FrameMaker 5.5.6 for Dummies

I've read some of the previous reviews & couldn't believe that they were not 5's across the board. Several years ago, I had 2 learn Framemaker very quickly. This book made that possible. Since that time, I've used Framemaker on a day-to-day basis & I still consider _FM_5.5.6_for_Dummies_ 2 be a very good book. (I use FM 6.)

I've tried, over & over, 2 make this book work. But I can't. I'm a beginner & this book makes absolutely no sense, 4 the most part. If you have no experience with FrameMaker, do not go near this book. O'Keefe seems 2 have written this thing without much worry about detail or really taking you throug the process of creating documents. This book is a mess & I've been left 2 look 4 online tutorials.

This book could use some clarity. There's a lot of instruction on how 2 do a lot of things, but there's never a reason 4 why some processes are needed. For a beginner, this book isn't as easy as it should be. RoboHELP 4 Dummies was a phenominal book. This book hardly compares. The author, a technical writer, doesn't break down the why's & I'm left frustrated & starting over. It's too bad there's no real competition 4 a book like this. I really wish there was a more user friendly FrameMaker tutorial.

I own over 500 computer books & this is the first I've felt compelled 2 review, & now only because this book is truly awful. Like many computer people, when I buy a book, I usually give it a quick reading & then look up troublesome items in the index as I work with the program. After a quick reading of FFD I knew little more than when I started, because it's very chaotic, but it wasn't until I started trying 2 use the index that I really grew 2 hate this book. FrameMaker is a program 4 making books, but there is no entry in this book 4 captions, no entry 4 crop marks, no entry 4 color profiles, ICM or Pantone. These are standard words in the publishing biz but they don't even rate an index entry, let alone decent treatment. There isn't even any information on how 2 make FM respect your font selection. You will, however, find an index entry 4 Easter Eggs, & index entries 4 half the people who have written dummies books... Is there anything useful in this book? Sure. You can't write 360 pages about anything without saying something useful, but good luck in finding it.

I have used the few manuals that exist 4 FrameMaker, & this one is the only one I have found really usefull. My work advanced rapidelly with it.

FrameMaker can be intimidating -- but not with FrameMaker 5.5.6 For Dummies! Find out how 2 create technical manuals, research reports, & other long or complex documents -- without spending a fortune on training.

Discover how to

Build books of any length Create templates 2 simplify layout Use indexing tools Output 2 paper, XML, HTML, or PDF Save time by using autonumbering Create & maintain multiple document versions

FrameMaker 5.5.6 For Dummies comes complete with a bonus CD-ROM containing a tryout version of FrameMaker 5.5.6 4 Windows & Macintosh, a QuicKeys demo (Windows/Macintosh), Filtrix & IXGen 5.6 demos (Windows), & trial versions of FrameScript & WebWorks Publisher (Windows).

Dr. John Warnock, CEO of Adobe Systems, Inc., calls FrameMaker 5.5.6 For Dummies "an information-packed book that will make FrameMaker work 4 you." Tap into the power of FrameMaker with FrameMaker 5.5.6 For Dummies.