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Framemaker Crash Course

Though I'm schooled in all aspects of traditional publishing and am very knowledgeable in the electronic publishing arena, I've never had Framemaker training. Now I need it...quickly! What do you all recommend in the way of a super fast crash course—enough to at least get me through an interview?

Since time is of the essence, a classroom course isn't in the cards. I'm looking for virtual training, DVDs, self-guided books, etc., none of which requires my having to purchase a copy of Framemaker. Am I asking the impossible?

By jagdriver at 2007-09-05 21:15 | | | jagdriver's blog | login or register to post comments | printer friendly version

FrameMaker 7.1 course

Right now, I am taking a FrameMaker course offered by the University of Waterloo. I think it's great and the instructor is very knowledgeable, patient and friendly. Here is the link:

http://www.ed2go.com/cgi-bin/oic3/newcrsdes.cgi?name=waterloo&course=afm&title=Introduction%20to%20Adobe%20FrameMaker%207.1&path=1

Here's a link to a free site:

http://www.io.com/~tcm/etwr2372/planners/frame/frame_index.html

I hope these are helpful.
PereUbu

By pereubu at 2007-12-04 12:34 | login or register to post comments

Re: Framemaker Crash Course

Jag,

One quick way to learn the basics is to find another writer in your area who knows FM to give you a "show and tell." I think you could pick up 75% of what you needed by sitting with an experienced user for about 2 hours.

Good luck,
Roger

By Roger Bell at 2007-09-10 06:40 | login or register to post comments

VTC Online courses

A complete Framemaker tutorial is offered online by VTC, an online software training site.

http://www.vtc.com

Though I haven't completed the Frame course, I've had excellent results from several of their other courses, and they're crazy cheap--if I remember correctly, my unlimited course subscription is about $30 per month, and is paid in monthly increments, rather than the prohibitive annual subscription that some other training companies require. As of today, they have 441 different courses, each of which is 3 to 9 hours long and broken up into 3-15 minute chunks.

Good luck!

Morgan Stanfield
Morgan Stanfield Communications

By morganstanfield at 2007-09-06 16:22 | login or register to post comments

VTC Online Framemaker Course - Beware!

At Morgan Stanfield's suggestion, I'm in the middle of trying this course, authored by Mario Leone. See my review at Amazon.com: this has to be one of the *worst* instructional courses to which I've ever been subjected.

Note: I'm not blaming Morgan for suggesting this, but rather am warning off others who might be tempted to purchase this travesty of an instructional aide.

Not only is it pretty clear Leone doesn't know jack about FM, but when he presents magenta as being green, one knows something's amiss! And I know it's petty, but why does a supposed FM "expert" repeatedly show the product name as Frame Maker (two words)? There are typos elsewhere, incidentally.

As I complained to VTC, FM is an *expensive* SW app for business purposes, most likely used by techwriters who are already voiced in electronic publishing. A tutorial, then, shouldn't be condescending. Here, it seems as if the instructor is attempting to teach complete neophytes how FM compares to Word as a word processor, as if we're going to rush out and buy a copy for personal correspondence use. Obviously, this misses the mark by a long shot.

As Leone opens the Print dlg box, he doesn't begin to explain what printing thumbnails is about; I suspect it's because he hasn't a clue why this is useful. Rather, he quickly glosses over all of the options, without explaining a thing. This is a thinly-veiled presentation trick used by those who don't know their subject matter.

Two complete sections are given over to "Electronic Publishing 101," where we're told — ineffectively and repetitiously, I might add — the differences between process and spot color, between CMYK and RGB, etc. It's also clear during this discussion that Leone has no real idea when one would choose to use spot versus process color, or both.

As a speaker, just try counting how many times he uses the word, "actually," in the sample chapters. It'll drive you crazy.

My advice: stay away. Thankfully, Adobe's Classroom In a Book arrives tomorrow.

By jagdriver at 2007-09-10 12:51 | login or register to post comments

FrameMaker Crash Course

Mark X. Phillips

I don't know of a specific course, but there are a couple of FrameMaker user groups and other resources online.

FrameUsers.com is one.
http://www.frameusers.com/

There are also two on Adobe's FrameMaker resources page:
http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx/.3bbf2746/

Someone in one of these might have a good suggestion.

Good luck. I'd be curious to know what you find. I'm going to be in a similar situation soon.

mark

By MarkXP at 2007-09-06 12:27 | login or register to post comments

try the free 30-trial

I'm getting back into the work world myself, and just last week downloaded the 30-day free trial. There aren't any built-in tutorials, but I was able to find a tutorial for an older version (5 point something) online from, I believe, Rutgers. Ah, here it is: http://bizntech.rutgers.edu/courses/415/framemaker_tutorial/tutorial_02.html
That'll at least walk you through the basics.
Rox

By Roxanne Richardson at 2007-09-06 06:57 | login or register to post comments