RE: Single Sourcing - Myth or Salvation?

[Erika Yanovich <ERIKA_y -at- Rad -dot- co -dot- il>]

<Single sourcing is defined for this discussion as using one set of files to
generate both online help and printed documentation. Feel free to expand
upon this definition if necessary, but make your clarifications or additions
clearly known.>

Single sourcing is also reusing material from one pub in another -- not
necessarily different media.

1. Do you currently use single sourcing, are you thinking about it, or will
it happen over your dead body? 

Started developing my approach

2. If you use it, how successful is it? Do the online results represent
good-quality online help? Do the printed documents represent good-quality
printed manuals?

We also convert from printed to help, but I do not consider this single
sourcing.

3. If you use it, how much overhead is there? (I.e., does it take just as
long, longer, or less time than it would to do both separately?) How do you
know?

Don't know yet.

4. Is it worth doing?

Hope so.

5. Briefly describe the process and techniques you use to create single
source materials.

Write a chunk, select it, store it in a repository, replace it with a link.

6. Did you invent your own solution, inherit the solution, or learn from
someone else (Hackos, etc.)?

Read articles, attended lectures, saw examples and then came up with my own
approach.

7. How big is your company? [Small = < 100 people   Medium = <500 people
Large = < 1000 people  XLarge = > 1001 people]

Large

Erika

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Check it out! Get some cool freebies when you buy RoboHelp! You'll receive
SnagIt screen capture software and a 10% discount voucher for RoboHelp
Consulting. This special offers expires March 29, 2002.
www.ehelp.com/techwr

Have you looked at the new content on TECHWR-L lately?
See http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ and check it out.

---
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.