RE: Annoying MS Word Table Sizing Issue

["Schutz, Me" <me -dot- schutz -at- thermo -dot- com>]

On Wed, 8 Mar 2006 10:36:30 -0500 "Dan Goldstein"
<DGoldstein -at- riverainmedical -dot- com> suggests:

Wait! Before you unformat everything about the text!...first try
Table|Convert|Table to Text. 
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Unfortunately, once a table is in the condition Amy described:
   I have an old Word document full of tables I need to resize...nothing
is working consistently. 
Word's convert features rarely strip enough of the coding from the table
entries to prevent problems going forward.  Without completely stripping
the text, you have a good chance of running into instability later down
the road.  

Been there, done that, had the file blow up in my face two days before
rtp...
ME

Mary Ellen Schutz
Sr. Technical Writer
Translation Coordinator
Thermo Electron Corporation
5225-4 Verona Road
Madison, WI  53711
Telephone: (608)276-6100  ext. 2339
Fax: (608)276-6328 
me -dot- schutz -at- thermo -dot- com

WORLDWIDE CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE: Dissemination, distribution or copying
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-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+me -dot- schutz=thermo -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+me -dot- schutz=thermo -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of techwr-l-request -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 1:00 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: TECHWR-L Digest, Vol 5, Issue 9

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: TECHWR-L Digest, Vol 5, Issue 8 (Possible S-P-A-M
      6.14/5.00) (Anne Jesser)
   2. Re: Job chosing dillemma (Ed Wurster)
   3. RE: DITA possible for start-up/lone writer? (France Baril)
   4. Re: CHM to HLP conversion (Bill Swallow)
   5. RE: Blame the writer redux (Cindy -dot- Crittenden -at- cox -dot- com)
   6. RE: Annoying MS Word Table Sizing Issue (Schutz, Me)
   7. RE: Annoying MS Word Table Sizing Issue (Dan Goldstein)
   8. RE: Developing a troubleshooting guide (Morton, Christopher)
   9. Credit where credit is due?? (Ron Hearn)
  10. Re: Credit where credit is due?? (Peter Sturgeon)
  11. RE: Credit where credit is due?? (Evans, Diane L (Rosetta))
  12. Re: Credit where credit is due?? (Dick Margulis)
  13. Re: Credit where credit is due?? (Gene Kim-Eng)
  14. RE: Credit where credit is due?? (Johnson, Tom)
  15. RE: Credit where credit is due?? (Ron Hearn)
  16. Re: Developing a troubleshooting guide (Glen Blair)
  17. RE: Developing a troubleshooting guide (Morton, Christopher)
  18. RE: Developing a troubleshooting guide (Joe Malin)
  19. Re: Credit where credit is due?? (Bill Swallow)
  20. Re: Credit where credit is due?? (Beth Agnew)
  21. RE: Credit where credit is due?? (Ron Hearn)
  22. Typical contents for a best practices guide and examples
      availabl	e online (Peter Kelly)
  23. Re: Typical contents for a best practices guide and examples
      availabl e online (hbacheler -at- aol -dot- com)
  24. RE: Typical contents for a best practices guide and examples
      avai	labl e online (Peter Kelly)
  25. Re: Typical contents for a best practices guide and examples
      available online (Amanda Abelove)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Wed, 08 Mar 2006 02:03:02 -0500
From: "Anne Jesser" <AJesser -at- ecc -dot- net>
Subject: Re: TECHWR-L Digest, Vol 5, Issue 8 (Possible S-P-A-M
	6.14/5.00)
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Message-ID: <s40e3b6e -dot- 068 -at- gate3 -dot- ecc -dot- net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

I will be on vacation from 3/8-3/12.  Alice Heaton can assist you during
this time.  Alice's contact information is as follows:  by telephone
(508) 563-9767, x131 or via e-mail aheaton -at- ecc -dot- net -dot-   Thank you.


