RE: Current trends in Authoring Tools?

["Al Geist" <al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com>]

Dan Goldstein wrote:

Subject: RE: Current trends in Authoring Tools?

I can see how you might use Word instead of FrameMaker, but RoboHelp and
Flare? Are you using Word as a standalone HAT?

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Collin
> Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 9:52 AM
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: Current trends in Authoring Tools?
> 
> Although I am trained in and use (mostly to keep current) a good 
> number of the authoring tools, I've noticed a definite trend AWAY from 
> the industry norms.
> 
> The last few contract jobs I've worked as well as the last 3 permanent 
> jobs (and the job I am moving into - a fortune 50 company) have all 
> abandoned tools like RoboHelp, FrameMaker, Flare, etc.  Their tool of 
> choice?
> 
> Word...
> 

I agree with Dan.  Word has been used at a number of companies I've worked
at as the main document development tool, and I only saw it once used for
Help creation.  It wasn't a pretty sight and everything ultimately had be
redone using the right tool.  In this case it was RoboHelp; although,
Doc-to-Help would have worked.  (Flare wasn't around yet.)

A lot of companies use Word only because they don't know anything else, or
they flinch at purchasing a new tool for document development.  Is Word the
best tool....not by a long shot, but it will work if you have the time to
get over it's limitations and idiosyncrasies.  As for companies moving away
from FrameMaker, Flare, RoboHelp to Word....I'd like to see statistics on
that.

Al



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