TechNote (Archived)

Support policy and resources for structured authoring (FrameMaker 7.x)

What's covered

Technical Support for structured authoring in Adobe FrameMaker

Structured authoring resources included with Adobe FrameMaker

Onlineresources

Technical Support for structured authoring in Adobe FrameMaker

Adobe Technical Support offers limited support for structured authoring in FrameMaker.

Technical Support can do the following:

--Help you verify that Adobe FrameMaker is functioning as expected.

--Help identify whether it is possible to use structured authoring for a particular task using Adobe FrameMaker.

--Help you if you're having problems accessing the structured authoring tools included with Adobe FrameMaker.

--Explain the function of the structured authoring tools included with Adobe FrameMaker.

-- Suggest resources for structured authoring, XML and SGML (see below for more information).

Technical Support can't, however, do the following:

--Debug or validate XML or SGML data.

--Answer questions regarding how XML or SGML works.

--Convert a DTD file to a schema or vice versa.

--Answer questions regarding how structured authoring works in another application compared to Adobe FrameMaker.

--Help you write or edit a structured application or its component files (for example, EDD files, read-write rules, or conversion tables).

--Help you modify a structured application or its component files.

--Help you with third-party tools used to write, edit, integrate, and troubleshoot structured applications and/or structured files.

Before contacting Adobe Technical Support, check to see if your question is answered in the resources described in this document.

Structured authoring resources included with Adobe FrameMaker

Adobe FrameMaker includes a variety of resources to help with structured authoring.

FrameMaker software includes a number of structured templates to use for developing structured documentation. You can access these templates in FrameMaker by choosing File > New and then clicking on the Explore Structured Templates button. Or you can find the files in the following locations:

--Windows: Program Files/Adobe/FrameMaker [version]/Templates/Structured

--UNIX: $FMHOME/[uilanguage]/Templates/Structured

FrameMaker includes starter kits for structured authoring for DocBook, DITA and XHTML.These kits include the white paper Migrating from Unstructured to Structured FrameMaker which explains how to convert documents and workflows to a structured authoring approach using XML and the structured authoring tools included with FrameMaker.

Additionally, FrameMaker includes the Adobe FrameMaker Structured Application Developer Guide - a manual for anyone who develops structured FrameMaker templates or XML/SGML applications.

Installation of these resources is optional when you install FrameMaker. If you want information about how to install FrameMaker on a UNIX system, see Installing Frame Products. If you're using FrameMaker on a Windows or Macintosh system, see Getting Started. WhenFrameMaker is installed, you can find the documentation on these resources in the following locations:

--Windows: Program Files/Adobe/FrameMaker [version]/OnlineManuals

--UNIX: $FMHOME/[uilanguage]/OnlineManuals

FrameMaker also includes the XMLCookbook which steps you through the development, authoring and publishing stages of an example workflow using Adobe FrameMaker. You can find the documentation for this resource in the following locations:

--Windows: Program Files/Adobe/FrameMaker [version]/XMLCookbook

--UNIX: $FMHOME/[uilanguage]/XMLCookbook

Online resources

Adobe resources

Adobe provides the following structured authoring resources on the Adobe website:

Adobe FrameMaker 7.0 Solutions Guide:

http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/en/framemaker/FM7_Solutions_Guide.pdf

Migrating from Unstructured to Structured FrameMaker:

www.adobe.com/products/framemaker/pdfs/migrationguide.pdf

Adobe FrameMaker and XML Publishing FAQ:

www.adobe.com/products/framemaker/pdfs/faq_xml.pdf

XML Tips and Techniques in FrameMaker 7.2: