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Subject:Re: Ventura vs. FrameMaker From:Chuck Banks <chuck -at- ASL -dot- DL -dot- NEC -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 16 Jun 1993 17:11:08 CDT
Faith,
Electronic documentation, in some quarters, is coming to
mean packages, usually on cd-rom, that contain a soft image of
the formatted documentation, that can be searched and printed
by the customer. This is becoming a replacement for printed
document sets of large, multi-volume size. Telecommunications
vendors are moving to electronic documentation to reduce printing
and distribution costs for central office switching system
documentation.
Online documentation usually refers to all other
incarnations of the written word when distributed on computer.
This includes help systems, hypertext systems, and any other
interactive method of passing product support information to
the user.
Again, these definitions are written in smoke to some
extent. Few industries other than telecommunications are
currently using electronic documentation. Primarily, it would
seem, because their documentation sets and customer demands
don't justify it. As more industries establish or sign on to
standards, the terms we will use to refer to computer delivered
product information will become more stable.
I hope that thins the fog a bit.
BEST REGARDS!
Chuck Banks
NEC America, Inc.
chuck -at- asl -dot- dl -dot- nec -dot- com