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The problem with the Intercom article from my perspective is not that it
discussed different needs for online and printed doc. The problems with
the Intercom article are
1) As it's premise, it relies on attacking single-sourcing as a method
for creating online help. 2) The arguments the article makes in trying
to invalidate single-sourced online help are false.
That is, if you read the Intercom article you will see that the premise
really is, "single-sourced online help fails because the needs of online
help and printed docs are different," and not really "print and online
blocks are different," as you state. I never debated the latter, I only
disagree with the former. And, thus, the Intercom article really becomes
useful in fostering debate about single sourcing, rather than learning
and discussion of how online help and printed docs differ. The whole
single-source angle could have--and should have--been left out.
In my initial e-mail on the subject, I proposed that if the Intercom
article had discussed the different needs of online help and printed
document regardless of the method used to create the online help, then
the article might have succeeded.
>(What was that fundamental point in the
Intercom article? Oh, yes: print and online blocks are different...)
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