Resolve known issues and limitations in the latest versions of Adobe Captivate, Adobe FrameMaker, and Adobe RoboHelp.
For more information, see Resolve known issues in Technical Communication Suite.
Product information
Work on long, complex content more productively with the powerful capabilities of Adobe FrameMaker. Author in XML or DITA with a powerful, easy-to-use workspace. Create rich, immersive experiences using online videos and unmatched image handling. Collaborate seamlessly using Online Review. Easily take your content to global audiences with new support for XLIFF. Publish for a range of devices from a single source as WYSIWYG PDF, Responsive HTML5, EPUB, mobile app, and more.
Adobe FrameMaker is designed for:
- Technical communicators, information architects, designers, developers, web developers, and other documentation specialists. Authors of complex, topic-based XML (DITA, XDocBook, custom XML, and S1000D) or non-XML template-based technical documentation who wants to easily write, review, and publish content for mobile, web, desktop, and print. They need a scalable, bidirectional authoring and publishing solution that enables them to natively single-source popular standards-compliant* content and publish it to multiple channels, formats, and devices.
- Existing Adobe FrameMaker users who want:
- A fast, future-ready solution that significantly boosts performance using an all-new 64-bit architecture.
- Productivity gains through an intuitive user interface, compatibility with leading documentation standards (DITA, XDocBook, custom XML, S1000D etc.), an integrated toolset, and a versatile authoring environment.
- To effortlessly work on both XML and non-XML-based documentation in a WYSIWYG authoring solution.
- Right-to-left language support.
- Wider consumption of content by distributing it as content-centric mobile apps for iOS and Android.
- Technical subject matter experts and engineers who need to create comprehensive technical content, including test plans, designs, reports, and product specifications. They increasingly want to include 3D models, complex graphics, and simulations in their documents and often seek solutions with these rich media capabilities. Support for right-to-left languages helps them reach wider audiences.
- Users of earlier releases of FrameMaker who can boost performance with the latest release of Adobe FrameMaker, built on an all-new 64-bit architecture. Effortlessly work on long, complex XML and non-XML documents. Create rich, immersive content with unmatched image handling capabilities. Open or publish PDF and HTML5 files up to 65% faster. Do more in less time with new capabilities, powered by the latest technologies. Get started with XML/DITA authoring with an easy-to-use workspace, productivity enhancements, and lots more.
- Subject matter experts and casual authors to create XML content easily by simply filling in form-like templates that can be custom-designed for them.
*Adobe FrameMaker allows users to create content compliant with popular industry standards, such as DITA 1.3 and 1.2, LwDITA, custom XML standards, and S1000D.
Adobe FrameMaker is a complete tool for large, complex bidirectional technical content that enables:
- Template-based, non-XML and XML/DITA authoring.
- Review and collaboration (for Online Review services from Adobe FrameMaker, one must have Adobe Technical Communication Suite.)
- Rich media integration.
- Multichannel publishing — Mobile App, Responsive HTML5, PDF, EPUB, Kindle, and Microsoft HTML (CHM).
Adobe Technical Communication Suite is all one needs to transform technical content into exceptional experiences. The suite empowers technical communicators to:
- Easily author long, complex XML and non-XML documents.
- Deliver highly personalized interactive Help experiences with best-in-class search.
- Create responsive eLearning content and transform presentations to enable on-demand learning.
- Publish content across channels, formats and devices.
- Collaborate in real time with shared PDF review.
Adobe Technical Communication Suite combines:
- Adobe FrameMaker
- Adobe RoboHelp
- Adobe Captivate
- Adobe Acrobat# along with Document Cloud services
#Note: Adobe Document Cloud services are only available under subscription buying programs with Named User Licensing (NUL) deployment.
There is no upgrade option (to the latest version of FrameMaker and Technical Communication Suite) available to customers who have valid serial or perpetual licenses for earlier versions of FrameMaker.
To access latest version of FrameMaker, you must opt for subscription options.
Adobe Acrobat license available with Technical Communication Suite subscription supports all services such as PDF editing, exporting, and reviewing. However, it does not include Adobe Acrobat Sign Services.
You can find an Adobe Technical Communication Partner to assist you in your country or region by visiting the Partner Portal.
You can access free learning assets and training material for your Adobe Technical Communication Software here.
