Advantages of AuthorIt Over Framemaker

Here, I would like to point out the advantages of AuthorIT (AIT) over FrameMaker (FM):

• Common Source Files Location:

  AuthorIT is a complete documentation tool that can be used by all the members in a company at the same time. This means that all the source files that every person in the company is working on are at the same location. Hence, there is no fear of source files being lost or misplaced, and even if one computer crashes, then the files can always be retrieved from another computer.

• Multiple Output Options:

  It is easy to convert source files to various outputs by just a single click. You can convert the AIT source files into the following formats:
  • Word
  • PDF
  • HTML Pages
  • XHTML Pages
  • Windows Help
  • HTML Help
  • Java Help
  • Oracle Help for Java
  • DITA
  • XML
  • Website Manager

• Direct Output Generation:

  It is possible to convert AIT source files into any output directly. Unlike FM, there is no need for an intermediate software for this conversion in AIT.

• Bulk Handling:

  It is possible to handle bulk of source files within AIT at the same location. It is very handy to have all the documents at the same place.

• Format Retention:

  AIT conversions retain the formats of the output files. The converted word document retains all the styles. Also, the help generated retains all the tags.

• Handling Variables:

  AIT allows working with variables so that different values can be assigned to them while output generation.

• Revert History Option:

  It is possible in AIT to revert to an earlier date source file incase there has been some problem and the files are corrupted.

There are lot more benefits but these are the ones that made the most impact on me as a technical author. I intend to continue with AIT unless something better comes up.