Book review of: Microsoft Word for Medical and Technical Writers

["Ronald Schwarz" <RSchwarz -at- cosmocom -dot- com>]

Has anyone read Microsoft Word for Medical and Technical Writers by
Peter G. Aitken, PhD and Maxine M. Okazaki, PhD?

Before I buy it, I would like to get a review or read excerpts from it.
I visited Amazon and Barnes & Nobel but they did not have. In the past,
I often saw excerpts of books they were trying to sell or reviews by
customers.

If no one else reviews this book, I will for the sake of the list.

Ronald Schwarz

Senior Technical Writer 

CosmoCom, Inc.
121 Broad Hollow Road
Melville, NY 11747 USA
Phone:   +1 (631) 940-4320
Fax:     +1 (631) 930-3252
EMAIL:   RSchwarz -at- cosmocom -dot- com
URL:      http://www.cosmocom.com


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Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats
or printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista &
2007 Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
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---


Today's Topics:

   1. I need help (Zen C)
   2. RE: I need help (Evans, Diane L (Rosetta))
   3. Re: I need help (Gene Kim-Eng)
   4. RE: I need help (Dori Green)
   5. Re: I need help (Bill Swallow)
   6. Re: I need help (Bill Swallow)
   7. Re: I need help (John Hedtke)
   8. Color Schemes for Tables in Documentation (Keith Hansen)
   9. Re: I need help (Zen C)
  10. Re: Color Schemes for Tables in Documentation (Jonathan West)
  11. Re: I need help (Writers Book Mall)
  12. RE: I need help (David Hailey)
  13. RE: Color Schemes for Tables in Documentation (Lauren)
  14. RE: Color Schemes for Tables in Documentation (Lauren)
  15. Opening WebHelp off C Drive (Keith Hansen)
  16. Re: Color Schemes for Tables in Documentation (Jona Steenbrink)
  17. Re: Color Schemes for Tables in Documentation (Susan W Gallagher)
  18. Mark of the Web (Keith Hansen)
  19. Creating Help System similar to MS Word 2003 (V Suresh)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 11:39:00 -0500
From: "Zen C" <zenizenc -at- gmail -dot- com>
Subject: I need help
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID:
	<a196c7b70801090839k11da401an4a94c279a27a37e3 -at- mail -dot- gmail -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hi,

I was just asked to do my own self evaluation by the end of the day. In
my previous jobs goals were always set for me and have never done my
own. I am the only technical writer, have no job description and have
been with the company for only 5 months.

I have been asked to list 4 or 5 business goals, 5 required strengths
and three areas of improvement.

Can you share with me goals created for you so that I can get an idea.

Zen


------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 08:50:14 -0800
From: "Evans, Diane L (Rosetta)" <diane_evans -at- merck -dot- com>
Subject: RE: I need help
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID:
	<23B0A4FBD181A44D9B89C4FB3E96D5940113333F -at- ussemx1100 -dot- merck -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

>I have been asked to list 4 or 5 business goals, 5 required strengths
and
>three areas of improvement. 

Business goals: 	Create end-user documentation for <our product>
by Q3 2008.
			Select and configure software for a document
control system.
			Establish procedure for the management of
documentation.

Required strengths:	Organizational skills.
				Problem-solving.
				Expert user of <your favorite relevant
software>,
				

You should know your own areas of improvement.  Each year, I select a
new skill that I wanted to learn.  As a result, I now have experience in
requirements management, testing, project management, and configuration
management.  What do you want to be doing next year, or five years from
now? What areas do you need to improve to get there?  What training will
you need?  All of these things should be in your review.

Diane Evans
Requirements Analyst
ASQ CSQE
Rosetta Inpharmatics
206-802-6560




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------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 08:56:41 -0800
From: "Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com>
Subject: Re: I need help
To: "Zen C" <zenizenc -at- gmail -dot- com>,	<techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Message-ID: <000401c852e0$9bcb4100$5e00a8c0 -at- TDGKimEng>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
	reply-type=original

I base performance objectives for myself and those who report to me on
the company's business goals as provided to me during my own hiring and
time at the company.  They are all based on the completion of specific
projects, product releases or revenue targets.  All of them are company
confidential, and none of them would be of any use to someone working
somewhere else.  If you don't know what your company's goals are and are
unable to say what you do to support them, you have much bigger problems
than how to write your evaluation.

