RE: Please describe value of Information Mapping

[Tim Mantyla <TimMantyla -at- nustep -dot- com>]

Sounds like the results were good. How did you like working with it, Jim?

Successes, problems, constraints, etc.? 

Not sure I'm asking the right questions here, but here's a stab at it:
Does the software's output require much tweaking and editing, or is it 
usually well organized? How much depends on the organization of the 
original documents? What kind of input in terms of settings, parameters 
and variables, or programming is required? 

How effective, readable, usable is the Information Mapping software's 
documentation?

How long did it take you to grasp the principles vs. your self-rated (or 
even as rated by supervisors) speed and ability to assimilate new 
processes, techniques, concepts?

How successful at information mapping would a beginner be on his own, 
after a few days of training, vs. using the software as well?

I'm looking at learning curve time vs. time saved for authors and 
end-users.

Thanks,

Tim

"Pinkham, Jim" <Jim -dot- Pinkham -at- voith -dot- com> wrote on 04/04/2008 09:16:43 AM:

> >>>>>>>>> Information Mapping is mainly used in a Word-based authoring
> environment. Because of its open-source nature, DITA is supported by all
> the
> major authoring tools (FrameMaker, XMetal, Arbortext Editor, Syntext
> Serna,
> ...) and content management systems.<<<<
> 
> One point I'd clarify: It seems more accurate to say that Information
> Mapping software is designed to work with Word. However, the process
> itself is by no means so narrowly constrained to that particular tool.
> For example, during my first exposure to Info Mapping, around 1994, we
> did all of our authoring in Interleaf and used Info Mapping techniques
> extensively to reduce complex government regulations to accessible,
> useful information for end users.
> 
> Jim
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