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Fully agree: IMAP is pure common sense. But it is good to be reminded, a bit like your New Year's resolutions. I find the IMAP chunking method useful for reference manuals.
The French Louis Timbal Duclaux has developped a similar method called SPRI. SPRI stands for the Situation, Problem, Resolution and Information. This method is more applicable to linear documents, like tutorials. I have just had a look at Amazon. The book has not been translated in English, as far as I know. Information on the Internet about SPRI is hard to find, as Timbal Duclaux is not making money on his method.
Jocelyn OLIVIER
-----Original Message-----
From: kcronin -at- daleen -dot- com [mailto:kcronin -at- daleen -dot- com]
Sent: vendredi 11 janvier 2002 16:14
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: Re: IMAP method
Anastassios -
That decision is YOURS to make. You've got the information, you've been
trained in this IM methodology, and you know the product you're
documenting. So, you have a good set of data to evaluate.
The ability to make editorial decisions like this (in this case, what is
the best way to convey this information) is a BIG part of what they pay us
for, in my opinion.
Lots of the principles in IM make sense, and I found I was doing many
IM-like things before I'd even heard of the term. But I've found each
project to be different, so to be married to a specific writing
methodology without regard for the subject matter seems odd to me. I think
that's a misplacement of priorities - the content should be more important
than the way you choose to present it.
To me, trademarking IM is a lot like coming up with a name for using the
active voice, and charging money to teach it to people. (New, from
KeithCo, it's ActiVoice!) But maybe that's just me...
Look at what you're documenting, and decide what's the best way to do it.
Sorry not to be more helpful, but it sounds like you have all the
information you need. Just do your best, and good luck!
I live in my own little world, but it's OK, they know me here.
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