No, MathFlow licenses are not offered with FrameMaker. However, a 30-day free trial version of MathFlow is included with FrameMaker. Support is provided for Structure and Style MathFlow editors.
The native multichannel publishing functionality in FrameMaker supports the following formats: Responsive HTML5, EPUB, Kindle, PDF, Microsoft HTML (CHM), Basic HTML and Experience Manager Mobile. You can also publish your content as mobile apps for iOS and Android with just one click, using native integration with Adobe PhoneGap Build.
If you require your output in formats other than these, you will need to purchase an additional product, such as any of the following: Adobe RoboHelp, Adobe FrameMaker Publishing Server, or Adobe Technical Communication Suite.
RoboHelp, FrameMaker Publishing Server, and Technical Communication Suite are all separate products from Adobe FrameMaker and must be purchased separately. Adobe Technical Communication Suite includes Adobe FrameMaker as one of the components.
Yes, the FrameMaker FM file format and Maker Interchange Format (MIF) are compatible with earlier versions of FrameMaker. For details on how to exchange content between different versions of FrameMaker, visit the support page.
You can import Microsoft Word and Excel files created by Office 2016 and earlier (Windows only). FrameMaker also supports Rich Text Format (RTF) 1.9 import and export, and you can save any Microsoft Office file as a PDF file to import into your FrameMaker publications as a graphic.
Yes, you can import simulations and other interactive content created in Adobe Captivate to create more engaging online content.
FrameMaker provides full authoring support for Arabic, Canadian French, English (U.S. and International), Farsi, French, German, Hebrew, and Swiss German. It also provides full authoring support without dictionary or hyphenation for Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. Dictionary and hyphenation support are available for the following languages: Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Nynorsk, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.
The latest version of Adobe FrameMaker supports DITA 1.3, DITA 1.2, DITA 1.1, LwDITA, S1000D, custom XML standards and DocBook.
The latest version of Adobe FrameMaker supports the DITA 1.3, DITA 1.2, and DITA 1.1 specifications. FrameMaker supports LwDITA as well.
The latest version of Adobe FrameMaker includes the following OpenType fonts for Western languages: MinionPro, MyriadPro, Adobe Garamond Pro, Letter Gothic Standard, News Gothic Standard, and Courier Standard. Adobe Arabic and Adobe Hebrew support is provided for right-to-left languages. For symbols, FrameMaker includes Symbol Standard. For Chinese text, Adobe Fangsong Standard and Adobe Kaiti Standard are provided. Kozuka Gothic and Kozuka Mincho are provided for Japanese text.
Adobe FrameMaker supports TrueType, OpenType, and Type 1 fonts. It is highly recommended users move to TrueType and OpenType fonts.
Yes. FrameMaker supports right-to-left languages, Arabic, Hebrew, and Farsi.
The bundled OpenType fonts use Unicode encoding. You can also get Unicode fonts from the online Adobe Store.
The latest version of Adobe FrameMaker is available for Microsoft Windows 11 as well as Windows 10.
The latest version of Adobe FrameMaker allows you to install only a 64-bit version.
32-bit is no longer supported by the latest release of Adobe FrameMaker.
If you have earlier created a file in the 32-bit or 64-bit version of FrameMaker, the same will be upgraded to the latest release (64-bit) and can then be used.
Plug-in developers should recompile the plug-ins for compatibility with the 64-bit version of Adobe FrameMaker. Visit the Adobe I/O [www.adobe.io/] page for details on the FDK.
Please note with the latest release we have upgrade to VS2017 and .NET FrameMaker 4.7 and above. Also, majority of open-source libraries such as XERCES, ICU and others have been upgraded.
Users who want to generate PDF output using the older method via Distiller can do so via an option in the Settings dialog box.
Yes, you can publish to Adobe RoboHelp Server from FrameMaker.
You can publish content as Responsive HTML5 to RoboHelp Server from FrameMaker.
The latest version of Adobe FrameMaker is not available for the UNIX platform.
Pantone color libraries currently pre-loaded are being phased out. Pantone is supporting their most up-to-date color libraries exclusively through the Pantone Connect plug-in available here. Adobe and Pantone have been working together to support your color needs.
Adobe FrameMaker is the industry-standard tool for authoring and publishing multilingual technical content across mobile, web, desktop, and print.
Adobe InDesign software is a versatile desktop publishing application that gives you pixel-perfect control over design and typography.
