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Adobe FrameMaker is now a more powerful structured authoring tool than ever; thanks to a DITA plug-in you can download from leximation.com. Developed by Leximation and Silicon Publishing, Inc., the plugin lets authors compose DITA-structured information with all the powerful authoring and publishing features of Adobe FrameMaker. It works in FrameMaker 7.2, 8, and 9.
"This release of DITA-FMx brings structured authoring to a new level," said Max Dunn of Silicon Publishing. "Its combination of information management, rendition, and authoring technology gives us publishing capabilities we've wanted for years."
DITA-FMx 1.1 implements the DITA 1.1 specification. DITA is a non-proprietary information typing architecture that helps authors manage information for multiple uses by structuring it into universal, re-usable concepts. Invented at IBM to control the complexities of software documentation, DITA is used throughout the software industry and is being adopted by other industries for documentation management.
Examples of Features
Features of DITA-FMx 1.1 include:
- Nested references resolved "on disk" so reference-heavy files open nearly 200 percent faster.
- 100 percent DITA-compliant files that can be used with other DITA XML editors.
- Custom element templates, allowing for re-use of topic structures.
- Integration of FrameMaker callouts in FrameMaker-generated content.
- Support for multiple marker types in FrameMaker, which round-trip as DITA data elements.
- Advanced disk-based content search capabilities so users can search files based on text, element, or attribute values.
- A hot-key (Alt+F1) for context-sensitive help on DITA elements, which you can customize.
- Integration with all versions of the DITA Open Toolkit.
- Seamless integration with XDocs 2.x XML CMS from Bluestream (www.bluestream.com).
More features are listed at leximation.com, where you can download a trial version of DITA-FMx 1.1 for free.
The Developers
DITA-FMx 1.1 is the latest product co-developed by publishing software experts Leximation and Silicon Publishing, Inc. This team partnered on the design and creation of the first FrameMaker DITA plug-in (the Adobe FrameMaker 7.2 Application Pack for DITA) for Adobe Systems, Inc.
About Leximation
Leximation provides tools and solutions for print and online publishing, offering plugins for FrameMaker as well as consulting, file conversion, and custom development services. Leximation has extensive experience in creating highly customized help systems in HTML, HTML Help, and AIR Help. For more information, go to http://www.leximation.com.
About Silicon Publishing
Serving such corporations as Adobe, McGraw Hill, Symantec, and Royal Caribbean, Silicon Publishing automates the distribution of information to multiple channels by building custom applications that let you author and aggregate content, manage editorial and review processes, and deliver high-quality output to print and interactive electronic media.
Silicon Publishing is also an Adobe-authorized reseller, trainer, and solution provider for Adobe InDesign Server and Adobe Scene7.
In addition to DITA-FMx, Silicon Publishing also offers Silicon Catalog, Silicon Reader, and Silicon Designer. These three publishing applications facilitate publishing and authoring in structured and unstructured forms, across a spectrum of document types'from signage, postcards and brochures to books, catalogs, and technical documents.
Silicon Publishing products can be licensed for front-end branding.
To schedule a demo, call Silicon Publishing at (925) 935-3899.