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.
Subject:Re: CD-ROM and Internet Documentation From:Max Wyss <prodok -at- PRODOK -dot- CH> Date:Wed, 30 Sep 1998 01:32:42 +0200
Becky,
Documentation is an integral part of the product. That means, it must be
provided with the product you sell, therefore there must not be any
additional charge for the documentation. Charging may only be acceptable
when more copies than agreed on are requested.
The advantage for the Internet is the speed of delivery. You can be really
up-to-date on the Internet, whereas the logistics with CD-ROMs do take more
time. However, when the integrity of the documentation is an issue, you
still may have to provide CD-ROMs, and you would have to declare the
Internet documents as "preliminary".
Max Wyss
PRODOK Engineering AG
Technical documentation and translations, Electronic Publishing
CH-8906 Bonstetten, Switzerland
>My company is thinking about internet delivery of documentation (behind
>a firewall, etc.). We already deliver documentation on CD-ROM. We are
>interested in knowing if you deliver documentation by both CD-ROM and
>over the internet. If you do both, why, is it because all clients may
>not have internet access or is the product different? Do you charge for
>your documentation.
>
>Please respond, and also, if you don't mind, please identify the company
>you work for.
>
>Thanks for your help,
>Becky Roberts