Gene Kim-Eng


----- Original Message -----
From: "Zen C" <zenizenc -at- gmail -dot- com>
> I was just asked to do my own self evaluation by the end of the day. 
> In my
> previous jobs goals were always set for me and have never done my own.

> I am
> the only technical writer, have no job description and have been with 
> the company for only 5 months.
>
> I have been asked to list 4 or 5 business goals, 5 required strengths 
> and three areas of improvement.
>
> Can you share with me goals created for you so that I can get an idea.



------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 12:00:28 -0500
From: "Dori Green" <dgreen -at- associatedbrands -dot- com>
Subject: RE: I need help
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Message-ID:
	
<B3ECDE119347404A8604DE7D54921F13A99A09 -at- SDCEX -dot- associatedbrands -dot- ca>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="US-ASCII"

Zen wrote,

I need help.

***************

1.  How is it that you've been there for five months and still have not
written your detailed job description?  Go back to whatever description
they used to entice you to apply for the abuse, I mean, job, and start
from that.

2.  Who asked you?  HR?  IT?  Your manager?  Do you have a manager?  If
so, ask for clarification of the request.  Is this supposed to be the
final evaluation document, or are you being asked just to throw together
some ideas your manager can start from because he or she really has no
idea what you do.  Big difference between those two outputs.  Hint --
your evaluation should be a collegial collaboration between you and your
manager.  If you're doing his or her job, you should be getting his or
her paycheck.  If you can do that job, you should be doing it -- if not
there, someplace else.  

Note:  Be aware that this "request" could be a sign of incompetence, or
it could be a carefully calculated intent to intimidate and diminish
you.  Just because we're paranoid does not mean somebody isn't out to
get us.

3.  The 4 or 5 "business goals" should be clearly stated in the
company's annual report.  Pull the strengths and improvements from
there.  Oh.  They don't have an annual report?  That's not a good sign.
You can relax your paranoia; you're probably just dealing with
incompetence.

4.  Do NOT misinterpret "areas for improvement" as "qualities lacking"
or "deficiencies".  These are the courses and conferences the company
needs to send you to, to keep you at the cutting edge of developments in
areas of importance to the company.  Six Sigma Black Belt Certification
is a nice start (will cost them about $40K according to ASQ so don't
hold your breath, it's cheaper for them to hire a Black Belt consultant,
but it's a great start and can scare them into providing something less
expensive with a little less resentment and resistance).

Been through the same thing, lots of times.  That's how I learned that
two documents must be written during those first two get-acquainted
weeks on a new job -- the local jargon glossary, and my own job
description including that ubiquitous "...and anything else The Boss
needs."  Rots of Ruck!

Dori Green




------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 11:59:36 -0500
From: "Bill Swallow" <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com>
Subject: Re: I need help
To: "Zen C" <zenizenc -at- gmail -dot- com>
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID:
	<375e3cb30801090859t35934651kff925e3db2f28407 -at- mail -dot- gmail -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

> I have been asked to list 4 or 5 business goals, 5 required strengths 
> and three areas of improvement.
>
> Can you share with me goals created for you so that I can get an idea.

I've always created my own goals, even if I had ones handed to me. The
handed ones were usually lame and able to be met with zero effort. The
nice thing about defining your own goals is that it helps you define
your own job. So, I'll ask you, why are you working there? What need are
you there to fill? What work needs to be done? What improvements need to
be made? What should you really be doing and what is it that you really
want to be doing? And finally, how does all of that tie back to the
company bottom line and its growth/success in the market?

