FrameMaker 8 versus InDesign CS 3 Question

This may seem like a silly question, but we need to ask it.
We have been building our technical manuals, books, and training materials in InDesign for quite a long time.
Is there a benefit to switching to FrameMaker for our technical writing needs?
I only stumbled onto the product site when looking for screen capture utilities via the Captivate 3 product page.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Philip E.

Hi, Philip:
I don't think you've stated why you're considering other solutions than the InDesign one you're already using. If you could state your satisfactions and dissatisfactions with ID it would be helpful to you, as well as to anyone who might have a suggestion or recommendation.
I looked at the comparison at http://www.adobe.com/products/framemaker/comparison.html
and found marketing-speak that clouds some of the information. There's also some comparison of features that aren't close-enough counterparts to be compared. Finally, some third-party tools are mentioned that supplement FM, but some that supplement ID aren't mentioned; for example, cross-references.
One example of an incomplete comparison is drawing tools. You can do a lot with FM's rudimentary drawing tools (they were advanced when first introduced, but they haven't evolved.) ID's drawing tools are Illustrator-class.
If your workflow uses external tools and simply places them into your documents, superiority or inferiority of the drawing tools are a non-issue. Similarly, other aspects of your workflow may indicate which features of which product should carry weight when deciding on the most appropriate tool.
RE: Thomas Bro's points:
* InDesign lacks FrameMaker's ability to apply master pages depending on body-page content; however, FM added this recently - in the past it was available as a third-party tool. ID's designed as a container of plug-ins; there are many third-party tools extend it, both plug-ins and scripts. ID's also designed to be scripted by relative amateurs as well as professional developers.
* There's a cross-reference plug-in for ID, from dtptools.com, that's a bit more advanced than FM's built-in. Like FM, they become links in PDF documents.
* Although ID currently lacks conditional text, XML manipulations can do the same thing. In fact, there are third-party XML tools for FM that claim to offer more conditional flexibility than FM itself.
(PS: Thomas, I read a long time ago about someone who wrote, as well as edited and reformatted, documentation in DOS's EDLIN, where each line ends with a carriage return, and almost all operations require special trigger keys to perform them! It's only one or two steps above cuneiform.<G>)
If you need to create online Help systems, FM's the clear choice for the simplest path through well-proven tools. XML from ID could be used to work with help tools, though it's not a a common path yet.
HTH
Regards,
Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices

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Good day everyone! I have a client that is considering going from FrameMaker to InDesign...because someone "within Adobe" said that FrameMaker was being phased out and that InDesign will be taking over the large document business. This client has many participant manuals that are text intensive with over 75+ pages, and all graphics are embedded in these documents. One of their products is almost 2000 pages and we use WebWorks to convert to the web.
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cll-durango wrote:
Good day everyone! I have a client that is considering going from FrameMaker to InDesign...because someone "within Adobe" said that FrameMaker was being phased out and that InDesign will be taking over the large document business.
It's not likely that any Adobe employee, contractor, independent developer, or beta tester, who might know this for a fact, could reveal it without severe legal repercussions. Anyone who might know it officially has to be under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA.)
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Quite frankly, I have both products and use InDesign for projects that
are graphic intensive and less than 10 pages. I've always considered it
a good marketing product. But most of work I do for
clients...FrameMaker is king, and never "breaks" like Word.
This client has many participant manuals that are text intensive with over 75+ pages, and all graphics are embedded in these documents. One of their products is almost 2000 pages and we use WebWorks to convert to the web.
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So the question(s) (you knew that there had to be a question): Is FrameMaker going to be around for awhile? Does anyone know if InDesign is slated to take over the FrameMaker business? What would you say to the client that may want to go from FrameMaker to InDesign?
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Regarding moving one's workflow from any long-established tool set to another, newer, one, is never simple, clean, and painless. Adobe or a third-party developer would need to provide a conversion method, application, service, or combination, that would make migration of existing documents as transparent and painless as possible, to be attractive in any degree. User training, dual-workflows during the transition, new workflow methods for current third-party and customized follow-on processes, are all significant costs to consider when deciding whether to change or stay put.
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Then, I would ask if they have the money, and can justify the costs, and WILL actually spend the money.
IOW, it's a normal business decision that should be based on thorough research.
DISCLAIMER: I'm not connected to Adobe. I'm writing a book for FrameMaker users who want to move to InDesign.
HTH
Regards,
Peter
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