Current trends in Authoring Tools?

[Kevin Amery]

The tools don't make you a writer, or a better writer--but they do let
you spend more time on things like structure, logic flow, and
expression and less time on raw data entry. Yes, we could do our jobs
with a pen if necessary, but we wouldn't be nearly as productive.

-- 
Until next time...

Kevin Amery


On 2/8/07, ct <straylightsghost at gmail.com> wrote:
> Aye Joe!
>
> My point exactly...as this twisted topic winds its way to Heat Death.
>
> The main tool?  Skill and Talent.  Everything else can be learned.
> I'm REALLY going to PO a few people here...ready?
>
> FrameMaker?  RoboHelp?  NOT brain surgery.  80% of what needs to be
> done can be learned in a good weekend of sit-down, hands on study.
>
> Will knowing these programs a Tech Writer make?
>
> No.
>
> Command of the language at hand?  Be that language English, Chinese,
> Hebrew, Pig Latin...THAT, my friends is what makes us Technical
> Writers.
>
> The tools are nice.  But let's be realistic.  All of us could do our
> jobs with a pen and paper if we had to.
>
> -Collin
>
> On 2/8/07, Joe Malin <jmalin at jmalin.com> wrote:
> > My favorite authoring tool is the system of glyphs often known as
> > "Roman": a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z. This tool
> > comes in many variations, some more usable than others. Along with this
> > tool, I also use English, a system of expressing ideas using
> > combinations of these glyphs plus others such as . , ; : and !. One of
> > English's key features is a set of rules known as "grammar". A great
> > many books have been written about English; I notice that English is
> > such a popular tool that many of the books are written using English itself.
> >
> > English users seem to have followed the idea of design patterns and best
> > practices, so one can now find books on "rhetoric" and "style" that help
> > construct effective English. English by itself is very free-form, and
> > while this is often useful, one should also learn the most effective and
> > efficient design patterns.
> >
> > English is, of course, not the only system out there, but it is very
> > popular. Other systems and other glyph tools exist, but you can find
> > experts that can convert your English into these other systems.
> >
> > I have noticed some recent debate on whether or not we should replace
> > English with XML or Ruby on Rails. Regardless, English is the basis of
> > both of these systems, so learning English now will give you some future
> > payoff as well.
> >
> > And by the way, I am only joking slightly here.
> >
> > Joe
> >
> > ct wrote:
> > > Good Point David.
> > >
> > >> Johnny:
> > >
> > >> Your comment "I have had the good fortune of not having to work with
> > > Word as my main
> > >> authoring tool for the past 13 years as a TW" is hardly the thing to
> > > motivate Word experts >to leap to your assistance. I, for one, think
> > > Word's flexibility and potential for automation >far outweigh its
> > > limitations. I won't sneer at your tools if you won't sneer at mine.
> > > Deal? >About your questions...
> > >
> > > Although I am trained in and use (mostly to keep current) a good
> > > number of the authoring tools, I've noticed a definite trend AWAY from
> > > the industry norms.
> > >
> > > The last few contract jobs I've worked as well as the last 3 permanent
> > > jobs (and the job I am moving into - a fortune 50 company) have all
> > > abandoned tools like RoboHelp, FrameMaker, Flare, etc.  Their tool of
> > > choice?
> > >
> > > Word.
> > >
> > > Why?  It's in use.  It's got a future development path.  And everybody
> > > knows it.
> > >
> > > Simple.
> > >
> > > May not be the best tool...but it's what's hot in Rome.  And when in
> > > Rome....
> > >
> > > -Collin
> > >
> > > (I guess the tagline applies here...)
> > >
> >
> > --
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > *Joe Malin*
> >
> > jmalin at jmalin.com <mailto:jmalin at jmalin.com>
> >
> > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> >
> > Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
> > printed documentation. Features include single source authoring, team authoring,
> > Web-based technology, and PDF output. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
> >
> > Now shipping: Help &amp; Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
> > full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
> > to 106 languages with Help &amp; Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com
> >
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>
> --
> "Loyalty to petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human
> soul in this world--and never will."
>
> Mark Twain
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
> printed documentation. Features include single source authoring, team authoring,
> Web-based technology, and PDF output. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
>
> Now shipping: Help &amp; Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
> full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
> to 106 languages with Help &amp; Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com
>
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