# Adobe FrameMaker 5.5

> document processor for the production and manipulation of large structured documents

**Wikidata**: [Q110535175](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q110535175)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/adobe-framemaker-5-5

## Summary
Adobe FrameMaker 5.5 is a document processor application developed by Adobe, released in 1997 for the production and manipulation of large structured documents. It is the 5.5 version of the Adobe FrameMaker software, designed to run on the Windows 95 operating system.

## Key Facts
- **Developer:** Adobe (American multinational computer software company).
- **Release Date:** 1997.
- **Software Category:** Application; Document processor.
- **Operating System:** Windows 95.
- **Version Number:** 5.5.
- **Software ID:** Pronom software ID `x-sfw/153`.
- **Parent Software:** An edition or translation of Adobe FrameMaker.
- **Primary Function:** Production and manipulation of large structured documents.
- **Key Capability (Write):** Capable of writing to PDF, Rich Text Format, and Microsoft Word Document formats.
- **Key Capability (Read):** Capable of reading Encapsulated PostScript and Computer Graphics Metafile formats.

## FAQs
### Q: What operating system is required to run Adobe FrameMaker 5.5?
A: Adobe FrameMaker 5.5 runs on the Windows 95 operating system.

### Q: When was Adobe FrameMaker 5.5 released?
A: This specific version of the software was published in 1997.

### Q: What type of documents is Adobe FrameMaker 5.5 designed to handle?
A: It is a document processor specifically built for the production and manipulation of large structured documents.

### Q: What file formats can Adobe FrameMaker 5.5 export or write?
A: The software can write to Adobe FrameMaker Document (version 5.5), PDF, Maker Interchange Format, Rich Text Format, Microsoft Word Document, and WordPerfect for MS-DOS/Windows Document (version 5.1).

## Why It Matters
Adobe FrameMaker 5.5 represents a specific evolution in professional document processing during the late 1990s. As an application tailored for "large structured documents," it addressed the complex needs of technical writers and publishers who required more robust tools than standard word processors could offer. By supporting the Windows 95 environment, it integrated into the dominant PC architecture of its time, facilitating widespread adoption in corporate and technical environments.

The software's significance is further highlighted by its extensive interoperability. In an era of fragmented file standards, FrameMaker 5.5 served as a critical bridge, capable of reading complex graphic formats like Computer Graphics Metafile and Encapsulated PostScript, while writing to ubiquitous formats like PDF and Microsoft Word. This capability allowed organizations to maintain structured, high-fidelity master documents while still distributing content across diverse and incompatible software platforms.

## Notable For
- **Structured Document Management:** Specifically designed for the production and manipulation of large structured documents, distinguishing it from basic word processors.
- **Extensive Interoperability:** Notable for its ability to read and write a wide variety of file formats, including CorelDRAW, GEM Metafile, and WordPerfect.
- **PDF Integration:** Included the capability to write directly to PDF (Portable Document Format) during the early mass adoption of the format.
- **Legacy Support:** Capable of reading specific legacy formats such as Group 4 compression and GEM Metafile.
- **Windows 95 Optimization:** Built to operate on Windows 95, a major consumer operating system of the 1990s.

## Body

### Product Identity and Development
Adobe FrameMaker 5.5 is an application (software program) classified as a document processor. It is a specific edition or translation of the parent software Adobe FrameMaker. The software is developed by Adobe, an American multinational computer software company founded on February 28, 1982, and headquartered in San Jose, California. The version identifier for this release is 5.5.

### Release and Platform
This version of FrameMaker was published in 1997. It was designed to function as an end-user application on the Windows 95 operating system. Windows 95, a personal computer operating system by Microsoft, was released on August 24, 1995, making FrameMaker 5.5 a contemporary application for that platform.

### File Format Capabilities
The software is notable for its extensive support of various file formats, serving as a hub for document conversion and manipulation.

**Readable File Formats:**
Adobe FrameMaker 5.5 can read and import files from various graphic and document standards, including:
- Maker Interchange Format
- CorelDRAW Document
- Computer Graphics Metafile (version 1)
- Drawing Interchange File Format Family
- Windows Enhanced Metafile
- Encapsulated PostScript
- FrameImage
- Frame Vector Metafile
- Group 4 compression
- GEM Metafile

**Writable File Formats:**
The application allows users to write and export documents to the following formats:
- Adobe FrameMaker Document (specifically version 5.5)
- PDF
- Maker Interchange Format
- Rich Text Format
- Microsoft Word Document
- WordPerfect for MS-DOS/Windows Document (specifically version 5.1)

### Technical Identification
The software is identified in technical archives with the Pronom software ID `x-sfw/153`. It is categorized as a distinct entity from its developer, Adobe, but is intrinsically linked to the company's portfolio of creative and productivity software.

## References

1. National Software Reference Library
2. [Source](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pronom/x-sfw/153)