Cost- and Time-Saving Benefits of Structured FrameMaker® 7 & XML for Localization
By Doug Pearson, Localization / Application Development Engineer, ENLASO Corporation
FrameMaker1 has long been an industry standard for authoring and publishing large documents. A few years back, FrameMaker 7.0 introduced the ability to use a structured document model that correlates closely with the kind of structured files specified by the XML standard. This dramatically increases the effectiveness of FrameMaker as an authoring/publishing tool, and also greatly streamlines the localization process for FrameMaker documents.
Structured FrameMaker and publishing
One of the most powerful benefits of using Structured FrameMaker is that it can be configured to apply formatting in a document automatically. Formatting items such as paragraph and character tags (or overrides) can be assigned automatically to a range of text, based on the element(s) that contain the text, and the metadata attributes specified by the elements. Not only does this speed up publishing time, but this also enables publishers to start working with documents more quickly. Less training is required, regarding format tags, than with unstructured FrameMaker documents.
Structured editing in FrameMaker helps enforce correct document structure and proper formatting. Operator error is reduced, and consistency is enforced, as more format decisions are made automatically. The structure view confines the operator to insertion of approved elements. Although it is possible to make an error in structured FrameMaker, it does take some effort to override the rules of the EDD and structured application.
FrameMaker XML and localization
For all of the publishing benefits of structured FrameMaker, perhaps the most important aspect of using structure in FrameMaker documents is that it becomes easy to export and import well-formed XML files for localization (or other) purposes. An immediate benefit to linguists is that XML exported from FrameMaker generally provides a cleaner, simpler-looking file layout to work with compared to FrameMaker documents exported as MIF (Maker Interchange Format).
For customers confined to a narrow budget, XML files are easier to work with by avoiding the use of expensive, proprietary translation tools. Being a common standard, XML files are easier to support by third-party tool developers.
Advantages of FrameMaker attributes and metadata
The fact that metadata can be included as attribute values of the FrameMaker structural elements also benefits localization, as well as other single-source/multiple-output applications. Through fairly simple customization, attribute values can be used to control translation specifications to improve formatting in HTML output through WebWorks. Such values can also add specifications for PDF creation or any number of special requirements for an all-encompassing, FrameMaker-based, single-source publishing project. For instance, metadata can be used to mark text that should not be translated (“do not translate” text); in a more advanced application, it can be used to specify that certain terms should use translations from an alternate glossary instead of the default one.
In summary, since XML is a completely open format: it's possible to create custom applications (via XSLT or other means of transforming XML files) to modify the content and/or structure of XML files, as required for your publishing purposes.
About the author of this article
Doug Pearson has been developing custom FrameMaker applications for ENLASO and its clients for nearly a decade. He is experienced in desktop publishing (especially FrameMaker), programming (especially C++), localization engineering, XML (and other forms of structured/hierarchical document design), single-source document design for multiple-format output, and in anticipating the needs of production staff throughout every stage of the publishing and localization process; these are all requirements for developing holistic, all-encompassing, custom solutions for a diverse collection of clients. Among his other accomplishments, he has developed dozens of plug-ins for both structured and non-structured versions of FrameMaker. He holds a BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University.