Independent suppliers of commercially available 3rd party extensions may provide support and maintenance directly to the customer as per their terms and conditions. Customers will be governed by terms and conditions accepted directly between customers and such 3rd party extension providers. Adobe would not be providing any support for such 3rd party extensions or be involved in licensing terms for such extensions.
Yes, there are many 3rd party extensions from independent suppliers that are compatible with Adobe FrameMaker, provided minimum system requirements are being met. You can learn more about these 3rd party partner extensions on the Adobe Tech Comm Partner Portal.
S1000D Functionality
The functionalities supporting S1000D standard has been a part of FrameMaker since release 10. The various features in FrameMaker that have S1000D support are called out in the following document:
https://help.adobe.com/en_US/framemaker/pdfs/Fm-application-pack-for-s1000d.pdf.
There could be additional features in FrameMaker (over the recent releases) that may not be supported with the S1000D Application pack, such as HTML output and others. There are 3rd party partner extensions that can be purchased independently, which offer more advanced features and functionalities related to S1000D/ATA in FrameMaker releases. You can learn more about these 3rd party partner extensions on the Adobe Tech Comm Partner Portal.
Adobe FrameMaker includes out-of-the-box support for a significant range of S1000D issue 4.0 document types. You can create, manage, and publish data modules and publication modules using an intuitive project‐based interface. Since out-of-the-box S1000D support was originally added in version 10 of FrameMaker and has not been upgraded post that, many of the new features/functionalities in FrameMaker across subsequent releases may not have out-of-the-box S1000D support. For more details on what features of FrameMaker have out-of-the-box S1000D support, refer to the following document: https://help.adobe.com/en_US/framemaker/pdfs/Fm-application-pack-for-s1000d.pdf. In case you need more information, please reach out to techcomm@adobe.com.
There are 3rd party partner extensions that can be purchased independently, which offer more advanced features/functionalities related to S1000D in FrameMaker. One such commercially available 3rd party extension is from the Adobe partner Mekon (also provides S1000D/ATA consulting). More details can be found here: https://partners.adobetechcomm.com/mekon-ltd.
In case you plan to use one of the 3rd party extensions for S1000D or ATA support that are compatible with FrameMaker, you may be governed by the terms and conditions of such 3rd Parties. We encourage you to review the terms and conditions imposed by such 3rd parties and their licensing agreements. In case you need more information, please reach out to techcomm@adobe.com.
A user can add support for any XML standard by building an application with FrameMaker. More details can be found here: Build a Structured Application.
There are independent 3rd party partners who have built extensions for Adobe FrameMaker and provide extensive support for ATA and other military XML standards. One such commercially available 3rd party extension is from the Adobe partner Mekon (also provides S1000D/ATA consulting). More details can be found here: https://partners.adobetechcomm.com/mekon-ltd.
In case you plan to use one of the 3rd party extensions for S1000D or ATA support that are compatible with FrameMaker, you may be governed by terms and conditions of such 3rd parties. We encourage you to review the 3rd party terms and conditions and their licensing agreements. In case you need more information, please reach out to techcomm@adobe.com.
Pricing and upgrade
Full license of Adobe FrameMaker is no longer available for purchase. For individual needs, you can opt for subscription plans via adobe.com.
For enterprises, SMBs, Education and Government segments, one can opt for volume licensing plans like Enterprise Term License Agreement (ETLA) and Value Incentive Program (VIP).
To explore all the buying options, visit the Buying guide page or write to us at techcomm@adobe.com.
The latest version of Adobe FrameMaker is available on retail adobe.com subscription for US$39.99†/month per user (annual commitment). Visit the Buying guide page to explore all the buying options.
Full version perpetual license of the latest release of Adobe FrameMaker is not available for purchase.
†Prices listed are the Adobe direct store prices. Actual price can vary depending on the country and currency of purchase, product language and applicable local taxes.
There is no upgrade path available for users holding a valid license (with serial key) of Adobe FrameMaker (2017 release) or Adobe FrameMaker (2019 release).
To access the latest version of Adobe FrameMaker, you must move to subscription plans.
To explore all the buying options, visit the Buying guide page or write to us at techcomm@adobe.com.
You can buy FrameMaker through the online Adobe Store or by calling: +1-866-647-1213. Learn about other ways to buy FrameMaker, including buying directly from Adobe or through authorized resellers or purchasing with education discounts.