------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 05:31:52 -0500
From: "Ed Wurster" <glassnet -at- gmail -dot- com>
Subject: Re: Job chosing dillemma
To: DanG <dangarza -at- houston -dot- rr -dot- com>
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID:
	<210db9520603080231k793fa5aeq6fc448f506ea0ebd -at- mail -dot- gmail -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I'd go for the 1099, all other factors being equal. Make sure you
check with the company about additional insurance you may have to
carry. That could be a sizable chunk for a short period of time.

> I have to choose between two employers for a tech writing assignment.
One is
> 1099 the other uses a W2 at the same rate. The W2 is a major oil
company
> that wants permanent employee later on if I'm right, the other
promises more
> work later, a pay raise and a possible perm position. The W2 job wants
me to

--
Ed Wurster (Voorhees, NJ)
Tech Tips Blog
http://www.ewurster.com/html/tech_tips.html


------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 09:15:08 -0500
From: "France Baril" <France -dot- Baril -at- ixiasoft -dot- com>
Subject: RE: DITA possible for start-up/lone writer?
To: "Joe Malin" <jmalin -at- tuvox -dot- com>,	<techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Message-ID:
	<2DF541BBFF71C34492593A72575157909814C4 -at- corporatix1 -dot- ixia -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Hi Joe, 

I work for a company that helps other companies implements their DITA
solutions. 

When I first started with DITA, there was nothing except the dtds and a
few examples. I did not start with the whole CMS/WYSIWYG editor
structure. I was a lone writer and I wrote my content with a simple XML
editor, I saved my topics and maps on my own file system, I created my
own XSLs and XSL-Fos (I learned a lot from www.w3schools.com).

I worked like that for almost 2 years, producing online help for 4
products with 6 different audience types, training manuals for those
same product and audiences and my API documentation was created
automatically from XML code comments in C# classes and WSDLs from the
web services. All that with my 'almost free' toolset.

Then the local training team wanted to be able to modify their own
content and add more screen captures, the team in France wanted to have
access to the system to create their own PDF after customizing their
training guides for each client (reordering maps), the technical support
team wanted to maintain the FAQ to follow up with the most current bugs
or difficulties... so we moved to a complete CMS solution that controls
access to documents, supports the approval process (draft, review,
approved), provide a GUI tool for map manipulation and helps
authors/trainers/tech support staff find the topics they need. It does a
lot more than that now, but that's how it started.

I encourage you to start with something simple if you feel comfortable
working from what is provided in the public Open toolkit and if you feel
comfortable learning languages like XSLT and XSL-FO. I got all my own
knowledge from the web, so I know this can be done.

Chances are your project will be successful and you might contaminate
other teams. At that point, you might want to explore more complex or
expensive toolsets to support less technically incline individual and to
keep some control over your content and processes once everyone wants to
play with it. Moreover, at that point, you'll have the means to justify
the investment. Lone writer vs multiple teams...

In conclusion I say, go for it, don't invest more then you need to get
started and enjoy the process. As your project grows, become aware of
what tools could help you. You'll be able to better identify your needs
as you go along and therefore ask for a system/toolset that makes sense
for your situation.

France



France Baril
Documentation Architect/Architecte documentaire
IXIASOFT
tel.:         + 1 514 279-4942 (new extension number 350)
              + 1 877 279-IXIA (new extension number 350)
fax:          + 1 514 279-3947
france -dot- baril -at- ixiasoft -dot- com
[   www.ixiasoft.com   ]
Let's Talk XML

 




------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 09:19:16 -0500
From: "Bill Swallow" <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com>
Subject: Re: CHM to HLP conversion
To: "Laura Chris" <tw_asks_u -at- postinbox -dot- com>
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID:
	<375e3cb30603080619x5c43b876ycf973a252a8ff722 -at- mail -dot- gmail -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

In that case you should be able to easily migrate your content from a
WinHelp project to a HTML Help project, and can re-use the same map
file.

On 3/8/06, Laura Chris <tw_asks_u -at- postinbox -dot- com> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I use Robohelp X3 for the online help system.
>
> Laura Chris

--
Bill Swallow
HATT List Owner
WWP-Users List Owner
42.8162,-73.7736
http://techcommdood.blogspot.com
============================
I support Char James-Tanny for STC Secretary.


