RE: Outlining tool recommendations

["Connie Giordano" <connie -at- therightwordz -dot- com>]

Deanna,

I would consider using a mind mapping tool to do this.  I have done most of
my large help projects  using it to organize and group topics and finding
the connections that turn into "see also" and "for more information" links.
There are some open source tools that work well. With Mind Manager (not open
source, so it's not free) you can export your map to a number of other
outputs including  MS Word. I had one open source tool at one point that
would also export to Excel.  Do some searching for mind mapping or
brainstorming tools, and you'll find quite a range of alternatives.

Good luck

Connie Giordano

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+connie=therightwordz -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+connie=therightwordz -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Deanna Korth
Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 10:48 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Outlining tool recommendations

Hi,

I've been assigned an extremely large project (compared to what I usually
do). I estimate that there will easily be over 1000 topics and maybe many
more, and I need to write an outline. I want to be able to move topics
around easily as groups and promote or demote levels of groups of topics. I
want to be able to expand or collapse topics.

Can you recommend any powerful outlining tools that feature these
capabilities? I'm open as to cost--I'll write a business case for the
purchase of a new tool if necessary.

Word scares me in that I've heard horror stories about it "helpfully"
renumbering outlines in some way other than you intended when you move
content around.

Thanks,

Deanna.
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