TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
I fail to see why Intercom would not want a complete article, like the one
initially proposed by John Prince, instead of the more focused, abbreviated
version. While Intercom might have included similar information before, as
they claim, John's proposal is to write a well-rounded article that puts all
the pieces together, in one place. I cannot remember any a well-rounded
articles on XML in Intercom. Indeed, I can only remember isolated topics . .
and without a background in this newly-emerging standard, it is difficult
to related isolated parts and pieces of XML to the whole.
Snippets of information, island-like and disconnected, might use less Real
Estate in the pages of Intercom, and therefore be more attractive to a
magazine editor uninterested in providing real information and continuity
from one issue to the next, but these are hardly as useful as a rounded and
complete overview of XML. I challenge Intercom to consider the entire
article as proposed by John, even if it be spread over two issues. Of
course, that presumes they check in on such professional resources as
Techwr-l.
I wonder, how many tech writers on this list are using XML, are comfortable
with XML and know how it will affect the profession, have heard of XML, are
interested in hearing of XML, or don't care about XML? Thoughts about this
and about XML?
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Prince [SMTP:JPrince -at- e-talkcorp -dot- com]
> To: TECHWR-L
> Subject: SWOT: XML article reviewers
>
> I apologize for sending this out to the entire list.
>
> A few days ago I asked for volunteers to review an article about XML that
> I am
> submitting to Intercom magazine. The reason I'm sending this to the list
> is
> because I had 97 responses! I *have* to use ccMail here at work, and
> creating a
> mailing list with it is more trouble than it's worth.
>
> The article answers 10 questions concerning XML. They are:
<snip>
> 1. What is XML?
> 2. Why should I Learn XML?
> 3. How can I write an XML document and display it in a browser?
> 4. How can I format XML documents for the web?
> 5. What are "Well-formed" and "Valid" XML documents?
> 6. What is XSL (this covers both transformations and formatting objects).
> 7. What are DTDs?
> 8. What are Schemas?
> 9. What is the Document Object Model (DOM)?
> 10. What's the difference between XML and XHTML?
>
> However, Intercom asked that I "narrow my focus" and write an article
> about
> questions 3 and 4. I was told that the other questions had been address in
> previous issues of Intercom (I guess I missed them).
>
> With that said I am going to re-write the article and explain how to write
> a
> well-formed XML document, how to display it in a browser, and how to
> format it
> using CSS and XSL (both transformations and formatting objects).
>
> The good news is by narrowing my focus, I can be more detailed in my
> article.
<snip>
