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Re: Novice tech writer seeking advice on tools.

Subject: Re: Novice tech writer seeking advice on tools.
From: Al Geist <al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Wed, 06 Sep 2006 09:43:54 -0400



I manage about 27 documents, of which 16 are variants of two basic
documents i.e. 95% of contents are the same. The manuals are small
averaging 120 pages with around 100 odd images. I'm using Word 2000 and
RoboHelp to produce MS Word, PDF and Windows HTML Help.

Can we assume that you are using RoboHelp for Word and conditional text? If you are, then creating print documents from RoboHelp is fairly straight forward, but the images usually suck.

Right now I'm looking for tools that will help manage all these and to
cut down time on layout/formatting and let me focus on improving the
contents.

Have you searched the archives on this subject?

Lately Word has been crashing. I've read up on Framemaker and In Design
but have never used either. Should I be using Framemaker? or In Design?
or some other tools?

It all depends on what you need to do; where you want to be five years down the road and how much money you want to spend. A lot of my fellow writers are FrameMaker fanatics, but it is expensive and has a relatively steep learning curve, especially if you're learning technical writing at the same time. In Design is less expensive, will handle 120 page documents and works well if you're mission includes marketing communications. I've had no problem using Word with documents up to 200 pages, but you have to know it's limitations.

Hope that helps.

--

Al Geist
Technical Writing, Online Help, Marketing Collateral, Web Design, Award Winning Videos, Professional Photography
Voice/Msg: 802-658-3140

Cell: 802-578-3964
E-mail: al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com <mailto:al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com>
URL: www.geistassociates.com <http://www.geistassociates.com> (online portfolio/resume)

See also:
URL: www.geistimages.com <http://www.geistimages.com> (fine art prints for home or office and note cards for all occasions)

"When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer "Present" or "Not guilty.""
Theodore Roosevelt


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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