From: ask@sei.cmu.edu (Alan Koch)
Newsgroups: comp.text.frame
Subject: Re: Framemaker gripes (long article)
Date: 10 Apr 92 13:18:34 GMT
Organization: The Software Engineering Institute


In article <1992Apr9.221223.16518@pony.Ingres.COM>, sstark@Ingres.COM (Scott Stark) writes:
|> 
|>      The following is an opinionated listing of various problems, gripes
|>      and inadequacies discovered using Framemaker 3.0 for the Macintosh. 

I MUST commend Scott for his gripes!  They are an EXCELLENT example of
1.  Researching the topic -- except for my notes below, he was exactly right
    in his statement of how Frame works,
2.  Not flaming, but giving useful comments and information.
If only more gripes took this form!

Frame; are you listening?  Read his gripes carefully!

ask
============================================================================

|>      4.   Word Processing.  Frame's word processing capability is a strong
|>           selling point; however, there are a few problems.
|> 
|>           a.   Spell Checker.  The Spelling Checker is pretty good, but it
|>                would be useful to have a "skip once" as well as "allow in
|>                document" button.  Also, it should correct every instance of
|>                a misspelled word.

  In the Spell Checker window, there is a check-box you can turn on which
  says, " Correct Future Occurrances Also".

|>           c.   "No insertion point."  This annoying message appears if you
|>                choose Find and haven't clicked on the text in the active
|>                file.  I can't think of any reason why you'd want to search
|>                for something without first inserting the cursor.  Frame
|>                should assume you want to search the active window without
|>                requiring you to click on the text.

  Since you can have many documents open at once, FrameMaker needs to know
  which one to check.  I agree with their requirement for you to explicitly
  tell the system where to look.

|> 
|>           d.   Change & Find.  Going through a document and selectively
|>                changing found text requires you to move the mouse cursor
|>                back and forth between the Change & Find buttons and the
|>                Find button (if you elect not to change).  This makes the
|>                process tedious.  Most word processors allow you to select Y
|>                or N from the keyboard.

  Frame gives you keyboard ways to do EVERYTHING!  In the Search window, tab
  until the Change & Search Again button is the active button.  (Note that
  Search is the default button.)  Now the space bar will activate Change &
  Search and the Return key will activate Search.  (At least this is true in
  the X version.)

|>           f.   You cannot select alternate paragraphs.  This would be
|>                useful when, say, every other paragraph required an
|>                automatic number.

  Basic Property Sheet: Next Paragraph  You can specify that Paragraph tag A
  should be followed by B and B should be followed by A.  (If I understand you
  properly.) 

|>           k.   Copying to the clipboard doesn't always work, especially
|>                after first starting Frame.

  Known bug.

|>      7.   General usability.  I have been accused of being a PC bigot, but
|>           I believe that for many functions it is faster, easier, and more
|>           efficient to enter commands from the keyboard than to use the
|>           mouse.  The keyboard requires less eye strain and hand movement. 
|>           Simply typing "Y" to a prompt is certainly easier than locating
|>           the Yes button, locating the pointer, moving it to the button and
|>           clicking, and you don't even have to look at the screen to do so. 
|>           I would like to have the option to use the keyboard whenever
|>           possible.  This would include answering yes/no prompts as well as
|>           selecting files, tags, format-from files, etc. from scrolling and
|>           pull-down lists.  (You can, for example, select a file name from
|>           the Open File dialogue box, but only if you type very quickly and
|>           accurately.)  Some specific things:

  There are keyboard ways to do almost EVERYTHING.  Look at your Shortcuts
  document.  I believe everthing you mentioned is in there (except "Drop-down"
  menus -- I've never seen such a thing.)