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-----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 Roberta Hennessey
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2010 12:01 PM
To: Gene Kim-Eng; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Two Professional Questions
Oh my, I hope I've not been annoying.
My consideration is that the guide I was hired to create is now apt to
be at least two guides, and a future software releases will add a third
book. There are no functional specs here nor program management
milestones.
It appeared Word was going to be the tool of choice before I got here.
Not being a Word superuser, I have found Word does not update the TOCs
very well. I also cannot get Shift + F5 to work with cross references so
users can go back to the point of origin of the cross reference. This
would provide a user with quick, good access to additional information
if they needed it. (Does anyone know of a fix? I see lots of complaints
on web but no solution.)
Part of the comfort factor is true, though I see ease of creating other
versions of the doc a consideration as well.
I think (and I could be very wrong) it would take another contractor far
less time to come in an add 2 new chapters to a guide using Frame than
using Word (and running the risk of the doc getting too big).
Am I wrong? Can anyone suggest where a writer can go for expert
superuser Word help? What alternative tools would people suggest - this
is going to be 2 to 3 guides for an internet application. I think I have
6-9 weeks to complete.
Bobbi
On Tue, Sep 28, 2010 at 12:21 PM, Gene Kim-Eng <techwr -at- genek -dot- com> wrote:
> That was my interpretation as well. Either the company is intrigued
> by Bobbi's FM experience and would like to know whether FM would be an
> improvement over what they have now, or (hopefully not) Bobbi has
> managed to annoy them with comments about how much "better" FM is as a
> tool and they're giving her a chance to put up or you-know-what by
> providing a detailed FM-vs-Word comparison.
>
> I've done single-sourcing with FM and I hated it. I doubt that I'd
> like trying to do it in Word any better. If it's a genuine future
> step, my preference would be to move to a native XML tool.
> Single-sourcing is a significant mindset adjustment compared to
> traditional authoring, and trying to hang on to old, familiar tool
> environments just bogs down the learning process. At least it did for
> me.
>
> Gene Kim-Eng
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Sep 28, 2010 at 7:26 AM, Combs, Richard
> <richard -dot- combs -at- polycom -dot- com>wrote:
>
> > So, to recap, here's the situation as I understand it: The company
> > has
> been
> > using Word. Bobbi has come in as a contract technical writer, and
> > she's experienced with FM, but has never used Word for such a
project.
> >
> > Why would you say the issue isn't Word vs. FM? Other than your
> > enthusiasm for ID, that is. :-)
> >
> > The issue is Word vs. FM because one is a comfortable fit for the
> > company (no change required) and the other is a comfortable fit for
> > their writer
> (no
> > learning curve or stumbling blocks).
> >
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--
Roberta Hennessey
Technical Writer
(978) 835-4282
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Create and publish documentation through multiple channels with
Doc-To-Help.
Choose your authoring formats and get any output you may need. Try
Doc-To-Help, now with MS SharePoint integration, free for 30-days. http://www.doctohelp.com
LavaCon 2010 in San Diego Sept 29 - Oct 2 is now open for registration.
Use referral code TECHWR-L for $50 off conference tuition!
See program at: http://lavacon.org/
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Create and publish documentation through multiple channels with Doc-To-Help.
Choose your authoring formats and get any output you may need. Try
Doc-To-Help, now with MS SharePoint integration, free for 30-days. http://www.doctohelp.com
LavaCon 2010 in San Diego Sept 29 - Oct 2 is now open for registration.
Use referral code TECHWR-L for $50 off conference tuition!
See program at: http://lavacon.org/
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