TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
For example, there's been a discussion on the Framers list about
Frame-equivalent approaches to common Word editing and navigation
techniques. Distilling the answers, apart from separately purchased
plug-ins and scripts, might look something like this after Information
Mapping:
ACTION METHOD
Display book window 1. Open book
first.
2.
ALT+W+1
Go to page in book but not current document 1. CTRL+TAB to cycle
through open windows within FM.
2.
CTRL+G to go to a page or insertion point.
Return to last place edited IF: Insertion
point unchanged
THEN:
Press left arrow then right arrow.
Display same document in two windows 1. Launch second
instance of FM (view only.
2. Open
same file in second window.
Return to followed cross-reference * Within same
document: Esc vP
* Other
document: CTRL+TAB
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+jim -dot- pinkham=voith -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+jim -dot- pinkham=voith -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Barry Campbell
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 7:34 AM
To: Gordon McLean
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Writing structured content
On 6/20/07, Gordon McLean <Gordon -dot- McLean -at- grahamtechnology -dot- com> wrote:
> As a step towards taking the 'single source' plunge, I'm looking to
> locate a training course on how to write for such a solution. I've
> seen these referred to as "structured writing" and "writing for single
> source" in the past, but my google-fu is failing me.
>
> Does anyone know of any such training courses being run in the UK?
Gordon, the generic term for what you're describing is indeed
'structured writing,' and Googling on that term will help locate many
online resources.
If a course is what you are after, one prominent system of structured
writing, Information Mapping (registered, trademarked, otherwise
protected and commercially exploited in various ways in various
countries) offers courses through certified consultants, and is
certainly being promoted these days as "the way to write" for
single-sourcing, etc.
Disclaimer: I have never taken an "Information Mapping" class or used
one of their products, but I'd bet my next paycheck that someone on this
mailing list has and can advise further.
Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats
or printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista &
2007 Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as Jim -dot- Pinkham -at- voith -dot- com -dot-
Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-
