Comments on: RoboHelp 7 provides some competition for MadCap’s Flare http://blog.paulpehrson.com/2007/12/24/robohelp-7-provides-some-competition-for-madcaps-flare/ Paul Pehrson's technical writing blog Wed, 08 Oct 2008 06:05:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: cw http://blog.paulpehrson.com/2007/12/24/robohelp-7-provides-some-competition-for-madcaps-flare/#comment-57483 cw Fri, 30 May 2008 00:24:28 +0000 http://blog.paulpehrson.com/2007/12/24/robohelp-7-provides-some-competition-for-madcaps-flare/#comment-57483 Would like some advice on either upgrading robohelp 6 to 7 or switching to something else. Our main issues are the search and index features. Is there any HAT available that can actually be setup to search like Google with improved cross referencing of items that are searched? Thanks for any helpful info....<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('57483','cw'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('57483','cw','Would like some advice on either upgrading robohelp 6 to 7 or switching to something else. Our main issues are the search and index features. Is there any HAT available that can actually be setup to search like Google with improved cross referencing of items that are searched? Thanks for any helpful info....'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Would like some advice on either upgrading robohelp 6 to 7 or switching to something else. Our main issues are the search and index features. Is there any HAT available that can actually be setup to search like Google with improved cross referencing of items that are searched? Thanks for any helpful info….
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]]> By: brian http://blog.paulpehrson.com/2007/12/24/robohelp-7-provides-some-competition-for-madcaps-flare/#comment-55320 brian Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:24:31 +0000 http://blog.paulpehrson.com/2007/12/24/robohelp-7-provides-some-competition-for-madcaps-flare/#comment-55320 Interesting stuff - currently looking for a Robohelp alternatives (used it since it was really innovative i.e. pre Adobe!) - now totally fed up with lack of new features and the rip off of non-US customers (twice the price and you can't buy the US version outside the states). Looks as though Madcap's Flare might be the way to go... Guess Robohelp is heading into the footnotes of software history<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('55320','brian'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('55320','brian','Interesting stuff - currently looking for a Robohelp alternatives (used it since it was really innovative i.e. pre Adobe!) - now totally fed up with lack of new features and the rip off of non-US customers (twice the price and you can\'t buy the US version outside the states). \r\nLooks as though Madcap\'s Flare might be the way to go...\r\n\r\nGuess Robohelp is heading into the footnotes of software history'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Interesting stuff - currently looking for a Robohelp alternatives (used it since it was really innovative i.e. pre Adobe!) - now totally fed up with lack of new features and the rip off of non-US customers (twice the price and you can’t buy the US version outside the states).
Looks as though Madcap’s Flare might be the way to go…

Guess Robohelp is heading into the footnotes of software history

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]]> By: Tracy Tech Writer http://blog.paulpehrson.com/2007/12/24/robohelp-7-provides-some-competition-for-madcaps-flare/#comment-51884 Tracy Tech Writer Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:07:48 +0000 http://blog.paulpehrson.com/2007/12/24/robohelp-7-provides-some-competition-for-madcaps-flare/#comment-51884 Great review. I think adobe's commitment to robohelp and frame and the new Tech Comm suite is making madcap nervous. They need to be kept nervous as their own product suite is badly tested and difficult to use......potential perhaps, but a long way to go.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('51884','Tracy Tech Writer'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('51884','Tracy Tech Writer','Great review. I think adobe\'s commitment to robohelp and frame and the new Tech Comm suite is making madcap nervous. They need to be kept nervous as their own product suite is badly tested and difficult to use......potential perhaps, but a long way to go.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Great review. I think adobe’s commitment to robohelp and frame and the new Tech Comm suite is making madcap nervous. They need to be kept nervous as their own product suite is badly tested and difficult to use……potential perhaps, but a long way to go.
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]]> By: paul http://blog.paulpehrson.com/2007/12/24/robohelp-7-provides-some-competition-for-madcaps-flare/#comment-49572 paul Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:10:27 +0000 http://blog.paulpehrson.com/2007/12/24/robohelp-7-provides-some-competition-for-madcaps-flare/#comment-49572 Storymaker, Welcome to my blog! The font is called Jenkins 2.0. I found it while surfing some font website. I hope you like Flare. I think it is a fantastic tool. If you haven't already, you should join us in the <a href="http://forums.madcapsoftware.com" rel="nofollow">MadCap User Forums</a>. Have a great day!<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('49572','paul'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('49572','paul','Storymaker,\r\n\r\nWelcome to my blog! The font is called Jenkins 2.0. I found it while surfing some font website. \r\n\r\nI hope you like Flare. I think it is a fantastic tool. If you haven\'t already, you should join us in the <a href=\"http:\/\/forums.madcapsoftware.com\" rel=\"nofollow\">MadCap User Forums<\/a>.\r\n\r\nHave a great day!'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Storymaker,

Welcome to my blog! The font is called Jenkins 2.0. I found it while surfing some font website.