Special programs are available for volume licensing of FrameMaker. To learn more about volume licensing plans, request a callback.
Adobe does offer educational pricing for FrameMaker but only via volume licensing and not via retail. Learn more about special education pricing.
Support information
For any customer service questions, write to us at techcomm@adobe.com.
For any technical support questions, visit the customer support page.
Activation is a mandatory process that requires the software to connect to Adobe servers via the Internet and associates the products you have bought from Adobe with the computers on which you use those products. Activation helps protect your computers and environment from malicious code by ensuring you are using genuine Adobe software.
Adobe does not gather, transmit, or use personally identifiable information during activation, other than the computer’s IP address.
The machine with FrameMaker installed must connect to the Internet at least once within 30 days of the first launch of your product.
Activation occurs silently in the background after installation when the system detects an Internet connection. You don’t have to do anything proactively to activate.
The product must connect to the Internet at least one time within 30 days of the first launch of your product. If the product has not been activated after 30 days, the application does not launch until an Internet connection is detected and the software can be activated.
The software silently tries to connect to the Internet to activate for the first 7 days after the first launch of your product. If the software has not activated within the first 7 days, you receive a reminder for the next 23 days on every launch that the machine must connect to the Internet and activate the software. As soon as the software detects an Internet connection, it silently activates the product.
In case of Feature Restricted Licensing (FRL)* the activation method is different. Please visit this page or contact support.
* Feature Restricted Licensing (FRL) is recommended for organizations that have very specific needs to control data flow in and out of locked down or restricted network environments.
No. Activation of the product via the Internet is required for FrameMaker. If your system is connected to the Internet and you receive an activation reminder, contact your local Customer Support for assistance. Customer Support, however, cannot activate your software over the phone if you don’t have an Internet connection.
If your system is connected to the Internet and you have received a reminder asking you to activate your product, contact Customer Service.
Yes. All users of FrameMaker need to activate their product. If your company has firewall restrictions that prevent the machines from connecting to the Internet, have your IT administrator contact Customer Service.
In case of Feature Restricted Licensing (FRL)* the activation method is different. Please visit this page or contact support.
* Feature Restricted Licensing (FRL) is recommended for organizations that have very specific needs to control data flow in and out of locked down or restricted network environments.
Yes. Every computer that has FrameMaker installed must activate to continue using the software.
If your company has firewall restrictions that prevent the machines from connecting to the Internet, have your IT administrator contact Customer Service.
In case of Feature Restricted Licensing (FRL)* the activation method is different. Please visit this page or contact support.
* Feature Restricted Licensing (FRL) is recommended for organizations that have very specific needs to control data flow in and out of locked down or restricted network environments.
Activation of the latest version of FrameMaker is required via the Internet to continue use of the product. Activating your product helps protect your computer and your environment by ensuring that you are using a genuine Adobe product. Activating your product has other benefits. Visit the activation page for more information. The machine with FrameMaker installed must connect to the Internet at least once within 30 days of the first launch of your serialized product or the product stops working. If you work in a company that has a firewall that prevents your system from connecting to the Internet, have your IT administrator contact Customer Service.
In case of Feature Restricted Licensing (FRL)* the activation method is different. Please visit this page or contact support.
* Feature Restricted Licensing (FRL) is recommended for organizations that have very specific needs to control data flow in and out of locked down or restricted network environments.
No. Activation of FrameMaker is required via the Internet. Each machine with an application installed must connect to the Internet at least once within 30 days of the first launch of your serialized product to continue using the product.
In case of Feature Restricted Licensing (FRL)* the activation method is different. Please visit this page or contact support.
* Feature Restricted Licensing (FRL) is recommended for organizations that have very specific needs to control data flow in and out of locked down or restricted network environments.
For details on Adobe return policies in your region, go to the Return, cancel, or exchange an Adobe order page.
No. Activation is a mandatory process that requires the software to connect to Adobe servers via the Internet and associates the products you have bought from Adobe with the computers on which you use those products. Activation helps protect your computers and environments from malicious code by verifying that you have genuine Adobe software. Registration is an optional process that gives you access to a wide range of benefits and options, including access to support, notification of product updates, newsletters, special offers, and invitations to Adobe events.
Registration and activation are completely different.
