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'm interested in gathering other tech writers' experiences with
documentation tools, namely Word vs. FrameMaker vs. Quark. I will
summarize responses and report back to the list so that everyone who's
interested has succinct information.
Background: I currently use Word 2000 to create user documentation but
find it lacking. I'm interested in looking more closely at FrameMaker in
order to write 50+ page User Manuals. Marketing thinks I should look at
Quark instead. Product Management wants us all to buy the same tool so
that we can review each other's drafts more easily and reduce costs. This
work situation combines politics with technology budgets and needs.
Here are some questions that I'd love to hear your answers for:
1. If I am the only one with FrameMaker software, (the lone tech
writer), how do others review my documents and comment on them? Has this
been an issue at other companies? If
so, what did you do?
2. In your experience, what are Quark's strengths and weaknesses?
3. In your experience, what are FrameMakers' strengths and
weaknesses?
4. Why does Marketing want me to use Quark?? In all the STC
conferences I've gone to, I've seen lots of FrameMaker sessions and few if
any Quark
sessions. Is Quark something that other tech writers use and
if so, what are you using if for? Do you publish in Quark? Or in PDF?
5. Any other words of wisdom are welcome!! %^)
Lyda Woods
Senior Technical Writer
Trapezo
37 Natoma
San Francisco, CA 94105
415-216-1954
lyda -at- trapezo -dot- com
IPCC 01, the IEEE International Professional Communication Conference,
October 24-27, 2001 at historic La Fonda in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA.
CALL FOR PAPERS OPEN UNTIL MARCH 15. http://ieeepcs.org/2001/
---
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.