------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 10:10:06 -0500
From: <Cindy -dot- Crittenden -at- cox -dot- com>
Subject: RE: Blame the writer redux
To: <sburnf -at- au1 -dot- ibm -dot- com>
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID:
	
<8720A864484AB04082CD55A4AEAADAB6018239E8 -at- CATL0MS01 -dot- corp -dot- cox -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Perhaps I spoke a little too strongly about said policemen, but I still
think the article was a bit silly.

Car seats intended for children over the age of 2 are NOT the car seats
that are under such fire for being difficult to install.
Shoulder-harness restraints are most often attached using the existing
seatbelt through a slot on the car seat.  It is the infant seats that
are the problem, and those are the seats involved in the regulated by so
many states.

It just smacked to me of intellectual laziness - we can't figure out why
these things are so difficult, so let's find a reason not to use them.
It's dangerous and irresponsible to suggest to people that just because
they need help doing something safe, it's probably ok just not to do it
at all.

That was all - just hit a sore spot for me.  Sorry if I offended you.



-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+cindy -dot- crittenden=cox -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+cindy -dot- crittenden=cox -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Stuart Burnfield
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2006 8:55 PM
To: Crittenden, Cindy (CCI-Atlanta)
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Blame the writer redux

Hi Cindy -

I'm not sure about your reference to those poor police officers. The
article is saying that child seats appear to no better than seat belts
for
children older than two. I don't think the article claims that this is
because the child seats are being installed by stupid police officers.
At
least, I can't see anywhere that it says that.

The police are only mentioned with respect to the four-day training
course.
That doesn't seem unreasonably long to cover a 345-page training manual,
given that there are dozens of possible combinations of seat design and
car
interior layout.

Regards

Stuart

<Cindy -dot- Crittenden -at- cox -dot- com> wrote on 08/03/2006 09:29:28 AM:
> That was a truly silly article.  Perhaps they should have recruited
some
> smarter police officers.  Their data is all fine and good, but I'll
keep
> my two babies safely buckled into their correctly-installed car seats.

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------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 09:23:49 -0600
From: "Schutz, Me" <me -dot- schutz -at- thermo -dot- com>
Subject: RE: Annoying MS Word Table Sizing Issue
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Cc: abranscome -at- lionmts -dot- com
Message-ID:
	
<5C24BB47D826144CB696B2BFD3973D4C167FDF -at- USMAD-MX01 -dot- amer -dot- thermo -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="US-ASCII"

 Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2006 11:59:40 -0800
On Tue, 7 Mar 2006 11:59:40 -0800 Amy Branscome writes in part...

I have an old Word document full of tables I need to resize...nothing is
working consistently. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello Amy,

A couple of suggestions, least to most painful (at least in my humble
opinion).  
Check the settings in the Table Grid style.
Try an "open and repair" on the document.
Select everything in the document except the last paragraph marker and
copy the file to a new document (based on the new template) in a new
folder, save the file and then work on the tables.
Use Pure Text or some other format stripping utility to cut the tables
from the document and then paste them back as unformatted text.  Convert
the text to a new table.

And always pray that the Table Gods will favor you during the Word
session...
ME

Mary Ellen Schutz
Sr. Technical Writer
Translation Coordinator
Thermo Electron Corporation
5225-4 Verona Road
Madison, WI  53711
Telephone: (608)276-6100  ext. 2339
Fax: (608)276-6328 
me -dot- schutz -at- thermo -dot- com

WORLDWIDE CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE: Dissemination, distribution or copying
of this e-mail or the information herein by anyone other than the
intended recipient, or an employee or agent of a system responsible for
delivering the message to the intended recipient, is prohibited. If you
are not the intended recipient, please inform the sender and delete all
copies.


------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 10:36:30 -0500
From: "Dan Goldstein" <DGoldstein -at- riverainmedical -dot- com>
Subject: RE: Annoying MS Word Table Sizing Issue
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Message-ID:
	<0ADA9A22B5BC2147B360A22FD2BAD25C52A32B -at- RMGBEX01 -dot- rmg -dot- local>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

Wait! Before you unformat everything about the text!...