Activation is a mandatory process that requires the software to connect to Adobe servers via the Internet and associates the products you buy from Adobe with the computers on which you use those products. Activation helps protect your computers and environments from malicious code by verifying that you have genuine Adobe software.
Registration is an optional process that gives you access to a wide range of benefits and options, including access to support, notification of product updates, newsletters, special offers, and invitations to Adobe events.
Contact Adobe Tech Comm Customer Support at tcssup@adobe.com or write to techcomm@adobe.com.
Subscription information and pricing
A subscription is a new, more flexible way to get technical communication software. It gives ongoing access to the software for a low monthly fee, as well as access to all upgrades at no additional charge as long as your subscription remains active.
The subscription plan requires an annual commitment, billed monthly or prepaid. There is no month-on-month subscription plan.
The software installs locally on your computer. It's unnecessary to be online to use your subscription. Access to the Internet is required during installation and licensing of your software and once every 30 days thereafter. The software alerts you when a connection to the Internet is required for a license status check. You have access to the software as long as your subscription is current.
Subscribing is a great option to consider if:
- You always want to benefit from the latest capabilities and updates of the latest version.
- You haven’t upgraded your software in years and want to move up to the current version at an affordable price.
- You have never used Adobe Technical Communication software and want to try it.
The following Adobe Technical Communication software are available by subscription:
- Adobe FrameMaker
- Adobe RoboHelp
- Adobe Technical Communication Suite
Adobe Technical Communication software are available only via the one-year subscription plan. One-year plans have lower monthly payments and require that you remain a subscriber for at least a year.
For more details, visit the buying guide.
Subscription fees vary by product, plan, and your country of residence. Visit Adobe.com or the online Adobe Store in your respective country for pricing information.
FrameMaker Publishing Server and RoboHelp Server are not available for Subscription via Adobe.com or online Adobe store.
Under an annual plan, paid monthly, you’ll be charged the rate stated at the time of purchase, plus applicable taxes (such as value added tax when the stated rate doesn’t include VAT), every month for the duration of your annual contract.
Under an annual plan that is prepaid, you’ll be charged the annual rate stated at the time of purchase as one lump sum, plus applicable taxes. Your contract will renew automatically, on your annual renewal date, until you cancel.
See terms and conditions for more details.
Adobe Technical Communication software subscription plans are available exclusively through adobe.com or respective product websites (in select countries).
No, there are no differences in the functionality or in the system requirements between the two. However, if you suspend or cancel your subscription, you cannot use the software.
Yes, you can convert the 30-day trial version of Adobe FrameMaker into a subscription by purchasing a license from Adobe.com. For any queries, you can reach us at techcomm@adobe.com.
No. When you purchase a subscription on adobe.com, you immediately receive an email that contains a link to the electronic download of the software.
If you live in a region where you purchase from the Adobe Store with a price quoted in U.S. dollars or euros (but you receive credit card statements with charges stated in your local currency), you could see different amounts charged from month to month. Changes in the currency exchange rates from one billing date to the next affect the charges.
No. There is no increase in subscription pricing.
Your subscription includes access to current and future versions of the Adobe technical communication application as long as your subscription remains active.
No, only individual subscription editions are available, and only on adobe.com. For volume licensing needs, kindly request a call-back.
Education customers are eligible to discounted prices if they meet the eligibility requirements. For more details, write to techcomm@adobe.com.
Adobe FrameMaker, Adobe RoboHelp, and Adobe Technical Communication Suite subscriptions are available in English, French, German, and Japanese.
Getting started with a subscription is fast and easy: Go to our buying guide and choose your product and plan, and then complete the purchase. Immediately after purchase, check your email for a message from Adobe with your serial number and a link to download your software. After you download the product, double-click the installer and follow the onscreen instructions to install your product and start your subscription.
Download and install the trial build from here. Once you have downloaded and installed the software, activate the software using your Adobe credentials.
Your subscription begins as soon as your payment is processed.
Visit the Troubleshooting download problems page, where you can find information about typical software download issues. You can also reach out to us at techcomm@adobe.com for any queries.
During your purchase and installation, you are asked to create or enter an Adobe ID. An Adobe ID is simply your current email address with a password you create. Learn more about the benefits of an Adobe ID.
No. You can use the same Adobe ID with all your Adobe products, including subscriptions.
See subscription terms and conditions.