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Sounds, to me, like you want to head down the database publishing route.
Single source et al.
AuthorIT is a reasonable stepping stone.
Gordon
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+gordon -dot- mclean=grahamtechnology -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+gordon -dot- mclean=grahamtechnology -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- c
om] On Behalf Of David Loveless
Sent: 02 April 2007 16:28
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: Customizable Help
Here's the situation:
The company I work for develops enterprise software. Because of the nature
of our product, I need to provide each of the company's clients with
customized help. Typically, this is as simple as adding or removing single
lines of information. For example, some clients want their employees to go
step A, then B, then C. Others just want steps A and C plus D. Most other
customizations are simple edits to the skin.
Each help system is relatively small and simple, but the potential growth in
clients is enormous.
After analyzing everything, I think I can get away with writing a universal
help that includes all the available steps and then basically picking and
choosing the information I want to include. What I would like to do is
develop the universal help to a point where I could, simply by asking
several well-formed questions, determine the help they want and need and
then just "request" that information from a database of all possible
information.
The image I have in my mind is almost a questionnaire where I could go down
the list and basically mark in or out for the "customized"
portions of the help, click build, and get a generic help that would then be
reviewed for accuracy.
My problem:
I've never done anything remotely like this. I barely even know where to
start except to say that I have a finished product in mind. Has anyone done
anything like this? Are there any specific programs that could create this
type of help? Any suggested plans of attack or strategies?
I currently have MadCap Flare as my HAT, but the higher ups are willing to
spring for whatever will accomplish the job. Writing Help is a relatively
new experience for me, but I do have some experience under my belt. I'm more
than willing to learn and try something new.
Thanks,
Dave
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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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