Week 2 : Learning the basics of Adobe FrameMaker TC 424: The Computer in TC (Winter 2008)

What did we cover last time? 1. Course overview, introductions 2. Simple introduction to Adobe FrameMaker (Frame) and the single- source documentation model 3. Hands-on introduction to the Frame UI 4. Why George Hayhoe is wrong about Frames obsolescence

What will we cover today? 1. Learning to see your documents from the FrameMaker perspective 2. Hands-on creation of a basic Frame book, chapter (document), TOC, and Index 3. Using the Frame online Help system

What is so different about Frame? Your personal background helps determine your readiness to understand Frame: –Advanced Word users – some similarities, but many differences –Novice Word users – youre in luck!

What is so different about Frame? Paragraph and character tags vs. styles –Think in terms of HTML: The tag creates a new paragraph; the tag creates a new paragraph with centered text Frame uses similar tagging to define each paragraph –Paragraph tags are similar to styles in Word: You define the way you want each P tag to look P tags apply to entire paragraphs, character tags apply to individual letters, words, or sentences. Manual formatting is tantamount to treason! –Tags are either dirty or clean –Dirty tags must be cleaned up before final production

What is so different about Frame? Start thinking in terms of book and chapter files –Frame uses the book file (.book) to organize a collection of documents, or chapters, into one coherent list –Chapters are the same as individual documents (like.doc files in Word) I refer to documents as chapters when they are part of a larger book file Documents use the.fm file extension (like.doc)

Whats a book file? Within Frame, the book file contains and organizes the document files –Think of a photo album: The book file is the album (the container) Each document is a separate photo in the album or –Think of a textbook: The book file is the binding around the pages Each document is a different chapter in the book

What about the TOC and Index? Frame automatically creates the Table of Contents (TOC) and Index –The TOC is generated from specified P tags –The Index is generated from index markers When properly formatted, your documents will automatically generate a TOC Index creation is more complicated

When do I get to play with it? Right now! –From the Start menu, select All Programs, open the Adobe folder, and find Frame on your computer –Open the file that I specify (the source content for your in-class project)

What am I doing with it? Todays lab topics: –Learning the interface –Creating a new document (chapter) –Creating a new book –Creating a TOC file and an Index file –Navigating the Frame online Help –Using an existing template –Reviewing and approving student content for term projects –Letting you all play with your content in the template I have provided

What should I do for next time? Read Sections 1 and 2 of the Emory article on template design and enforcement (you can read more if you are interested in template design)

Uninspired: This weeks demotivational quote From the University of Washington Academic Software Price List: Adobe FrameMaker 8.0 for Windows costs $ RoboHelp Office costs $ Microsoft Office 2007 Pro costs $ However ! Adobe FrameMaker 8.0 for Windows actually costs $899. MadCap Flare costs $899 also.

What did we cover today? 1. Learning to see your documents from the FrameMaker perspective 2. Hands-on creation of a basic Frame book, chapter (document), TOC, and Index 3. Using the Frame online Help system