home windows. They are often moved on the display screen as handy.
- FrameMaker helps conditional textual content.
- It is simpler to create single-source paperwork positioned in FrameMaker. A single supply permits you to use the identical content material in a number of paperwork. For instance, in case your person information and administrator information share some frequent subjects, it is simpler to share them than to maintain separate copies.
- Consists of Webworks Writer, a robust device used to supply HTML, XML, or RTF output.
Disadvantages of FrameMaker:
- Has a steep studying curve for Phrase customers.
- FrameMaker for Home windows doesn’t have macros.
- Undoing is restricted to 1 operation.
- Unable to proper click on and paste chosen textual content. You have to use keyboard instructions or use the Edit menu.
- Has an unpredictable spell checker.
- Drag and drop shouldn’t be obtainable in FrameMaker.
- It doesn’t have a grammar checker.
- Inserting graphics could be very inconvenient. You have to first create an anchor body, place the graphic, after which resize it manually.
- The Discover command doesn’t cease when it reaches the tip of the doc. It goes on and on.
- It’s essential format the desk columns manually.
Microsoft Phrase
Microsoft Phrase is a phrase processing program used to create paperwork. It’s a highly effective device for creating skilled trying paperwork.
Benefits of Microsoft Phrase:
- Many assist authoring instruments can be found, comparable to RoboHelp. Assist authoring instruments (HAT) are used to create on-line assist manuals and are utilized by technical writers. They obtain supply textual content from applications comparable to HTML and Phrase and generate output in codecs comparable to Microsoft WinHelp or Adobe PDF.
- Has good spell checking options comparable to on-the-fly spell checking, eradicating the spell verify dialog field when choosing textual content, and notifying the person when it reaches the tip of the doc.
- Can use monitor modifications to overview paperwork.
- It has a superb grammar checker.
- He has the power to “delay” many instances.
- Has macros that may automate repetitive actions.
- Can open two elements of a doc in a single window utilizing Phrase.
Disadvantages of Microsoft Phrase.
- Not secure for giant paperwork. It slows down when working excessive volumes.
- It’s troublesome to have a single supply doc assortment.
- Doesn’t work on Unix.
- Doesn’t deal with many doc options very nicely, comparable to headers, footers, indexes, desk of contents, cross-references, and so on.
Conclusion
FrameMaker is greatest fitted to giant paperwork or paperwork with many information, comparable to books and person manuals. Phrase is healthier for small paperwork like reviews, newsletters, letter writing, and memos. Nonetheless, Phrase is far simpler to make use of and has many superior options.
Most of FrameMaker’s options will be carried out in Phrase, however FrameMaker handles giant paperwork higher and has good cross-referencing and a number of file help.
Each Adobe FrameMaker and Microsoft Phrase are highly effective, skilled authoring instruments. Each have strengths and weaknesses. To determine which one is greatest for you, take an in depth take a look at the kind of doc it’s essential write.
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