--
Bill Swallow
HATT List Owner
WWP-Users List Owner
Senior Member STC, TechValley Chapter
STC Single-Sourcing SIG Manager
http://techcommdood.blogspot.com


------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 12:13:28 -0500
From: "Bill Swallow" <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com>
Subject: Re: I need help
To: "Dori Green" <dgreen -at- associatedbrands -dot- com>
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID:
	<375e3cb30801090913j41baf803g520bc48750a117aa -at- mail -dot- gmail -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

> 2.  Who asked you?  HR?  IT?  Your manager?  Do you have a manager?
If
> so, ask for clarification of the request.  Is this supposed to be the
> final evaluation document, or are you being asked just to throw
together
> some ideas your manager can start from because he or she really has no
> idea what you do.  Big difference between those two outputs.  Hint --
> your evaluation should be a collegial collaboration between you and
your
> manager.  If you're doing his or her job, you should be getting his or
> her paycheck.  If you can do that job, you should be doing it -- if
not
> there, someplace else.
>
> Note:  Be aware that this "request" could be a sign of incompetence,
or
> it could be a carefully calculated intent to intimidate and diminish
> you.  Just because we're paranoid does not mean somebody isn't out to
> get us.

I don't think that's a very fair assumption to make. Self evaluations
are quite common. That they give you a day out of the blue to write
one is a bit poor, but the self eval itself isn't indicative of
anything but they want your assessment of your job to compliment your
manager's assessment. Could there be many other things at play? Yes.
But it's not indicative of anything in and of itself. I've written
self-evals at every company I've ever worked.

-- 
Bill Swallow
HATT List Owner
WWP-Users List Owner
Senior Member STC, TechValley Chapter
STC Single-Sourcing SIG Manager
http://techcommdood.blogspot.com


------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Wed, 09 Jan 2008 09:22:50 -0800
From: John Hedtke <john -at- hedtke -dot- com>
Subject: Re: I need help
To: "Bill Swallow" <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com>,	"Dori Green"
	<dgreen -at- associatedbrands -dot- com>
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID: <6 -dot- 2 -dot- 3 -dot- 4 -dot- 2 -dot- 20080109091950 -dot- 03ed1eb8 -at- mail -dot- hedtke -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

I must agree with Bill on this.  I've done self-evaluations at every 
captive gig I've had, regardless of the strength of the 
managers.  I've also worked at several companies where I had no 
written job description at all and they ultimately decided that it'd 
be good if we all had 'em.  While it certainly could be a sign of 
ineffective mgmt, I think that this request is just what it looks 
like on the face of it: a self-eval and a request for information on 
what Zen's desired goals may be.

John

At 09:13 AM 1/9/2008, Bill Swallow wrote:
>I don't think that's a very fair assumption to make. Self evaluations
>are quite common. That they give you a day out of the blue to write
>one is a bit poor, but the self eval itself isn't indicative of
>anything but they want your assessment of your job to compliment your
>manager's assessment. Could there be many other things at play? Yes.
>But it's not indicative of anything in and of itself. I've written
>self-evals at every company I've ever worked.



Yours truly,

John Hedtke
Author/Consultant/Contract Writer
www.hedtke.com <-- website
Region 7 Director, STC
541-685-5000 (office landline)
541-554-2189 (cell)
john -at- hedtke -dot- com (primary email)
johnhedtke -at- aol -dot- com (secondary email) 



------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 11:29:26 -0600
From: "Keith Hansen" <KRH -at- weiland-wfg -dot- com>
Subject: Color Schemes for Tables in Documentation
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Message-ID:
	
<B4DBD1887147DE4BBAB1CBD0C1C99AD9E40265 -at- wfg-win2k3-exch -dot- WFG -dot- LOCAL>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

In my documentation, I frequently use tables to present data. My tables
have the following color scheme:

* Headings at the top of the table are navy blue with white text.
* Below the headings, all other table cells are light gray with black
text.

Here's my questions: 

* For tables in documentation, are color schemes purely a matter of
personal taste? Or are there any color schemes that are commonly used
and accepted?

* What color schemes do you use in tables?

