FMx-Auto

Programmatically generate PDFs from DITA through FrameMaker and DITA-FMx 2.0.

The FMx-Auto "addon" for DITA-FMx provides two things:

• Unlocks a number of API functions in DITA-FMx 2.0 to allow full scripting from other FDK clients, FrameScript, or ExtendScript, letting you fully automate the processing of DITA topics with DITA-FMx.
• A purchase of FMx-Auto includes a license for the AutoFM plugin which provides a simple XML-based scripting mechanism that lets you drive FrameMaker from the command line or other scripting environments.

Even if you don't use FrameMaker for your DITA authoring, you may want to consider the benefits of using it for your PDF publishing. Configuring templates for FrameMaker and DITA-FMx to generate your PDFs is much cheaper and easier than most other options, especially when you take into consideration the fact that you don't need to sacrifice any of your formatting requirements.

If you're already using FrameMaker and DITA-FMx, you may want to use FMx-Auto as a way to consistently generate your PDFs in batch mode from the command line. You can set up a batch file that builds your various PDFs using FMx-Auto in addition to your online Help using DITA2Go, RoboHelp, Flare, or the DITA-OT (or other Help generation tools).

FMx-Auto can be integrated into a larger build process to allow automated PDF generation or it can be run interactively by an individual at any time to provide the latest PDF. This should also be quite easy to integrate with most CMS publishing workflows, provided that they have the ability to: export a map and referenced files to a location on the file system, generate an XML file and batch script, then run that batch script. We have a nice working example of a script for use with Bluestream XDocs that allows the user to run the script to extract files from the repository and generate a PDF from those files. If you'd like to try to set up a similar script for your CMS, just let us know.

Want more information, or something that you can provide to management that explains the benefits? Download our FMx-Auto white paper (PDF) (or the trifold brochure if you prefer color).

FMx-Auto is available in three license types:

• Desktop-250 - For installation on a client desktop (or laptop) computer running FrameMaker 7.2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 2015. When generating an FM book file from a DITA map, the book is limited to 250 pages; any pages beyond 250 are included but are randomly modified.
• Desktop-Unlimited - For installation on a client desktop (or laptop) computer running FrameMaker 7.2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 2015. There is no imposed limit to the number of pages in a generated FM book file.
• Server - For installation on a system running FrameMaker Server (10 and later). There is no imposed limit to the number of pages in a generated FM book file.

The trial version of FMx-Auto is the Desktop-250 license, but has a limitation of 100 pages when generating an FM book from a DITA map.

Licensing Restrictions  DO NOT use the automation products provided by Leximation in a manner that would violate the Adobe FrameMaker EULA. Please review the Leximation EULA for details and links to the related Adobe EULAs.