A day at the office.

Assignment: Input changes based on commented .pdfs with localization review feedback from offsite teams.

Discover that localized text in .eps images requires editing.
Open .fm source files to find imported .eps file name.
Find and check out affected .eps files from Source Safe.
Open application for comparison checking.
Log on to virtual machine to access shared Illustrator seat to edit .eps files.
Copy checked-out .eps files to virtual machine.
Edit .eps files, compare with pdf comments, copy back to .fm folders to view in source, check in.

Repeat as often as necessary, per language.

When I wrote a manufacturing guide in Word, I used Word’s “insert into document and link to source” feature to include the EPS file. When I updated the EPS file, I triggered an update in the Word file to import the new version. No document control. No version control. I see how far behind we were. And I thought we were ahead!

Hi Tony,

I wish it were as easy as you had it with Word.

K

I wonder how many posts we have to submit before we are no longer newbies?

Hmm, I don’t see the previous posts while I’m typing my reply.

Oh, Thread Review, right. Now I see.

Karl, I reread your process and got curious: How do you name your EPS files at your company? Are the names descriptive enough to not require you to reopen the .fm source? I’m sure Frame has a good update links feature (we don’t use it at work, as most of our frame docs are complete entities). Maybe you could keep a separate spreadsheet listing the figure number, caption, EPS filename, and source filename (if different)... doing the work of a CMS in the absence of a CMS. I don’t know if it would actually save any work… but I’m sure it saves time looking stuff up.

We have a similar system for our home filing. My wife started cataloging our file boxes two years ago. Keyword details of each file is stored in different numbered boxes. When we need a file, we look at her spreadsheet, search for the particular keyword, follow the directions to the file box number > file folder label, and voilà!