Thanks for the input!

Keith

 



------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 12:39:38 -0500
From: "Zen C" <zenizenc -at- gmail -dot- com>
Subject: Re: I need help
To: "John Hedtke" <john -at- hedtke -dot- com>
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID:
	<a196c7b70801090939j237780e8j32aca555d0e5f96e -at- mail -dot- gmail -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I just had a meeting with my manager.

Sad to say we do not have anything documented and I am not sure how they
have done reviews in the past.

She suggested that I create a draft and she will go over it with me. She
said I could write everything that I have achieved in the past 5 months.

Everything I have achieved were my own initiatives of which some were
not
very successful cos it was very difficult for them to adapt to at once.

So I guess I have a whole lot of goals this year to change implement
better
processes of doing things which will make life easier and help achieve
better results.

Thank you all for your suggestions.

On Jan 9, 2008 12:22 PM, John Hedtke <john -at- hedtke -dot- com> wrote:

> I must agree with Bill on this.  I've done self-evaluations at every
> captive gig I've had, regardless of the strength of the
> managers.  I've also worked at several companies where I had no
> written job description at all and they ultimately decided that it'd
> be good if we all had 'em.  While it certainly could be a sign of
> ineffective mgmt, I think that this request is just what it looks
> like on the face of it: a self-eval and a request for information on
> what Zen's desired goals may be.
>
> John
>
> At 09:13 AM 1/9/2008, Bill Swallow wrote:
> >I don't think that's a very fair assumption to make. Self evaluations
> >are quite common. That they give you a day out of the blue to write
> >one is a bit poor, but the self eval itself isn't indicative of
> >anything but they want your assessment of your job to compliment your
> >manager's assessment. Could there be many other things at play? Yes.
> >But it's not indicative of anything in and of itself. I've written
> >self-evals at every company I've ever worked.
>
>
>
> Yours truly,
>
> John Hedtke
> Author/Consultant/Contract Writer
> www.hedtke.com <-- website
> Region 7 Director, STC
> 541-685-5000 (office landline)
> 541-554-2189 (cell)
> john -at- hedtke -dot- com (primary email)
> johnhedtke -at- aol -dot- com (secondary email)
>
>  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats
or
> printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista &
2007
> Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
>
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList<http://www.doctohelp.com/TechwrlLis
t>
>
> True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
> Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
> documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
>
> ---
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as zenizenc -at- gmail -dot- com -dot- 
>
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
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>


------------------------------

Message: 10
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 17:59:15 +0000
From: "Jonathan West" <jwest -at- mvps -dot- org>
Subject: Re: Color Schemes for Tables in Documentation
To: "Keith Hansen" <KRH -at- weiland-wfg -dot- com>
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID:
	<1b2bd87b0801090959i5c115b56s5f720929964a704f -at- mail -dot- gmail -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

> * For tables in documentation, are color schemes purely a matter of
> personal taste?

It depends. If there is a corporate identity guide, it may well be
that the choice of colors for tables is defined there. Since a large
amount of my work consists of creating templates for companies who are
rebranding, I run into these quite a lot.

> Or are there any color schemes that are commonly used
> and accepted?

There are a great variety. broadly the following categories are the most
common.

- Grid. Thin black borders round every cell.

- Lines. Horizontal borders between each row, but no vertical borders.
Borders are usually but not always black.

- Horizontal stripes. Heading row is white text against corporate
colour background. Alternate rows different lighter shades of
corporate colour or white and a light shade. Might have vertical
borders but not necessarily. Horizontal borders almost always absent.

There are of course many variations, but these are the three basic
themes.

>
> * What color schemes do you use in tables?

Whatever I'm asked to use. Normally, I define a set of styles in Word
for use in tables, and change the style definition to whetver the
customer wants. That way, I can have the same familiar style names
everywhere, and also have tables formatted the way the customer wants.

