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Andrew Warren [mailto:awarren -at- synaptics -dot- com] opined:
>
> > I can get distracted by stuff that I find and feel the need
> to tweak,
> > sometimes recursively, across many pages/topics, at the expense of
> > the things I initially went in to update/change. So, I've
> been known
> > to make two changes on a page and overlook the other two identical
> > items that should have been similarly changed, because I got
> > distracted by some other ugliness I'd perpetrated, or a broken link,
> > or... well...
>
> Here's some ancient wisdom on the subject:
>
> "Doc, it hurts when I do this."
> "So don't do that."
>
> If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
>
> Let sleeping dogs lie.
>
> Life's too short.
>
> > What I want is to be able to slap on a yellow sticky or equivalent
> > whenever I happen upon something that I should get back to, then
> > continue with what I was _supposed_ to be doing until that's
> > finished. .... Is there an app that will do this for any/many/most
> > windows applications?
>
> If you can't break yourself of the compulsion to tweak
> obsessively,
> why not just print the document and slap REAL post-it notes on it?
Normally, I'd edit much of the above before replying, but it's
illustrative of a different view of life than mine. Or maybe a
different work situation.
I've been working for the same company since 1998 (well, we've been
bought a few times, but you know what I mean). I was their first
tech writer. So, unlike a contractor who is in, out, and gone, I'm
here for every new project and update of old products, etc. I spend
a good two-thirds (at least) of my time, dealing with revisions to
documents that were written - sometimes years ago - by that previous
writer ----- oh, wait, that was me.
Naturally, I try to re-use as much material as possible, rev over rev,
and project over project. But, the market has grown and changed,
and so have our products and their focus.
Also, I didn't start off perfect (even though I had years of
experience before coming to this gig) and - perhaps I shouldn't
admit this - I'm not actually perfect yet. (I heard those gasps...)
With some time away from even my own golden verbiage, I can
improve it when I come back to it. Perhaps even implement a
bit of the corporate style from the latest owners.
If nothing else, there'll be new features or changed features
whose ramifications flow througout the docs... and yes, there's
a bit of tweak-itis going on, too. But with all else that's
going on, it's not a luxury I can indulge overmuch.
Anyway, the fact that our documents exist in several formats is
why I hoped to find some kind of meta-post-it application that
would work for any of Word, OOo, FrameMaker, RoboHelp, Flare...
If ya don't ask...
Kevin (and yes, I asked Mr. Google - I think he's trying to tell me to get
a Mac... :-)
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