I hope you like Flare. I think it is a fantastic tool. If you haven’t already, you should join us in the MadCap User Forums.

Have a great day!

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]]> By: storymaker http://blog.paulpehrson.com/2007/12/24/robohelp-7-provides-some-competition-for-madcaps-flare/#comment-49556 storymaker Fri, 18 Jan 2008 10:36:23 +0000 http://blog.paulpehrson.com/2007/12/24/robohelp-7-provides-some-competition-for-madcaps-flare/#comment-49556 Hi Paul, You have put up really hands-on coverage of Flare. As I have started using the tool recently, I am finding your content helpful. Just a side-question, what is the name of the font of your titles (red colored text). Looks pretty! Thanks, Storymaker<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('49556','storymaker'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('49556','storymaker','Hi Paul,\r\n\r\nYou have put up really hands-on coverage of Flare. As I have started using the tool recently, I am finding your content helpful. Just a side-question, what is the name of the font of your titles (red colored text). Looks pretty!\r\n\r\nThanks,\r\nStorymaker'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Hi Paul,

You have put up really hands-on coverage of Flare. As I have started using the tool recently, I am finding your content helpful. Just a side-question, what is the name of the font of your titles (red colored text). Looks pretty!

Thanks,
Storymaker

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]]> By: Charles http://blog.paulpehrson.com/2007/12/24/robohelp-7-provides-some-competition-for-madcaps-flare/#comment-47877 Charles Fri, 28 Dec 2007 06:20:56 +0000 http://blog.paulpehrson.com/2007/12/24/robohelp-7-provides-some-competition-for-madcaps-flare/#comment-47877 Paul, excellent points and well, the podcast that I did earlier this month with Mike Hamilton is finally up. It's on my site - check it out at http://charlesjeter.com/2007/12/27/madcaps-vp-mike-hamilton-speaks-dec-7th-2007/ or just http://charlesjeter.com/2007/12/27/ Mike talks so clearly about Madcap's initial strategy taken in building their framework for their product line so the variables makes sense. Summing up, it's about the workflow. Madcap, according to Mike, attacked the problems technical communicators had with their workflow. Because they use the same core technology within each product, Blaze and Flare for example (and Capture and Mimic) save development dollars because of their shared core architecture. Changes in one release will be carried through to the other, i.e. Blaze changes can be carried through to Flare, and vice versa. Additionally, he talks a bit more about Blaze. I'll have to interview Sharon Burton (Product Manager) to get as much as possible, but the downlow is that Blaze could be very heavy indeed. If you can imagine that in order to get the same efficiency as the production environment for Blaze and Flare, FrameMaker and RoboHelp would each have to be completely rebuilt... using the same core technology. After that part of the podcast interview I was totally getting the point of Madcap's competitive edge. Two completely different dev teams (and feature requesting product managers) work on FM and RH, so things have to be coded and tested and implemented twice. That costs money. Lots of money. Adobe's got lots of money but as I've pointed out, returning shareholder value is critical. This past third quarter is going to squeeze things for them next year. It's going to be a hard call about whether they become innovative, as you mention, however it's a hard call specifically because Adobe execs are not going to want to keep tossing money into two non-top tier products such as FrameMaker and RoboHelp without some substantial gains in the marketplace.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('47877','Charles'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('47877','Charles','Paul, excellent points and well, the podcast that I did earlier this month with Mike Hamilton is finally up. It\'s on my site - check it out at \r\nhttp:\/\/charlesjeter.com\/2007\/12\/27\/madcaps-vp-mike-hamilton-speaks-dec-7th-2007\/\r\n\r\nor just\r\nhttp:\/\/charlesjeter.com\/2007\/12\/27\/\r\n\r\nMike talks so clearly about Madcap\'s initial strategy taken in building their framework for their product line so the variables makes sense.\r\n\r\nSumming up, it\'s about the workflow. Madcap, according to Mike, attacked the problems technical communicators had with their workflow. Because they use the same core technology within each product, Blaze and Flare for example (and Capture and Mimic) save development dollars because of their shared core architecture. Changes in one release will be carried through to the other, i.e. Blaze changes can be carried through to Flare, and vice versa.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, he talks a bit more about Blaze. I\'ll have to interview Sharon Burton (Product Manager) to get as much as possible, but the downlow is that Blaze could be very heavy indeed.\r\n\r\nIf you can imagine that in order to get the same efficiency as the production environment for Blaze and Flare, FrameMaker and RoboHelp would each have to be completely rebuilt... using the same core technology.\r\n\r\nAfter that part of the podcast interview I was totally getting the point of Madcap\'s competitive edge. Two completely different dev teams (and feature requesting product managers) work on FM and RH, so things have to be coded and tested and implemented twice. \r\n\r\nThat costs money. \r\n\r\nLots of money. \r\n\r\nAdobe\'s got lots of money but as I\'ve pointed out, returning shareholder value is critical. This past third quarter is going to squeeze things for them next year. It\'s going to be a hard call about whether they become innovative, as you mention, however it\'s a hard call specifically because Adobe execs are not going to want to keep tossing money into two non-top tier products such as FrameMaker and RoboHelp without some substantial gains in the marketplace.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Paul, excellent points and well, the podcast that I did earlier this month with Mike Hamilton is finally up. It’s on my site - check it out at
http://charlesjeter.com/2007/12/27/madcaps-vp-mike-hamilton-speaks-dec-7th-2007/

