Reinstate RoboHelp for FrameMaker
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Author:
n/a -
Send To:
Macromedia, Inc
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Sponsored By:
the RHF Mutineers -
More Info at:
A petition to:
Rob Burgess
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Anthony Olivier
Senior Vice President, General Manager
Macromedia, Inc.
600 Townsend Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
We, the undersigned, ask that Macromedia reinstate its recently discontinued software RoboHelp for FrameMaker.
When considering this request, we ask that Macromedia take the following into account:
1. Perhaps, in light of its recent acquisition of eHelp Corp., Macromedia is not fully aware of the differences between what appears to be two alternatives for Adobe FrameMaker users who need to publish their content online. To those of us who have used these products, RoboHelp X5 and RoboHelp for FrameMaker could not be more different.
RoboHelpX5 requires that content be imported; RoboHelp for FrameMaker provides a live link between source files and help project. X5 requires FrameMaker files to be saved in a different format; RHF does not. X5 users must re-import changed files to update the help project; RHFs live connection ensures that source file changes are immediately mirrored in the help project. X5 is essentially a Word tool; RHF was made for FrameMaker.
RoboHelp X5 is just not a viable alternative to RoboHelp for FrameMaker.
2. It takes time for new products to catch on. Where smaller companies may be able to adopt new products and technology relatively quickly, larger companies move much more slowly and require time to evaluate, have meetings, make recommendations, get approvals, and finally make their purchase. RoboHelp for FrameMaker is a product in its infancy, having been launched only 10 months ago; hardly enough time to develop much of a market share. However, time enough to be recognized by those who have been using it as a revolutionary help-authoring tool. Time enough to develop a passionate, loyal following.
RoboHelp for FrameMaker if given a fair chance will become the help-authoring tool of choice for FrameMaker users.
3. RoboHelp for FrameMaker has been bought, in good faith, by FrameMaker users around the world who no doubt assumed that this product would be available for a long time. Therefore, news of it being discontinued came as a great shock. However, disbelief quickly gave way to outrage. Surely the decision to discontinue RoboHelp for FrameMaker was not made overnight, yet the product continued to be sold. Now users are left with little support, dismal choices, and a feeling theyve been had.
Macromedias credibility is being seriously questioned.
4. Prior to July 30, 2004, there were three products offered as help-authoring tools to FrameMaker users. If RoboHelp for FrameMaker is not reinstated, and as RoboHelp X5 is not a viable alternative, then FrameMaker users will be left with but one reluctant choice: Web Works Publisher.
Macromedia will lose customers to the competition.
In summary, we feel that Macromedia has done a great disservice not only to its customers but to itself. In shelving RoboHelp for FrameMaker, Macromedia is killing a revolutionary product, discounting the effort that went into developing it, and displaying little concern for the time and money invested by its customers in acquiring it. None of these is quickly forgotten or forgiven.
Please reconsider and reinstate RoboHelp for FrameMaker.
Rob Burgess
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Anthony Olivier
Senior Vice President, General Manager
Macromedia, Inc.
600 Townsend Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
We, the undersigned, ask that Macromedia reinstate its recently discontinued software RoboHelp for FrameMaker.
When considering this request, we ask that Macromedia take the following into account:
1. Perhaps, in light of its recent acquisition of eHelp Corp., Macromedia is not fully aware of the differences between what appears to be two alternatives for Adobe FrameMaker users who need to publish their content online. To those of us who have used these products, RoboHelp X5 and RoboHelp for FrameMaker could not be more different.
RoboHelpX5 requires that content be imported; RoboHelp for FrameMaker provides a live link between source files and help project. X5 requires FrameMaker files to be saved in a different format; RHF does not. X5 users must re-import changed files to update the help project; RHFs live connection ensures that source file changes are immediately mirrored in the help project. X5 is essentially a Word tool; RHF was made for FrameMaker.
RoboHelp X5 is just not a viable alternative to RoboHelp for FrameMaker.
2. It takes time for new products to catch on. Where smaller companies may be able to adopt new products and technology relatively quickly, larger companies move much more slowly and require time to evaluate, have meetings, make recommendations, get approvals, and finally make their purchase. RoboHelp for FrameMaker is a product in its infancy, having been launched only 10 months ago; hardly enough time to develop much of a market share. However, time enough to be recognized by those who have been using it as a revolutionary help-authoring tool. Time enough to develop a passionate, loyal following.
RoboHelp for FrameMaker if given a fair chance will become the help-authoring tool of choice for FrameMaker users.
