Re: Electrons First, Paper Second

[John Russell <jrussell -at- COMMSOFT -dot- NET>]

Quite a few people have suggested that going from electronic to hard copy was easier than vica versa (hard copy to online).

Is this true?  I think I disagree.  I have moved hard copy to electronic with relative ease, the few times I have moved electronic to hard copy it has always been significantly more difficult.

Should we chalk this up to writer preference?  Or is there a real and quantifiable difference?

K. John Russell
Technical Writer

My comapny is considering electronic/CD delivery as the primary means of =
distributing our documentation collection, and providing hard copy only =
as our customers request it.  As I began working a mockup of the =
electronic format, I realized that going from (converting/reformatting) =
electronic to hard copy format was going to be difficult and costly..

I am familiar with "slapping it online," but this process usually refers =
to writing hard copy docs and slapping them into PDFs, or the like.  =
That is, hard copy to electronic..

Has anyone out there written for electronic first and "slapped it on =
paper" afterwords?  How did you do it?  Would you recommend it to =
others?  Was it worth it? =20

Any info or opinions will be a great help!

TIA!

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