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Re: Programming / scripting languages in tech-writing
Subject:Re: Programming / scripting languages in tech-writing From:Chris <cud -at- telecable -dot- es> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 07 May 2002 09:48:34 +0200
I used shell, sed, awk and Perl in previous lives - back when I was on
Unix boxes alot. They were invaluable for generating scripts for
fmbatch, for manipulating text files, for improving access to source
control... I also used Perl, awk and shell scripting to set up a doc
intranet via CGI - I've been told it was a sort of pre-wiki. This level
of scripting saved me many hours of typing commands, cutting & copying,
etc.
These days, as a contractor, I make plenty of bread and butter out of
programming the FrameMaker API. Which is to say that not only do I use
my programming, but other people use it, too. For my own personal use I
develop tools as I need them. A number of them have grown into tools
that are useful for the general public, so I distribute them as
freeware. See my site for descriptions (and more are coming soon).
As for a repository, you bet that's a good idea. The FrameUsers web
site has an area devoted to FrameMaker power tools - these range from
high-end doc mgmt solutions to bone-head freeware (like mine)... From
3rd party apps to plugins to scripts for tweaking MIF to FrameScript
scripts to FrameMaker templates. I for one am all in favor of sharing
work. The TechWhirl site could include a similar section, perhaps with
links to outside sites such as FrameUsers, some Word sites, some Perl
sites, etc. And then anything created within TechWhirl could also be
posted for download.
And the more you know about scripting and programming, the better off
you are in the SoftWare/HardWare kingdom. Or at least that has been my
experience. It's sort of like going to a foreign countery and bothering
to learn to say please, thank you, and where's the bathroom in the
native tongue. The locals appreciate the effort more than you could
imagine.
--
Chris Despopoulos, maker of CudSpan Freeware...
Plugins to Enhance FrameMaker & FrameMaker+SGML http://www.telecable.es/personales/cud/
cud -at- telecable -dot- es
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