Regards
Jonathan West


------------------------------

Message: 11
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 10:37:16 -0800 (PST)
From: Writers Book Mall <steve -at- writersbookmall -dot- com>
Subject: Re: I need help
To: Zen C <zenizenc -at- gmail -dot- com>, techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID: <909407 -dot- 84799 -dot- qm -at- web51903 -dot- mail -dot- re2 -dot- yahoo -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Sounds like a nice opportunity to define your
department-currently-of-one's future direction. For
the improvement areas, you will do yourself, your
boss, and your company a favor if you can align these
with the company's goals. Let's say, for example, that
the motto this year is reducing costs. Your
improvement could be learning a tool to reduce doc
costs. Or say the motto is quality, or customer
service; make your improvements fit those goals. And
do it for real, not just for this evaluation.

Personally, I hated evaluations, on both sides of the
desk, but you might as well use them as best as you
can.

--- Zen C <zenizenc -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> I was just asked to do my own self evaluation by the
> end of the day. In my
> previous jobs goals were always set for me and have
> never done my own. I am
> the only technical writer, have no job description
> and have been with the
> company for only 5 months.
> 
> I have been asked to list 4 or 5 business goals, 5
> required strengths and
> three areas of improvement.
> 
> Can you share with me goals created for you so that
> I can get an idea.
> 
> Zen
>
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> 
> Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to
> Help file formats or 
> printed documentation. Features include support for
> Windows Vista & 2007 
> Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
> http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
> 
> True single source, conditional content, PDF export,
> modular help.
> Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool
> for technical
> documentation. Boost your productivity!
> http://www.helpandmanual.com
> 
> ---
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as
> steve -at- writersbookmall -dot- com -dot- 
> 
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
> techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> or visit
>
http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/steve%40writersbookma
ll.com
> 
> 
> To subscribe, send a blank email to
> techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> 
> Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 
> Visit
> http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and
> info.
> 
> 
> 


________________________________________________________________________
Friendly, inexpensive web hosting: The Hosting Team -
http://www.thehostingteam.com



------------------------------

Message: 12
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 10:46:27 -0700
From: David Hailey <david -dot- hailey -at- usu -dot- edu>
Subject: RE: I need help
To: Zen C <zenizenc -at- gmail -dot- com>, John Hedtke <john -at- hedtke -dot- com>
Cc: "techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Message-ID:
	
<DAEA76E6CF3CEB4FB0C62A5A08312A501FAE231FCF -at- exchg-be04 -dot- aggies -dot- usu -dot- edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

This is a perfect opportunity to create your own mandate.  Look at where
you want to be in five years and begin the process with a well crafted
evaluation/role statement.


David E. Hailey, Jr., Ph.D.
Associate Professor -- Professional and Technical Writing
Utah State University
dhailey -at- english -dot- usu -dot- edu


-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+david -dot- hailey=usu -dot- edu -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+david -dot- hailey=usu -dot- edu -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Zen C
Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 10:40 AM
To: John Hedtke
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: I need help

I just had a meeting with my manager.

Sad to say we do not have anything documented and I am not sure how they
have done reviews in the past.

She suggested that I create a draft and she will go over it with me. She
said I could write everything that I have achieved in the past 5 months.

Everything I have achieved were my own initiatives of which some were
not very successful cos it was very difficult for them to adapt to at
once.

So I guess I have a whole lot of goals this year to change implement
better processes of doing things which will make life easier and help
achieve better results.

Thank you all for your suggestions.

On Jan 9, 2008 12:22 PM, John Hedtke <john -at- hedtke -dot- com> wrote:

> I must agree with Bill on this.  I've done self-evaluations at every
> captive gig I've had, regardless of the strength of the managers.
> I've also worked at several companies where I had no written job
> description at all and they ultimately decided that it'd be good if we
> all had 'em.  While it certainly could be a sign of ineffective mgmt,
> I think that this request is just what it looks like on the face of
> it: a self-eval and a request for information on what Zen's desired
> goals may be.
>
> John
>
> At 09:13 AM 1/9/2008, Bill Swallow wrote:
> >I don't think that's a very fair assumption to make. Self evaluations
> >are quite common. That they give you a day out of the blue to write
> >one is a bit poor, but the self eval itself isn't indicative of
> >anything but they want your assessment of your job to compliment your
> >manager's assessment. Could there be many other things at play? Yes.
> >But it's not indicative of anything in and of itself. I've written
> >self-evals at every company I've ever worked.
>
>
>
> Yours truly,
>
> John Hedtke
> Author/Consultant/Contract Writer
> www.hedtke.com <-- website
> Region 7 Director, STC
> 541-685-5000 (office landline)
> 541-554-2189 (cell)
> john -at- hedtke -dot- com (primary email)
> johnhedtke -at- aol -dot- com (secondary email)
>
>  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats
> or printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista &
> 2007 Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
> http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList<http://www.doctohelp.com/TechwrlL
> ist>
>
> True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
> Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
> documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
>
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------------------------------

Message: 13
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 12:05:20 -0800
From: "Lauren" <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net>
Subject: RE: Color Schemes for Tables in Documentation
To: "'Keith Hansen'" <KRH -at- weiland-wfg -dot- com>,
	<techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Message-ID: <20080109200630 -dot- 9E64176A8E -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

> From: Keith Hansen

> In my documentation, I frequently use tables to present data. 
> My tables
> have the following color scheme:
> 
> * Headings at the top of the table are navy blue with white text.
> * Below the headings, all other table cells are light gray with black
> text.
> 
> Here's my questions: 
> 
> * For tables in documentation, are color schemes purely a matter of
> personal taste? Or are there any color schemes that are commonly used
> and accepted?
> 
> * What color schemes do you use in tables?

Personally, I like to avoid the color schemes that come with standard
templates because they are too common.  The white on blue headings, grey
border, and black text is a fairly common design (Word uses many
variations
with white on navy), unless you are using a shade of blue other than
Navy.
I try to keep the colors that I use in my documentation compatible with
the
company's logo.  It saves me from having to become a graphic designer
because I don't have to decide on colors and it looks nice because
everything looks themed.  

I try to balance the use of color so that the document doesn't begin to
look
like a rainbow, but there are elements that require color, like certain
tables and lines and sometimes text should be a color other than black
because it can become distracting, like certain text in headers and
footers.
Count the total colors in your document besides black and white or those
in
graphics.  I think four is the most that I will use, but I don't always
count the number of colors.  Four colors are on paint swatches at paint
counters.    I primarily look for simple appeal and appropriate
contrast.

Lauren



------------------------------

Message: 14
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 13:11:17 -0800
From: "Lauren" <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net>
Subject: RE: Color Schemes for Tables in Documentation
To: "'Jona Steenbrink'" <jsteenbrink -at- bluefinrobotics -dot- com>
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID: <20080109211217 -dot- AB66D73417 -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

> From: Jona Steenbrink [mailto:jsteenbrink -at- bluefinrobotics -dot- com] 

> That is an excellent and marvelously useful observation. I've had a  
> PANTONE process guide gathering dust in my desk for years and never  
> once did I to use it to select complementary colors for tables and  
> other design elements in my documentation.

Thank you for the compliment.  That is a good use for the PANTONE
process
guide.  I should get one of those.  I heard about somebody who was using
a
PANTONE color book and set the colors for a document, but the colors
didn't
match the colors that other people had.  It turns out that he left his
book
in the window sill and the sun and heat faded the colors.  

Paint swatches are easy enough to get from paint web sites and they have
applications to find schemes for particular colors.  So, there is an
economical option too that might work for me in the short-run, but I'll
keep
PANTONE in mind if I find myself dealing with a lot of colors.

> Thank you, Lauren. You made my day!

You're welcome.

Lauren



------------------------------

Message: 15
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 15:05:01 -0600
From: "Keith Hansen" <KRH -at- weiland-wfg -dot- com>
Subject: Opening WebHelp off C Drive
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Message-ID:
	
<B4DBD1887147DE4BBAB1CBD0C1C99AD9E40267 -at- wfg-win2k3-exch -dot- WFG -dot- LOCAL>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"


Here's the situation:

* Our software application resides on the local (C drive)
* The Help system (which is WebHelp) also resides on the C drive with
the application.