Your problem is the tables, not the text inside -- right? So first try
Table|Convert|Table to Text. If there's anything wrong with the text,
fix it, and then convert back to tables.

Let me know if this doesn't work for you...

-- Dan Goldstein

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Schutz, Me
> Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 10:24 AM
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: RE: Annoying MS Word Table Sizing Issue
> 
> Hello Amy,
> 
> A couple of suggestions, least to most painful (at least in my humble
> opinion).  
> Check the settings in the Table Grid style.
> Try an "open and repair" on the document.
> Select everything in the document except the last paragraph marker and
> copy the file to a new document (based on the new template) in a new
> folder, save the file and then work on the tables.
> Use Pure Text or some other format stripping utility to cut the tables
> from the document and then paste them back as unformatted 
> text.  Convert the text to a new table.
> 

This message contains confidential information intended only for the use
of the addressee(s). If you are not the addressee, or the person
responsible for delivering it to the addressee, you are hereby notified
that reading, disseminating, distributing, copying, electronic storing
or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this message
is strictly prohibited.  If you have received this message by mistake,
please notify us, by replying to the sender, and delete the original
message immediately thereafter.  Thank you.



------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 07:59:41 -0800
From: "Morton, Christopher" <CMorton -at- caiso -dot- com>
Subject: RE: Developing a troubleshooting guide
To: <glen -dot- blair -at- gmail -dot- com>,	<techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Message-ID:
	
<30CE0C8B4E0D0B41928DE8C587C3F375022EA33A -at- csifiapp6105 -dot- oa -dot- caiso -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

>I built the charts in Visio and pasted them into my Word doc.

This is also the approach I used on one project at HP, having lifted the
concept from someplace else. I used the basic "software decision flow"
template in Visio, with appropriate Yes/No branching flowing from the
decision diamonds. If this is unfamiliar to you, it's used all the time
to mock up pseudo-code, so you can perhaps start your education there.

Best of luck!

> Chris



------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 09:29:10 -0800
From: "Ron Hearn" <RHearn -at- cucbc -dot- com>
Subject: Credit where credit is due??
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Message-ID:
	<7FC299CBB908B24FBFE1D75FA81911B215755A -at- c2kp02mail -dot- cucbc -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="US-ASCII"


Don't you hate when management sends out an email acknowledging everyone
who put in a lot of effort on a project to achieve a goal and there is
no mention of the person who wrote the manuals? Sigh
End of rant
ron


------------------------------

Message: 10
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 12:32:43 -0500 (EST)
From: Peter Sturgeon <prsturgeon -at- yahoo -dot- com>
Subject: Re: Credit where credit is due??
To: Ron Hearn <RHearn -at- cucbc -dot- com>, techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID: <20060308173243 -dot- 20492 -dot- qmail -at- web53004 -dot- mail -dot- yahoo -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1


--- Ron Hearn <RHearn -at- cucbc -dot- com> wrote:

> 
> Don't you hate when management sends out an email acknowledging
> everyone who put in a lot of effort on a project to achieve a goal
and there is no mention of the person who wrote the manuals?

Nope

Peter Sturgeon


------------------------------

Message: 11
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 12:32:50 -0500
From: "Evans, Diane L (Rosetta)" <diane_evans -at- merck -dot- com>
Subject: RE: Credit where credit is due??
To: "'Ron Hearn'" <RHearn -at- cucbc -dot- com>,	techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID:
	<0A7D4BCC8DF20F4185B6DC14B9A306C7CEFAC3 -at- ussemx1100 -dot- merck -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain

>Don't you hate when management sends out an email acknowledging
everyone
>who put in a lot of effort on a project to achieve a goal and there is
>no mention of the person who wrote the manuals? Sigh

Or, the project manager that plans no time for the technical writer,
because
they know you will get it done on time despite juggling 5 concurrent
projects.