or just
http://charlesjeter.com/2007/12/27/

Mike talks so clearly about Madcap’s initial strategy taken in building their framework for their product line so the variables makes sense.

Summing up, it’s about the workflow. Madcap, according to Mike, attacked the problems technical communicators had with their workflow. Because they use the same core technology within each product, Blaze and Flare for example (and Capture and Mimic) save development dollars because of their shared core architecture. Changes in one release will be carried through to the other, i.e. Blaze changes can be carried through to Flare, and vice versa.

Additionally, he talks a bit more about Blaze. I’ll have to interview Sharon Burton (Product Manager) to get as much as possible, but the downlow is that Blaze could be very heavy indeed.

If you can imagine that in order to get the same efficiency as the production environment for Blaze and Flare, FrameMaker and RoboHelp would each have to be completely rebuilt… using the same core technology.

After that part of the podcast interview I was totally getting the point of Madcap’s competitive edge. Two completely different dev teams (and feature requesting product managers) work on FM and RH, so things have to be coded and tested and implemented twice.

That costs money.

Lots of money.

Adobe’s got lots of money but as I’ve pointed out, returning shareholder value is critical. This past third quarter is going to squeeze things for them next year. It’s going to be a hard call about whether they become innovative, as you mention, however it’s a hard call specifically because Adobe execs are not going to want to keep tossing money into two non-top tier products such as FrameMaker and RoboHelp without some substantial gains in the marketplace.

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]]> By: Charles http://blog.paulpehrson.com/2007/12/24/robohelp-7-provides-some-competition-for-madcaps-flare/#comment-47785 Charles Thu, 27 Dec 2007 09:54:07 +0000 http://blog.paulpehrson.com/2007/12/24/robohelp-7-provides-some-competition-for-madcaps-flare/#comment-47785 Hey Tom, Great breakdown. I've been reading Tom's post and, without fully testing the TCS I'm not seeing much true innovation also. Fully updated and ready to use with Vista - Check. Not yet ready to fully compete with Flare - Check. Thanks for your breakdown. I'll have that podcast ready sometime tomorrow.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('47785','Charles'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('47785','Charles','Hey Tom,\r\n\r\nGreat breakdown. I\'ve been reading Tom\'s post and, without fully testing the TCS I\'m not seeing much true innovation also. \r\n\r\nFully updated and ready to use with Vista - Check.\r\nNot yet ready to fully compete with Flare - Check.\r\n\r\nThanks for your breakdown. I\'ll have that podcast ready sometime tomorrow.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Hey Tom,

Great breakdown. I’ve been reading Tom’s post and, without fully testing the TCS I’m not seeing much true innovation also.

Fully updated and ready to use with Vista - Check.
Not yet ready to fully compete with Flare - Check.

Thanks for your breakdown. I’ll have that podcast ready sometime tomorrow.

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