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.