Diane Evans, who is writing a procedure, an SOP, a Test Plan, a test
summary, and performing testing as well today



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------------------------------

Message: 12
Date: Wed, 08 Mar 2006 12:39:33 -0500
From: Dick Margulis <margulisd -at- comcast -dot- net>
Subject: Re: Credit where credit is due??
To: Ron Hearn <RHearn -at- cucbc -dot- com>
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID: <440F16D5 -dot- 60505 -at- comcast -dot- net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Ron Hearn wrote:
> Don't you hate when management sends out an email acknowledging
everyone
> who put in a lot of effort on a project to achieve a goal and there is
> no mention of the person who wrote the manuals? Sigh
> End of rant

Well, it should be the end of the _rant_; but that doesn't mean it 
should be the end of your concern. There is no good excuse for a manager

to do that, and you should ask, the next time you run into the email 
writer at the coffee machine, if perhaps his omitting your name was an 
oversight.

Try to get a read on the situation. In many organizations, project 
wrap-up memos like that carry weight with upper management--positive 
weight for the people who got the kudos and negative weight for those 
who did not. If your boss left your name out inadvertently, he or she 
will probably volunteer to correct the oversight with a memo up the 
chain, and copied to you (less embarrassing than sending a new memo to 
the whole company). If your boss makes it clear that it wasn't an 
oversight but that your work is not valued, you might want to start 
quietly politicking for a transfer to someone else's group or start 
thinking about looking elsewhere for employment.



------------------------------

Message: 13
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 10:00:18 -0800
From: "Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>
Subject: Re: Credit where credit is due??
To: "Ron Hearn" <RHearn -at- cucbc -dot- com>,	<techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Message-ID: <001e01c642da$292ac390$2c20c90a -at- viragelogic -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

I usually send a private email to the writers of such messages
asking, "Did you actually intend to not include my writer/s in
your list of people whose contributions you were appreciating?
If so, I'd like to schedule a meeting to go over your issues with
my writer/s' efforts."  Of course, the potential downside for the
writer/s is if there are issues...

Gene Kim-Eng


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Hearn" <RHearn -at- cucbc -dot- com>
Don't you hate when management sends out an email acknowledging everyone
who put in a lot of effort on a project to achieve a goal and there is
no mention of the person who wrote the manuals? Sigh
End of rant




------------------------------

Message: 14
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 13:04:35 -0500
From: "Johnson, Tom" <TJohnson -at- starcutter -dot- com>
Subject: RE: Credit where credit is due??
To: "Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>, "Ron Hearn" <RHearn -at- cucbc -dot- com>,
	<techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Message-ID:
	
<F5618004A073904B92ADDF3A1A17FB7A01E9F3F0 -at- star-mailbe1 -dot- starcutter -dot- net>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="iso-8859-1"

If writers have issues they need to address, this should be a welcome
opportunity to learn something about themselves and the basis for
improvement. Writers might come out of the meeting feeling kind of beat
up, but as a writer I'd rather know about and be able to do something
about it than to be blissfully ignorant. If you have issues, let me
know.

Tom Johnson
Technical Writer
tjohnson -at- starcutter -dot- com 

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+tjohnson=starcutter -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+tjohnson=starcutter -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com]On
Behalf Of Gene Kim-Eng
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 1:00 PM
To: Ron Hearn; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Credit where credit is due??


I usually send a private email to the writers of such messages
asking, "Did you actually intend to not include my writer/s in
your list of people whose contributions you were appreciating?
If so, I'd like to schedule a meeting to go over your issues with
my writer/s' efforts."  Of course, the potential downside for the
writer/s is if there are issues...

Gene Kim-Eng



------------------------------

Message: 15
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 10:09:35 -0800
From: "Ron Hearn" <RHearn -at- cucbc -dot- com>
Subject: RE: Credit where credit is due??
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Message-ID:
	<7FC299CBB908B24FBFE1D75FA81911B215756A -at- c2kp02mail -dot- cucbc -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="US-ASCII"

Turns out I wasn't the only one not mentioned in the email. Neither was
the person who merely sold the system to the customer. So I don't think
it's an issue with me as much as the email writer not doing the homework
to include everyone who should be. Such is the danger of such emails -
it's safe to say something like "Thanks to everyone who contributed"
rather than start listing people and running the risk of overlooking
people.

