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.
RE: What Program Do You Use for Software Documentation?
Subject:RE: What Program Do You Use for Software Documentation? From:"Al Geist" <al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com> To:<techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:10:20 -0400
To answer the OP...the best program to use is the one your company is using.
With that said, I've used Doc-to-Help, RoboHelp, and FrameMaker/Web Works
Publisher as single source tools with success. I have yet to use Flare.
Most of my current material is outputted as a printed manual or PDF file.
Many of my documents exceed 200 pages and in most cases, Word is used as the
development tool, because that is what the company uses and really, there is
no reason to change. While I complain (whine) about Word, it doesn't seem to
be that much of a problem for large documents (hardware and software
products) with lots of illustrations.
Most of my problems concern upper managers who "know all there is to know
about technical documentation," because they read an article in a magazine.
They have caused more frustrations, delays and problems than any program.
Al Geist
Technical Communicator, Help, Web Design, Video, Photography
Office/Msg: 802-872-9190
Cell: 802-578-3964
E-mail: al -dot- geist -at- geistassociates -dot- com
Website: www.geistassociates.com
See Also:
Fine Art Photography
Website: www.geistimages.com
"...I walked to work, quit my job, and kept walking. Better to be a pilgrim
without a destination, I figured, than to cross the wrong threshold each
day." (Sy Safransky)
ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing
solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or
HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. http://www.doctohelp.com
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-