3. RoboHelp for FrameMaker has been bought, in good faith, by FrameMaker users around the world who no doubt assumed that this product would be available for a long time. Therefore, news of it being discontinued came as a great shock. However, disbelief quickly gave way to outrage. Surely the decision to discontinue RoboHelp for FrameMaker was not made overnight, yet the product continued to be sold. Now users are left with little support, dismal choices, and a feeling theyve been had.
Macromedias credibility is being seriously questioned.
4. Prior to July 30, 2004, there were three products offered as help-authoring tools to FrameMaker users. If RoboHelp for FrameMaker is not reinstated, and as RoboHelp X5 is not a viable alternative, then FrameMaker users will be left with but one reluctant choice: Web Works Publisher.
Macromedia will lose customers to the competition.
In summary, we feel that Macromedia has done a great disservice not only to its customers but to itself. In shelving RoboHelp for FrameMaker, Macromedia is killing a revolutionary product, discounting the effort that went into developing it, and displaying little concern for the time and money invested by its customers in acquiring it. None of these is quickly forgotten or forgiven.
Please reconsider and reinstate RoboHelp for FrameMaker.
200 Signatures
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Liz Johnston
- City, Country
- Vancouver, Canada
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- RHF is the Best!
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Peter Lucas
- City, Country
- Fresno, USA
- RHF user
- No
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Burtin Hart
- City, Country
- Fremont, CA U.S.A.
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- RHF is the tool FrameMaker users have been waiting for.
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Thomas Bro
- City, Country
- Denmark
- RHF user
- No
- Was considering buying RHF
- No
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Jeanne Wiegelmann
- City, Country
- Israel
- RHF user
- No
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Niels Fanшe
- City, Country
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- RHF user
- No
- Was considering buying RHF
- No
- Comment
- Had the demo. Had planned to buy. Happy with WebWorks, but the FlashHelp format is ingenious.
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David Lee
- City, Country
- Newcastle, UK
- RHF user
- No
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Yves Barbion
- City, Country
- Gent, Belgium
- RHF user
- No
- Was considering buying RHF
- No
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Vjeko Arko
- City, Country
- Germany
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- Our last documentation-project wouldn`t have been possible without RHF! We built on RFH, it`s a great tool!
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Rouven Sauer
- City, Country
- Eberbach, Germany
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- Every Framemaker-User needs RHF for single source publishing.
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Phil Pinder
- City, Country
- Sophia Antipolis, France
- RHF user
- No
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Gavin Ireland MISTC
- City, Country
- Norwich, UK
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- Gutted!
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Joerg Ertelt
- City, Country
- Lichtenstein
- RHF user
- No
- Was considering buying RHF
- No
- Comment
- Great tool. works fine, more better than WebWorks Publisher
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Ken Jacobs
- City, Country
- Blacksburg, VA USA
- RHF user
- No
- Was considering buying RHF
- No
- Comment
- Please keep RoboHelp for Framemaker!
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Suzanne Vaughan
- City, Country
- Miami, Florida, USA
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- I wish RHF supported 2-byte text
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Karol E. Hammer
- City, Country
- Lebanon, NH USA
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- A lot of folks lose credibility as a result of this decision -- those who so aggressively marketed the product, right up to the end; Macromedia, eHelp and those of us who worked so hard to convince corporate decision makers that RHF was the way to go, then spent corporate $$ obtaining it, and more corporate $$ converting our documentation, and now face having to spend still more corporate $$ going through the same process all over again with another, inferior product.
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Portia Westfall
- City, Country
- Rochester, NY
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- Please - we spent months getting this to work, and it's hands down better than X5 or any other competitor's product!
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Marcia Geier
- City, Country
- Acton, MA
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- I finally transferred all my online help to this superior product and now you are killing it?!?!?!?!
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K. Astry
- City, Country
- Broomfield, USA
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- Please bring it back!! I didn't like WWP.
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Lori Pennington
- City, Country
- Boise, USA
- RHF user
- No
- Was considering buying RHF
- No
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Kathi Chapman
- City, Country
- Boise, US
- RHF user
- No
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Kristina Mansson
- City, Country
- Montreal, Canada
- RHF user
- No
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Charles Abrisch
- City, Country
- Broomfield, USA
- RHF user
- No
- Was considering buying RHF
- No
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Sonia Nairne
- City, Country
- Windsor, CT
- RHF user
- No
- Was considering buying RHF
- No
- Comment
- This program was a godsend and I was looking forward to further editions
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Jeana Hines
- City, Country
- Portland, USA
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- I completely agree with each of the four points in this petition. Having been sold RHF and then immediately after receiving many, many ads via email and snail mail for the X5 version which I had already determined did not meet my needs. At that point, I was merely annoid. Now, having been informed of RHF's fate, I am offended and angry, and definitely feel "ripped off".
