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I note (with no small amount of consternation) that many writers, when
considering going to XML, are looking for WYSIWYG authoring tools. In
my experience, using WYSIWYG tools are a real barrier to getting writers
into the mindset of semantic markup versus visual layout.
In training writers to use XML or SGML systems, especially those that
will be using single-source systems designed for multiple output media,
the big problem I've encountered is in getting folks to mark up content
for it's meaning and not worry about the format. I've even had writers
insist that unless they can control and override style sheet formatting
they can't do an adequate job of creating documentation. Never mind
that the some pieces of the single source docs might be used for online
help, some for PDF, and some for internal knowledge bases. They want to
see what it will look like on paper as they are writing.
I've also noticed that writers that fixate on WYSIWYG never really make
the jump to semantic markup.
Don't get me wrong, if I'm working on a marketing piece or anything that
has a complex layout and only one output medium, I'll grab Quark or
something similar for that. But why is everyone so insistent on WYSIWYG
for technical documents?
Bill Lawrence
Senior Technical Writer
Matrix Solutions
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