Adobe FrameMaker 2026 – a review
The new version of Adobe FrameMaker “2026” or “17” has been released. The former version of Adobe FrameMaker 2022, has been pretty solid and Adobe has patched it a couple of times and fixed minor issues.
Time for Adobe FrameMaker 2026!
https://helpx.adobe.com/dk/framemaker/release-note/framemaker-2026-release-notes.html
This new release version, 2026 (18), is not overflowing with new features. There are 2 new features, but they ARE actually nice additions!
- Book Level Elements
- Find All + Search Results Panel
Let’s take a look at them!
Book Level Elements
Create Book Level Elements is a new feature found under “Insert”. The feature is meant for managing User Variables and Conditonal tags across the files in a book. It is a great and very useful idea, and I am certain that a lot of thinking has gone into it.
When you first open a book and goes to Insert->Create Book Level Element, the process will look something like this. FrameMaker reviews all fm documents in the book file and gives you a chance to review whether they are aligned.
Selecting all documents to be included will start a process which will allow you to align variable and conditional tag definitions across the entire book.
The feature works by creating a new blank, non-printable file in the book file. This file is called *MLT.fm and looks like a blank piece of paper. When all documents are aligned, the MLT file keeps track of the User Variables/Conditional Tags in the book. Meaning, you can create and add new instances of user variables/conditional tags and have the “Update Book” process take care of applying them to the entire book.
If you want to delete an instance, you will open the MLT file and delete the instance there. This will prompt FrameMaker to delete the instance from the entire book.
Verdict
The option for working at the book level with variables and conditional tags is excellent, and I do absolutely love it. But the execution of the feature has some obvious blind spots, which have mostly to do with UI.
The UI feels like a script rather than an organic part of FrameMakers interface and figuring out how this stuff works is not at all transparent. I would absolutely have preferred a panel working in conjunction with the variables and the conditional tags panel, just like how, for instance the new Find All feature works with a “Search Results” panel.
Odd UI
The feature works in a fixed size window where the two columns showing “include” and “Do not include” each has three columns of information: Name, Definition and Document.
The dialogue can not be scaled to show the entirety of the names included in the columns, leaving the user to fiddle with mouseovers and dragging the thumb in the scrollbar. It is impractical to such an extent that it does make you wonder whether this really was the only option.
Another odd issue is the use of common UI logic of FrameMaker. Panels for Variable and Condtional tags use a common iconography for adding new instances, but this new feature doesn’t care. An “ADD” button will have to do, but since it is written using only capitals, we know they are serious about it!
Find All + Search Results Panel
Come on – this is just 1 (ONE!) button! And it is – it IS just one button added to the Find dialogue, but it makes a great difference. When using then “Find All” button, FrameMaker will transverse the entire book/file and open the “Search Results” panel
When clicking on the search results, FrameMaker will open the relevant document with phrase selected ready for modification.
Verdict
I am quite happy with this feature. It does seem to have a small issue with saved/unsaved files. All files must have been saved in order for the Find All feature to work, but that is a minor issue after all. What I really like, is how successfully it has been integrated in FrameMakers existing UI.
Final Verdict - should you buy/upgrade to FrameMaker 2026/18?..
Yes! Yes, I believe you should. FrameMaker is evolving. Not at a high speed, but the new features do fit into the workflow, and are welcome additions. It is worth keeping in mind, that FrameMaker is meant for LARGE publications, with lots and lots of pages. And these new features fit perfectly into the needs of a writer/designer, who has to keep track of loads of information.