RE: XML and Documentation

["Eason, David" <David -dot- Eason -at- lsi -dot- com>]

You might also want to check out Topic Based Information Development
(TBID) as a way to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Google on topic
based information, not TBID. (That would yield some bizarre results!)

David Eason

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+david -dot- eason=lsi -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+david -dot- eason=lsi -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Chris Vickery
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2007 1:12 PM
To: Melissa Nelson; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: XML and Documentation

A great starting point would be to google for DITA business case or
Docbook business case. You can sell your boss on the fact that your
productivity will increase as you separate content from formatting, and
eliminate desktop publishing costs.

You can create XML content that is then formatted via XSLT to produce
HTML and help content, and via FO to create PDF output like user
manuals, all from the same XML. By reusing the same content, you only
have to update a single source file, and it is updated in each
deliverable in which it is used.

To give you an idea of the ease of use, I new about zero about HTML and
dove straight in to XML Docbook (with the help of a knowledgeable
teacher). 

There are lots of resources out there on the advantages of XML. Check
Oasis.

Good luck

Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+cvickery=arenasolutions -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+cvickery=arenasolutions -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com]
On Behalf Of Melissa Nelson
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2007 12:04 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: XML and Documentation

Good afternoon
 
I have been seeing a lot on this list lately about XML, documentation
and Single Sourcing. My review is coming up and my boss asked me some
questions about my job, what I would like to learn, improve etc. I told
him that I hear a lot about people on my list using XML for
documentation, single sourcing etc. At the moment I have never done
anything with XML, he said that it would be a straight forward thing for
me to learn and was really interested in hearing how people use XML. So
I guess my questions to those on here that use XML for documentation are
as follows:
 
How difficult is it to learn XML...I know the real basic HTML commands,
but do not use it on a regular basis.
 
How does XML relate to documentation as a whole, is it only online or is
it easily convertible to other forms of documentation?
 
How does XML relate to single sourcing of documentation?
 
Any help you can give me would be great...my boss will be out of town
next week and my review will be the following week...I would love to
have a starting point to jump off in researching XML and documentation.
 
Thanks so much!
 
Melissa^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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 & 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 & Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com

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or 
printed documentation. Features include single source authoring, team
authoring,
Web-based technology, and PDF output.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

Now shipping: Help & Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
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Web-based technology, and PDF output. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

Now shipping: Help & Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
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