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Just a couple of comments before I run out the door:
o AuthorIT -- I have never used this tool. Having just returned from the WritersUA Conference in Long Beach, I can tell you that many people complained about how expensive it is and how difficult it is to get tech support. It seems that AuthorIT was developed in Austraila (I hope I am remembering this correctly) and the time difference between the two countries made getting answers NOT timely.
o Framemaker -- The first version of Frame that I used was Framemaker 1.2X (thats the X-Windows System on UNIX) back in 1990. Framemaker is a bit long in the tooth (as am I) and it is not perfect. It is less perfect since Adobe took it over. Again, you won't get good support from Adobe but the Framers user group is very supportive.
o Madcap's Blaze -- I have just migrated to Madcap's Flare 2.5 which translates Framemaker files to HTML files. It's my replacement for WWP which I won't bother you with. I have not used Blaze which is Madcap's replacement for Frame. The tool is brand new and thus probably buggy. I have volunteered to be a beta-site tester but have not actually gotten my hands on the program yet. Proceed with caution.
Candis L Condo
________________________________
From: techwr-l-bounces+ccondo=c-cor -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com on behalf of SB
Sent: Sat 3/31/2007 5:02 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Moving away from MS Word?
Hi,
We are a medium-sized company growing faster than I can handle.
I am currently the sole technical writer for the whole company but I think
that we will soon have a team.
I believe that MS Word (2003) is no longer answering our needs.
1. Documents are very large (over 600 pages), they are very complex
and Word isn't behaving well despite the fact that I have the best computer
in the company.
2. Contents is repeated in different documents and it is difficult to
update it everywhere. Therefore, single sourcing might be required
3. We need a better place than the network to organize the
documentation and keep track of revisions. We have a PDM (Agile) for the
whole company and we use it for documentation revision control but is this
good enough? Do we need better centralized documentation management?
4. At some point (soon), we will need to do on-line help. We are
currently using Flare for conversion to HTML pages but it is not handling
well large and complex documents. I know there is a new version which may be
better (I haven't tried it yet).
- What factors should a growing company take into consideration if and
when moving onto more efficient tools?
- What tools that are available today that are indeed more efficient
than Word for a medium-sized company?
- Is there a site, a thread something that compares these tools?
- What tool is most recommended for a smooth transition?
- Pricing considerations might also be a factor but probably not the
most important fact.
Any input and advice would be greatly appreciated.
Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include single source authoring, team authoring,
Web-based technology, and PDF output. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
Now shipping: Help & Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
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Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include single source authoring, team authoring,
Web-based technology, and PDF output. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
Now shipping: Help & Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
to 106 languages with Help & Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com
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