Ron


-----Original Message-----
From: Johnson, Tom [mailto:TJohnson -at- starcutter -dot- com] 
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 10:05 AM
To: Gene Kim-Eng; Ron Hearn; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Credit where credit is due??

If writers have issues they need to address, this should be a welcome
opportunity to learn something about themselves and the basis for
improvement. Writers might come out of the meeting feeling kind of beat
up, but as a writer I'd rather know about and be able to do something
about it than to be blissfully ignorant. If you have issues, let me
know.

Tom Johnson
Technical Writer
tjohnson -at- starcutter -dot- com 

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+tjohnson=starcutter -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+tjohnson=starcutter -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com]On
Behalf Of Gene Kim-Eng
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 1:00 PM
To: Ron Hearn; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Credit where credit is due??


I usually send a private email to the writers of such messages
asking, "Did you actually intend to not include my writer/s in
your list of people whose contributions you were appreciating?
If so, I'd like to schedule a meeting to go over your issues with
my writer/s' efforts."  Of course, the potential downside for the
writer/s is if there are issues...

Gene Kim-Eng




------------------------------

Message: 16
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 10:21:38 -0800
From: "Glen Blair" <glen -dot- blair -at- gmail -dot- com>
Subject: Re: Developing a troubleshooting guide
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID:
	<f2e045110603081021g4ea8aa7am59537ed086dd02bc -at- mail -dot- gmail -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Thanks to all of you for your advice!

I've spoken with some of our field service engineers and have been
able to identify a handful of troubleshooting techniques/pathways to
incorporate into the first draft of this document (I imagine it will
grow and morph through at least a few forms before we get something
that's useful both in the field and in the call center).

I especially liked Al's idea of developing an FAQ to go along with
this. There's a guide that accompanies the machine, explaining what
steps the operator should take to optimize the machine's performance.
Part of my plan for improving the whole documentation package includes
significant additions to the performance optimization guide that will
better explain operation techniques and the machine's performance
capabilities...now if there was just a way to get the customers to
read that _before_ they called for help! :-) A running FAQ (even if
it's just in-house) sounds like a good way to track new and existing
performance issues that can later be addressed in troubleshooting and
the performance optimization guide.

Thanks again! This list has been a great resource for someone (me) new
to the tech writing field!

Cheers,
Glen

--
"The atmosphere of the average workplace
is to productivity what flames painted on
the side of a car are to speed."
-Paul Graham


------------------------------

Message: 17
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 10:31:16 -0800
From: "Morton, Christopher" <CMorton -at- caiso -dot- com>
Subject: RE: Developing a troubleshooting guide
To: "Glen Blair" <glen -dot- blair -at- gmail -dot- com>,
<techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Message-ID:
	
<30CE0C8B4E0D0B41928DE8C587C3F375022EA33B -at- csifiapp6105 -dot- oa -dot- caiso -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

If the machine is that complex, why not offer some sort of "mandatory"
seminar for purchaser/users and just build the cost of the seminar into
its sales price? Perhaps better yet, produce a really good video on DVD
that they be advised to watch before cranking up the device?

(In "my world," a magic "key" would be embedded in the video content...
if the purchaser/user didn't know the key, the machine wouldn't
function.)

> Chris





------------------------------

Message: 18
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 11:28:21 -0800
From: "Joe Malin" <jmalin -at- tuvox -dot- com>
Subject: RE: Developing a troubleshooting guide
To: "Glen Blair" <glen -dot- blair -at- gmail -dot- com>,
<techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Message-ID:
	<144FACB355C4F7469CE7D9B7E51E327F0162BAA2 -at- tuvoxex -dot- tuvox -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"


>>if there was just a way to get the customers to read that _before_
they called for help! :-) 

If you find that way, I will personally nominate you for the Nobel Peace
Prize!


