Recommended tool for technical illustrations to be embedded in FrameMaker document?

Question

I'm new to Framemaker and don't know, if this is the right tool for me.
I have written a technical document of about 500 pages using MS-Word. Now I want to figure out, if FrameMaker would be a good alternative. I think it could be.
But one of my needs is to be able to create technical illustrations (diagrams with shapes with text and arrows, lines and arrows linked to the shapes when repositioned).
In my opinion the capabilities of FrameMaker to create such illustrations are very limited.
Currently I create the illustrations using MS-Word-2010. I think concerning illustrations MS-Word is more capable than FrameMaker.
On the other hand the capabilities of Adobe Illustrator are plenty too much for me.
Can you recommend some external tool for creating illustrations, which can be easily integrated into a FrameMaker document?
Regards,
Martin

Answer 1

Import the ai file directly into the FrameMaker doc.
Select where you want the illustration to be located (use the smart select tool and click on the area in your text flow)
File>Import>File
If you want to have the illustration in the document to automatically update when the drawing changes, select Import By Reference.
Once imported you have the option of positioning where you want it to be located relative to the text.
Right click the anchored frame, select Anchored Frame
Select the Anchoring Position, Alignment, etc.
Adobe Illustrator is all you need to create quality Technical Illustrations.
http://tekarttechnicalillustration.blogspot.com/2011_08_01_archive.html
http://tekarttechnicalillustration.blogspot.com/2011/07/glassware.html
http://tekarttechnicalillustration.blogspot.com/2011/05/line-illustration.html
For premade elements get familiar with your symbols libraries.