Classical Text Processing and DTP Software

Market overview of recommendable text processors and DTP software, especially in connection with the creation of technical documentation and user assistance (user manuals, online help files, demos, tutorials).

Adobe FrameMaker

Price: approx. $999; also available as part of the Technical Communication Suite

FrameScript (in Germany sold under the name ElmScript)

FrameMaker scripting automation and customization tool.

Price: approx. $150

FrameMaker Plugins and FrameScripts

Some providers for FrameMaker Add-ons are:

IXgen

Indexing and marker management productivity tool.

Price: approx. $249

Filtrix

Converts text and graphics from between FrameMaker, Word, HTML, WordPerfect, Interleaf, and others.

Price: approx. $89

Madcap Blaze

Price: approx. $699

Microsoft Word

Price: approx. €279

OpenOffice

The word processor of this well-known office suite follows a concept somewhere in between Microsoft Word and FrameMaker. For Mac users, NeoOffice is a special version of OpenOffice, which supports the standard look and feel of Mac OS.

Price: free (Open Source)

WordPerfect OFFICE

Price: approx. €152

Ability Office

Also includes an easy to use photo and graphics editor.

Price: approx. $50

Kingsoft Office (KSOffice / WPS Office)

Especially common in China

Price: approx. $70

SoftMaker Office

Price: approx. €70

KWord

Powerful, frame-based word-processing and desktop publishing application. Part of the free, integrated office suite for KDE, the K Desktop Environment for Linux.

Price: free (Open Source)

AbiWord

Small, fast, basic cross-platform word processor. Can open Microsoft Word documents.

Price: free (Open Source)

Microsoft Office Publisher

Price: approx. €199

PagePlus

Price: approx. £80

Scribus

DTD Program with the same focus as InDesign or QuarkExpress.

Price: free (Open Source)

LyX

Document processor that encourages an approach to writing based on the structure of your documents (WYSIWYM - What You See Is What You Mean) and not simply their appearance (WYSIWYG). Combines the power and flexibility of TeX/LaTeX with the ease of use of a graphical user interface.

Price: free (Open Source)

FontForge (Open Source, Windows, Linux, Mac)

Allows you to edit outline and bitmap fonts. Also converts between PostScript, TrueType, OpenType, CID and SVG.

DoubleType (Open Source, Windows, Linux, Mac)

Type designer (font editor) to create TrueType font files.

Opcion Font Viewer (Open Source, Windows, Linux)

Font viewer. Allows you to view both installed and uninstalled fonts and thus makes selecting fonts easy.

Do you miss anything that we ought to mention? Did you find any information that is incorrect or obsolete? Please help us to keep this page up to date and let us know. Thank you.

This page was last updated 02/2010.

Keywords relating to this page: tools - software - programs - utilities - text processing - text processors - editors - text editors - office suites - office solutions - DTP - desktop publishing - survey - overview - market overview - review - price - prices - costs.

 

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