------------------------------

Message: 19
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 15:00:26 -0500
From: "Bill Swallow" <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com>
Subject: Re: Credit where credit is due??
To: "Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID:
	<375e3cb30603081200l41b93121i9ba60e66a2c625bc -at- mail -dot- gmail -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

On 3/8/06, Gene Kim-Eng <techwr -at- genek -dot- com> wrote:
> I usually send a private email to the writers of such messages
> asking, "Did you actually intend to not include my writer/s in
> your list of people whose contributions you were appreciating?
> If so, I'd like to schedule a meeting to go over your issues with
> my writer/s' efforts."  Of course, the potential downside for the
> writer/s is if there are issues...

True but then it's not always a downside to make issues known...
that's when you can resolve them.

--
Bill Swallow
HATT List Owner
WWP-Users List Owner
42.8162,-73.7736
http://techcommdood.blogspot.com
============================
I support Char James-Tanny for STC Secretary.


------------------------------

Message: 20
Date: Wed, 08 Mar 2006 15:50:20 -0500
From: Beth Agnew <beth -dot- agnew -at- senecac -dot- on -dot- ca>
Subject: Re: Credit where credit is due??
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID: <440F438C -dot- 5000405 -at- senecac -dot- on -dot- ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

If we do our jobs well, we always hope that our work is transparent to 
the end user. But not transparent to management!
You could use that to inform the offending email sender, or email the 
group yourself, to humorously remind them of your contribution.

"As technical writers, we always hope that the work we do in creating 
the manuals will be transparent to the end user. Apparently, we have 
succeeded admirably! Kudos to everyone on the team. -- From your 
invisible but happy technical writer."

--Beth

Ron Hearn wrote:
> Don't you hate when management sends out an email acknowledging
everyone
> who put in a lot of effort on a project to achieve a goal and there is
> no mention of the person who wrote the manuals? Sigh

-- 
Beth Agnew
Professor, Technical Communication
Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology
Toronto, ON 416.491.5050 x3133
http://www.tinyurl.com/83u5u



------------------------------

Message: 21
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 13:09:26 -0800
From: "Ron Hearn" <RHearn -at- cucbc -dot- com>
Subject: RE: Credit where credit is due??
To: <beth -dot- agnew -at- senecac -dot- on -dot- ca>
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID:
	<7FC299CBB908B24FBFE1D75FA81911B215759C -at- c2kp02mail -dot- cucbc -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="US-ASCII"

Thanks Beth - it's both a good and true point. I like it.

Ron

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+rhearn=cucbc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+rhearn=cucbc -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf
Of Beth Agnew
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 12:50 PM
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Credit where credit is due??

If we do our jobs well, we always hope that our work is transparent to 
the end user. But not transparent to management!
You could use that to inform the offending email sender, or email the 
group yourself, to humorously remind them of your contribution.

"As technical writers, we always hope that the work we do in creating 
the manuals will be transparent to the end user. Apparently, we have 
succeeded admirably! Kudos to everyone on the team. -- From your 
invisible but happy technical writer."

--Beth

Ron Hearn wrote:
> Don't you hate when management sends out an email acknowledging
everyone
> who put in a lot of effort on a project to achieve a goal and there is
> no mention of the person who wrote the manuals? Sigh

-- 
Beth Agnew
Professor, Technical Communication
Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology
Toronto, ON 416.491.5050 x3133
http://www.tinyurl.com/83u5u

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------------------------------

Message: 22
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 17:52:45 -0500 
From: Peter Kelly <peter_kelly -at- sockeyesolutions -dot- com>
Subject: Typical contents for a best practices guide and examples
	availabl	e online
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID:
	<7D5AE17D4288D511A57F00508BE7FE6CCF3333 -at- sockeye-mail -dot- sockeye>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="iso-8859-1"

Hello all,

I know this topic came up not long ago, and I searched--yes somewhat
quickly-- the archives but have not seen any examples of links to best
practices guides posted. Yes I have come across a few on the internet
but
can't help but thinking someone on this list knows of a particularly
good
example. Could someone recommend a few that are available online that
they
think are good examples of the species? Also thoughts on what typically
goes
into a best practices guide for software or a link to the thread where
it
was discussed. 