Question: In a situation like this, when "Help" is clicked in the
application, has anyone experienced difficulties getting the WebHelp
system to open?

In our situation, the Help system opens fine if both it and the
application reside on a network drive. But Help won't open if both
reside on the C drive.

Thanks for any input.

Keith


------------------------------

Message: 16
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 15:49:52 -0500
From: Jona Steenbrink <jsteenbrink -at- bluefinrobotics -dot- com>
Subject: Re: Color Schemes for Tables in Documentation
To: Lauren <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net>
Cc: 'Keith Hansen' <KRH -at- weiland-wfg -dot- com>, techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID: <E8811B3C-D0E5-4E14-B64A-EC6B6CDFBDE4 -at- bluefinrobotics -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed


On Jan 9, 2008, at 3:05 PM, Lauren wrote:

> Four colors are on paint swatches at paint
> counters.

That is an excellent and marvelously useful observation. I've had a  
PANTONE process guide gathering dust in my desk for years and never  
once did I to use it to select complementary colors for tables and  
other design elements in my documentation.

Thank you, Lauren. You made my day!

Jona


------------------------------

Message: 17
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 15:01:41 -0800
From: "Susan W Gallagher" <susanwg -at- gmail -dot- com>
Subject: Re: Color Schemes for Tables in Documentation
To: "Keith Hansen" <KRH -at- weiland-wfg -dot- com>
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID:
	<f7ae85ff0801091501p29f9c295x4204db4d267b477e -at- mail -dot- gmail -dot- com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

My personal preference is a dark header row with white text, horizontal
rules between rows only (no vertical bars to separate individual cells)
and
black text on a white background for cells. I generally shy away from a
grey
background -- too light and it washes out, usually unevenly; too dark
and it
obscures the text the poor user is trying to read. I'm currently using
the
same shade of navy blue for both the header row fill and the horizontal
grid
lines - and I grabbed the color from the logo.

HTH!
-Sue Gallagher


On 1/9/08, Keith Hansen <KRH -at- weiland-wfg -dot- com> wrote:
>
> In my documentation, I frequently use tables to present data. My
tables
> have the following color scheme:
>
> * Headings at the top of the table are navy blue with white text.
> * Below the headings, all other table cells are light gray with black
> text.
>
> Here's my questions:
>
> * For tables in documentation, are color schemes purely a matter of
> personal taste? Or are there any color schemes that are commonly used
> and accepted?
>
> * What color schemes do you use in tables?
>
> Thanks for the input!
>
> Keith
>
>


------------------------------

Message: 18
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 16:59:36 -0600
From: "Keith Hansen" <KRH -at- weiland-wfg -dot- com>
Subject: Mark of the Web
To: <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Message-ID:
	
<B4DBD1887147DE4BBAB1CBD0C1C99AD9E40269 -at- wfg-win2k3-exch -dot- WFG -dot- LOCAL>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

My last question for the day! It's regarding the "Mark of the Web". See:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms537628.aspx

Has anyone used this technique successfully in the HTML pages of a
WebHelp project? 

Thanks.

Keith


------------------------------

Message: 19
Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 10:44:04 +0530 (IST)
From: "V Suresh" <vsuresh -at- clavib -dot- com>
Subject: Creating Help System similar to MS Word 2003
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Message-ID: <20080110051412 -dot- 98C787768B -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>

Please Help!

I have to create Help for an application whose user interface looks like
MS Word 2003.

The Help should appear in the right pane like in MS Word 2003 and have
similar look and feel and
functionality.

By and large, I have only created tradition Help systems such as CHM and
WebHelp only.

Have you worked on Help modeled on Office 2003 Help System? If so, could
you please assist me by
providing inputs that can get me started on this.

Thank you in advance,
Suresh KV
Technical Writer





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