RE: Document layout: Whose decision?

Subject: RE: Document layout: Whose decision?
From: "Michael West" <mike -dot- west -at- oz -dot- quest -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 12:48:31 +1100

Someone asked:

> To what extent is it your decision as the tech
> writer/tech writing department how to lay out manuals,
> and to what extent is it the programmers' decision?

I've been doing tech comms for 20-something years and
I've never heard of programmers making page-layout
decisions except out of desperation when there is no
one else competent to make them. Suggestions, comments,
requests, sure -- but there has never been any implied
'authority' on the part of programmers to overrule design
decisions made by technical communications specialists.

Unless any such assertions are supported by relevant and
authoritative facts, they can be "taken on board" (as the
cliche goes) and then quietly disposed of in the nearest
recycling bin.

At the same time, it is important for us to know WHY we
do things a certain way, and to be prepared to explain it
to others who may not know that there is a rationale and
a long tradition supporting our methods and techniques.

What's the old saying? "Opinions are like ... (something or
other): everybody's got one"?

Michael West
Melbourne




^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Develop HTML-Based Help with Macromedia Dreamweaver 4 ($100 STC Discount)
**WEST COAST LOCATIONS** San Jose (Mar 1-2), San Francisco (Apr 16-17)
http://www.weisner.com/training/dreamweaver_help.htm or 800-646-9989.

Sponsored by ForeFront, Inc., maker of ForeHelp Help authoring tools
for print, WinHelp, HTML Help, JavaHelp, and cross-platform InterHelp
See www.forehelp.com for more information and free evaluation downloads

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


Previous by Author: RE: Xtreme Documentation and Training
Next by Author: RE: use of "per"
Previous by Thread: Re: Document layout: Whose decision?
Next by Thread: no toolbar/menu access in Word; no shortcut access, either


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads