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Re: What Program Do You Use for Software Documentation?
Subject:Re: What Program Do You Use for Software Documentation? From:"CL T" <straylightsghost -at- gmail -dot- com> To:techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com Date:Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:35:32 -0600
Are you creating Help documentation? Manuals? Any/Everything?
Madcap Flare and (I believe) later RoboHelp both handle/write XML. Since I'm
working with an archaic version of RoboHelp (the upgrade's in the works), I
don't know for sure.
In this particular company I use InDesign CS3 for all documentation (with
occasional RoboHelp). I appreciate ID CS3's power, it's improvements over ID
CS2 (especially with Long Document handling and lists). I cannot say,
however, that it's a great program for a Tech Writer. If you are planning on
getting down and dirty with the layout/design aspects of writing, it's
great! If you want to push out documentation quickly and efficiently? It's
not the right tool.
It has been a great experience to add the software to my catalog. So I won't
complain too much.
On Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 12:17 PM, John Posada <jposada99 -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
> XMetal for xml files tied to Documentum for content management.
>
> Why? Because we AREN'T a small IT department.
>
> On Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 1:22 PM, Paul Weir <Pweir -at- bju -dot- edu> wrote:
> > I just started working as a Technical Writer a couple months ago and have
> been using Microsoft Word thus far to write user-documentation for a couple
> of in-house software programs. I have also recently been interested in
> learning more about using XML for this purpose, but am not sure it would be
> a benefit to me in my small IT department.
> >
> > So, I ask as a novice, what software do you all use for your technical
> writing and why?
>
> --
> John Posada
> Senior Technical Writer
> NYMetro STC President
>
> 'Half this game is ninety percent mental.'
> -- Danny Ozark, Philadelphia Phillies manager
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing
> solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or
> HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals.
>http://www.doctohelp.com
>
> True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
> Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
> documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
>
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing
solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or
HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. http://www.doctohelp.com
True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
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