An overview of FrameMaker and RoboHelp integration

August 9, 2011 | Matt Sullivan

Recently I responded to a post on the LinkedIn Friends of FrameMaker group. The poster was inquiring on the state of the integration between RoboHelp and FrameMaker. Here’s the relevant part of that post:

I've used the conversion in all three versions of TCS. It's definitely gotten better with each subsequent version.

For me, there are 2 main concepts to keep in mind:

1-Consistent content maps well into RoboHelp.Content should all be explicitly mapped to styles in RH, not trying to use the original FM formatting. Search for FM_ in your HTML; if found, you need to correct your mappings

2-Consider the difference between formatting and content. RoboHelp maps content, not formatting.Tables for warnings, notes and cautions, frames above and below paras, autonumbering are all examples of formatting. (A rule of thumb: If you define in ref pages or in the para designer, it's formatting)

Much frustration can be avoided if you recognize that HTML formatting is a different skill than FM formatting.