Re: The case against M$ Word

["Chris Morton" <salt -dot- morton -at- gmail -dot- com>]

>
>
>  <Can you use Word and then import in InDesign for final output?>
>
>

>
>> This is absolutely the plan. I am a one-person tech writing department.
> Going forward, all text will be written in Word, most likely by me since the
> bulk of the staff are ESLers. No one else will be using IDCS4, save for
> maybe the marketing folks once they see what we can do ourselves (rather
> than relying on outside design firm).
>
> Like I tried to imply, this isn't a Boeing or Exxon. It's a small
> enterprise with moderate needs, where a tool such as FM would be total
> overkill.
>
> And as has been noted, Adobe's lack of attention to FM, coupled with added
> muscle in IDCS4, would serve to indicate that ID is the future direction of
> these tools AFA Adobe is concerned.
>
> > Chris
>
>
>
>
>>
>>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From:
>> > techwr-l-bounces+hamonwry12=hotmail -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>> > [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+hamonwry12 <techwr-l-bounces%2Bhamonwry12>=
>> hotmail -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l
>> > .com] On Behalf Of Chris Morton
>> > Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 11:22 AM
>> > To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>> > Subject: Re: The case against M$ Word
>> >
>>  > OK, look. No one answered my original question regarding the
>> > thread I'm seeking. I'm not looking for a debate here, rather
>> > info about a thread to which I contributed and followed.
>> >
>> > I have laid out many a software manual in my time, thanks,
>> > and I'm not wanting to argue with any of you about it being a
>> > whale of lot easier using a *real* page layout tool. (My
>> > personal preference is PageMaker, simply because I've used it
>> > since its very first iteration and know it intimately.
>> > But I'm also experienced with FrameMaker and understand its place.)
>> >
>> > As for Word, I've inherited a manual, begun by our SW and HW
>> > engineers, that would take a while to correctly recompose. If
>> > I'm going to invest time recomposing the thing, then, why not
>> > do so using a *layout tool* that provides the features to
>> > which I'm accustomed?
>> >
>> > As for the current mess, every time I want to add or insert
>> > something, all of my prior graphics work needs to be
>> > continually tweaked. Yesterday a subhead mysteriously
>> > disappeared all on its own. Had I built these DOCs from
>> > scratch, things may have been different, but my own
>> > experience says that Word cannot handle the sort of
>> > sophisticated graphics placement/manipulation (including
>> > overlays) that I'm wanting to use. Further, someone please
>> > tell me about Word's preflight ability when compared to any
>> > of the Adobe products.
>> >
>> > Now...does anyone remember that thread? I believe the OP of
>> > it was a newbie inquiring about tools we use, and it was
>> > started perhaps the week before last. I'm simply looking for
>> > some keywords I can use to pull it up in my Gmail archive.
>> >
>> > Thanks
>> >
>> > > Chris
>> >
>> > On Tue, Oct 28, 2008 at 4:53 PM, Chris Morton
>> > <salt -dot- morton -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
>> >
>> > > I'm preparing an executive summary as to why M$ Word is not an
>> > > adequate tool for software manual production and why Adobe
>> > InDesign is
>> > > a superior choice for the task at hand. (FrameMaker is more
>> > than this
>> > > company needs.)
>> > >
>> > > Just a few weeks ago I participated in a thread whereby a techwr-l
>> > > newbie inquired about the tools of the trade. In that thread, there
>> > > were many reasons given why Word is insufficient. Can
>> > someone please
>> > > point me to that thread, or others that support my view?
>> > >
>> > > Thanks
>> > >
>> > > > Chris
>> > >
>> > >
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