Thanks so much!

Peter


------------------------------

Message: 23
Date: Wed, 08 Mar 2006 18:13:35 -0500
From: hbacheler -at- aol -dot- com
Subject: Re: Typical contents for a best practices guide and examples
	availabl e online
To: peter_kelly -at- sockeyesolutions -dot- com, techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID: <8C8111D0F213D8A-304-A9B -at- MBLK-M26 -dot- sysops -dot- aol -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

It depends on the type of 'best practices' that you are looking for.   
Be more specific.  It might help

Harry

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Kelly <peter_kelly -at- sockeyesolutions -dot- com>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Sent: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 17:52:45 -0500
Subject: Typical contents for a best practices guide and examples 
availabl e online

Hello all,

I know this topic came up not long ago, and I searched--yes somewhat
quickly-- the archives but have not seen any examples of links to best
practices guides posted. Yes I have come across a few on the internet 
but
can't help but thinking someone on this list knows of a particularly 
good
example. Could someone recommend a few that are available online that 
they
think are good examples of the species? Also thoughts on what typically 
goes
into a best practices guide for software or a link to the thread where 
it
was discussed.

Thanks so much!

Peter
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help
format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient 
content
delivery. Try it today!. http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

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------------------------------

Message: 24
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 18:23:03 -0500 
From: Peter Kelly <peter_kelly -at- sockeyesolutions -dot- com>
Subject: RE: Typical contents for a best practices guide and examples
	avai	labl e online
To: "'hbacheler -at- aol -dot- com'" <hbacheler -at- aol -dot- com>, Peter Kelly
	<peter_kelly -at- sockeyesolutions -dot- com>, techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID:
	<7D5AE17D4288D511A57F00508BE7FE6CCF3335 -at- sockeye-mail -dot- sockeye>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="iso-8859-1"


I would expect a 'Best Practices' Guide to contain:

**Specific patterns--design or development patterns-- which might be
applicable to a given situation--when using our software to create
applications
**Example usages (of the software)
**A few use case stories which illustrate the best way of using the
software
in certain situations. 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: hbacheler -at- aol -dot- com [mailto:hbacheler -at- aol -dot- com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 06:14 PM
To: peter_kelly -at- sockeyesolutions -dot- com; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Typical contents for a best practices guide and examples
availabl e online


It depends on the type of 'best practices' that you are looking for.   
Be more specific.  It might help

Harry

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Kelly <peter_kelly -at- sockeyesolutions -dot- com>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Sent: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 17:52:45 -0500
Subject: Typical contents for a best practices guide and examples 
availabl e online

Hello all,

I know this topic came up not long ago, and I searched--yes somewhat
quickly-- the archives but have not seen any examples of links to best
practices guides posted. Yes I have come across a few on the internet 
but
can't help but thinking someone on this list knows of a particularly 
good
example. Could someone recommend a few that are available online that 
they
think are good examples of the species? Also thoughts on what typically 
goes
into a best practices guide for software or a link to the thread where 
it
was discussed.

Thanks so much!

Peter
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help
format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient 
content
delivery. Try it today!. http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Doc-To-Help includes a one-click RoboHelp project converter. It's that 
easy.
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------------------------------

Message: 25
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 16:37:37 -0800
From: "Amanda Abelove" <bluestreaker1977 -at- hotmail -dot- com>
Subject: Re: Typical contents for a best practices guide and examples
	available online
To: "Peter Kelly" <peter_kelly -at- sockeyesolutions -dot- com>,
	<techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Message-ID: <BAY107-DAV1172FB360B45CCA90B4040D8EC0 -at- phx -dot- gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

salesforce.com has good docs...  try http://www.crmsuccess.com/

Amanda


> example. Could someone recommend a few that are available online that
they
> think are good examples of the species? Also thoughts on what
typically 
> goes
> into a best practices guide for software or a link to the thread where
it
> was discussed.


------------------------------

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