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Logendra Naidoo
- City, Country
- OTTAWA, CANADA
- RHF user
- No
- Was considering buying RHF
- No
- Comment
- MOST ADVANCED ROBO PRODUCT GONE
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BJ Foster
- City, Country
- Worthington, Ohio, USA
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- RHFM saves me hours compared to other RoboHelp products.
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Ryan Minaker
- City, Country
- Toronto, Canada
- RHF user
- No
- Was considering buying RHF
- No
- Comment
- A fantastic product. Please bring it back.
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Dawn Rada
- City, Country
- Minneapolis, MN, USA
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- I spend part of my budget this year on RFH. RHF was dream come true - I could finally capitalize on my FrameMaker files. I could now for the first time, single-source my help systems and User Guides for multiple hardware families and software platforms.
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Charlie Williams
- City, Country
- United States
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- RHF is working for me. I have single-sourced all the docs using RHF. Almost all tech writers use FrameMaker, and the market for RHF is potentially huge. What's the rush to discontinue RHF? It doesn't make any sense.
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Joy Birck
- City, Country
- Surrey, Canada
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- After determining that RoboHelp for FrameMaker was the best tool for a huge project, I spent countless hours setting up thousands of pages and hundreds of files, linking the converted FrameMaker files into our current Help system as a much-needed reference, and getting our own customers on board with the new and improved format. Now Macromedia is discontinuing the product and trying to pass off RoboHelp X5 as an alternative?? Maybe we should all be looking for alternatives to RoboHelp and other big revenue-generators.
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Brian Jennings
- City, Country
- Boise
- RHF user
- No
- Was considering buying RHF
- No
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Maria Izzo
- City, Country
- Montreal, Canada
- RHF user
- No
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Renee
- City, Country
- Richmond, Canada
- RHF user
- No
- Was considering buying RHF
- No
- Comment
- В
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Jeff Mason
- City, Country
- Rochester, USA
- RHF user
- No
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Pamela Wesley
- City, Country
- Birmingham, AL USA
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- I was not even notified that it had been discontinued.
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Ada Lai
- City, Country
- South San Francisco, CA, USA
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- we NEED this product
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Meenakshi Sharma
- City, Country
- Mountain View, USA
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- I use both RHF and RHO X5--they are not interchangeable.
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Lynn Melanson
- City, Country
- Montreal, Canada
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- Having a very low tolerance for ill-conceived, awkward software, there is only one thing I can say about RoboHelp for FrameMaker: it is simply brilliant. This is the help-authoring tool I have been waiting for. RHF was made for FrameMaker; no other RoboHelp product can ever hope to take its place. Macromedia, how dare you kill this inspired product. No wonder there was no press release, no announcement.
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Mathijs Panhuijsen
- City, Country
- Amsterdam
- RHF user
- No
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Iain Lang
- City, Country
- Toronto, Canada
- RHF user
- No
- Was considering buying RHF
- No
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Lynda J Bennett
- City, Country
- Canada
- RHF user
- No
- Was considering buying RHF
- No
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Ben Deane
- City, Country
- Petaluma, USA
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- RHF is the choice for online delivery of FM content, and is the cornerstone of our online documentation strategy.
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KELLEY BENNETT
- City, Country
- Sarasota, Florida USA
- RHF user
- No
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Crystal Johnson
- City, Country
- Houston, TX
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- RHF is a nice, much cleaner alternative to Web Works. Simply put, it's much easier to work with a direct link to FrameMaker rather than MIFs and lots of manual clean up.
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Beth Thoenen
- City, Country
- Burlington, MA, USA
- RHF user
- No
- Was considering buying RHF
- No
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Debra Freeman
- City, Country
- Richardson, TX, USA
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- Purchased July 15, 2004 (nothing mentioned about discontinuation of product)
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Kathy Kron
- City, Country
- Englewood, USA
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- The integration of RoboHelp with FrameMaker is wonderful.
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Angela Athy
- City, Country
- Omaha, NE USA
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- When I saw the demo of this tool last year I was amazed and my company purchased two licenses right when it was released. I have used 3 other HATs and was most impressed with this tool-especially in its first release! There was great promise for future development. I'd love to see development of this tool reinstated by Macromedia.
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LauraKate Barrett
- City, Country
- Tallahassee, FL
- RHF user
- No
- Comment
- This is an unbelievably short-sighted decision by Macromedia. I have previously been a licensed user of DreamWeaver and Fireworks. I have of this date discontinued my use of these products, as I no longer have confidence in Macromedia's understanding of or willingness to support their customer base.
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200
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