RE: Text development vs tech writing

[Jim Shaeffer <jims -at- spsi -dot- com>]

If the future consists of developing single-source databases with the 
output formatted and published by XML enabled tools, then the future 
of tech writing is, indeed, text development. 

Isn't that exactly what the advocates envision when they talk about 
the benefits of "separating the content from the format"? 

I started out (don't ask when) writing materials in longhand on legal 
pads. It took typists, typesetters and graphic artists to go from there. 

Having access to desktop publishing tools (or pale simulations thereof) 
is a new, and perhaps fading, phase in the evolution of technical 
writers. Alternatively, if we evolve into "user experience" generalists 
we get to keep sticking our fingers into lots of pies. 

Separation of content from format does require a special mindset. I 
leave it to others to guide us toward that particular enlightenment. 

Jim Shaeffer (jims -at- spsi -dot- com)


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Judy Ferril [SMTP:jferril -at- qwest -dot- net]
> 
	<snip>

> Is anyone out there just developing text for user's manuals without regard
> to format, design, graphic choices, etc.?
	<snip>
> Judy Ferril
> 


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