Customer Reviews

Adobe FrameMaker 7.0 Classroom in a Book

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I purchased this book with the intent to have a basic knowledge of FrameMaker prior to attending formal, instructor-led training. This book has MULTIPLE errors. The software that is included and must be used for the lessons must have been created by someone that never saw the book. How can Adobe release a product with such poor quality control and so many mistakes. Do Not purchase this book unless you have nothing better to do with your time other than getting frustrated.

As an experienced user of FrameMaker I was disappointed both in the lack of truly informative information about FrameMaker 7's new structured document features, as well as the obviousness of the extent to which the book and the corresponding lessons had not been proofread or usability-tested.
That's not to say that Classroom in a Book ("CIAB") for FrameMaker 7 is entirely useless: If you don't know anything about the basic features of FrameMaker such as formatting pages, creating paragraph and character styles, setting up TOCs and Indexes, using Conditional Text, and so on, then the version 7 CIAB retains that useful and well prepared content from the earlier versions 5.5 and 6 CIABs. (This also means that you may be able to learn basic FrameMaker without buying the version 7 CIAB, since the essential changes between the basic operation of version 5.5 and versions 6 or 7 are in the operation of the FrameMaker book window).
In the end it's obvious, even saddening, that Adobe couldn't do better than this feeble and poorly edited effort for version 7 of FrameMaker, particularly the product's new structured documents features. Shame on you Adobe -- show some pride!

In the time since I first posted this review Adobe has evidently announced that it will be re-releasing an updated version of this book. Check [the Adobe Web Site], especially the FrameMaker forum on the Adobe Web site for more details.

For someone trying to learn Framemaker, this book fails from the very start. The first format instruction (Heading 1) does not work (it is inserted into the body, not into the margin). The text supposed to be in colour is black. The character catalog illustrated is not what appears, actually omitting the one that the text says should be inserted. All this happens by page 28. (I was forced by the system to give this book 1 star, but it deserves none.)

The disk that accompanies the book is inaccurate. It made doing the lessons very confusing. I finally had to contact Adobe Press to find out why the lessons and the sample files didn't work as mentioned in the book. They said the disk had errors, they would send me a replacement. But I'm still waiting... it has been over two week since they said they would send a replacement.

And of course like the series of books of the Classroom in a book... it isn't very detailed especially on authoring structured FrameMaker.

I bought this book expecting to learn structured FrameMaker. I was disappointed that with such a major addtion to Frame 6, only 15% of the book (74 pages)covered Structured FrameMaker.

I do have to say that, the rest of the book is very good and gives some good examples of how to perform some advanced formatting features. But, like I said, if your looking to learn Structured FrameMaker, this is not the book for you.

I don't know why all these reviewers hate the book. Granted the instructions to install the fonts were wrong and sometimes the fonts the lessons require aren't there, but I can live with that. The instructions are right and the lessons work. Yes I wish it was in color, but I can live with B&W too. I've done eleven lessons and have enjoyed the book very much. I love the power of FrameMaker and think the book is good. I think Adobe/Peachpit press has gotten its act together since these reviews were written. The book is worth getting now.

I contacted Peachpit Press and received a new CD for this book in two days. I am working through the lessons. I have always liked this format for learning Adobe products.

Unless you get excited about not knowing where your actual data resides, how to back it up to protect your investment and you love crashing your computer and living in a fog...under no circumstances should you buy the e-book (download) version of Adobe FrameMaker 7.0 Classroom in a Book. I would also suggest never attempting to install the Adobe E-Book reader on your computer. It is far from a mature and useful product.

I thought this book was a great introduction to FrameMaker. I am a novice in the area of publishing. I was asked by my employer, to create a handbook for our department. This book walked me through all the basic steps to create the book.

Someone mentioned in an earlier review that some of the fonts on the lesson CD did not translate into fonts within the software, but FrameMaker will translate those fonts into similar fonts. This did not seem to have a negative impact on the lessons.

Even though the book was written for FrameMaker 7.0, I used it with the software for FrameMaker 8.0. There were a few minor navigation differences, but even this novice could figure out what to do.

Having just finished the book and lessons, I will be applying my knowledge to begin creating my department's handbook and will definitely utilize the book as a reference guide during the process.

This book is essentially an excellent learning book for FrameMaker. It covers most of unstructered FrameMaker's features. Adobe should be ashamed for publishing their Classroom in a book series with perfect binding. No learning product should be perfect bound because the book does not stay open to the page you need unless you destroy the binding.
Spiral bind your learning products Adobe!

Another minor criticism is that the lessons are a little too much aimed at graphics-oriented layouts. Most folks learning FrameMaker need technical writing centric lessons. It would be better if more importance was put on building great formatting for paragraph and character tags, and header and footers for technical layouts.

Despite my criticisms, it is an excellent book to learn FrameMaker basics.