Re: Giving up on XML

["Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>]

Single sourcing, for one.  A lot of SW uses XML for the various
bits of text displayed by dialogs, wizards, etc.  If the manuals,
help, brochures, websites, etc., that also need to use these same
bits of text all draw them from the same place the product does, 
then a writer managing the text displayed by the product can
update and synchronize all the end uses of those bits with one
edit.  If you're a sole writer or manager of a small team and not
tasked with maintaining consistent output from a department 
of 50+ people, the only "compliance" to some external "standard" 
that should need to come into such a scenario is that the tools 
that produce all the different end uses are able to recognize and 
use the same XML without polluting it with various proprietary 
add-ons.

Yes, I know that many writers on this list will respond with
grumbles about how they're not considered legitimate members
of the SW development team, that nobody ever consults them 
about managing the text displayed by the products they're 
documenting, etc.  But if your writing team and/or process are 
so undisciplined that you need rigid, automated document 
standards beyond Word or Frame style templates to maintain 
consistent document structure, maybe you should ask yourself 
if there aren't good reasons why you're not being asked to 
contribute in this area.

Gene Kim-Eng


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <quills -at- airmail -dot- net>
> Then why bother at all? If you don't follow the structure, it becomes 
> irrelevant. valid and well-formed is not a holy grail, nor is it a 
> goal. It is a standard. If you deviate from that standard, you are no 
> longer in compliance. If compliance with the standard isn't 
> important, why bother with a standard?

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