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.
Subject:re: Tools of the Trade From:"Christensen, Kent" <lkchris -at- sandia -dot- gov> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 5 Dec 2000 10:11:50 -0700
Robert Daffin succinctly writes ...
"Microsoft Word is a word processor, and as such, is one of the best word
processors available. ... Unfortunately, there is a perception out these
[there] that Word is a good tool for generating long technical documents.
... The target market for Word is the inexperienced user ... The target
market for Frame is the experienced user... ."
This is all well and good and is repetitive of much that has been written
here many times before and which will likely and unfortunately be repeated
again and again. And I agree with it, but I'm tired of hearing about it and
suggest that the membership of this list is professional enough (and
experienced enough) to be able to make its own decisions.
I might also add a "famous-last-words" caveat. Remember when the IBM PC
first came out? It was the "computer for inexperienced users," wasn't it?
They used it anyway and it worked for them and the product evolved rather
significantly, wouldn't you agree? The mass market generally rejects
complexity, and more importantly, so do the truly technical.
Also, what's the deal with long documents? Maybe that should be the next
poll question. And why is it always format-for-print? Given the power of
the Internet and intranets and hypertext linking, it seems some sort of HTML
generator should enter the WORD/FRAME/your favorite debate as well.
Everything one can read about how to do the web right says "keep it short."
Where I, at least, see technical writing going is not formatting for
printing but web page creation. There's plenty of technical content and use
of tools and need for professionals, just not page numbering and headers and
footers.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Develop HTML-based Help with Macromedia Dreamweaver! (STC Discount.)
**NEW DATE/LOCATION!** January 16-17, 2001, New York, NY. http://www.weisner.com/training/dreamweaver_help.htm or 800-646-9989.
Take XML and Tech Writing courses online! Our instructor-led courses
(4-6 hrs/wk) give you "hands on" experience at your convenience. STC members
get 20% off! http://www.online-learning.com/index.html.
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
