Re: moving into xml-based writing

Subject: Re: moving into xml-based writing
From: "Bob Doyle" <bobdoyle -at- skybuilders -dot- com>
To: gSchnabl -at- livernoisyards -dot- com
Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2008 15:31:59 -0400

Hi Becky,

The preferred form of XML for technical writing is the new DITA XML
standard.

I wrote the cover story on DITA Tools for the recent special DITA Issue of
STC Intercom.

You can download a PDF copy here.
http://www.ditanews.com/tools/STC_Intercom.pdf

It describes low and zero-cost ways of getting started with DITA.

Cheers,

Bob


On Tue, Jun 3, 2008 at 3:24 PM, Gary Schnabl <gSchnabl -at- livernoisyards -dot- com>
wrote:

> Becky Edmondson wrote:
> > Anyone have any experience or useful thoughts about how to add XML skills
> to
> > your portfolio when you are a contractor? Being of a geeky mindset, I'm
> > pretty sure I'd enjoy XML, but I haven't a clue where to start. What
> should
> > you learn, and in what order? How geeky do you need to be--must you be
> able
> > to write XSL transforms, for instance? Do you need to take formal
> classes,
> > or can you learn enough by just hacking up some XML-based docs on your
> own?
> >
> > I dunno, maybe this won't really bring in any real money. About 75% of my
> > clients still want deliverables as Word docs. I hate Word, but being able
> to
> > wrangle it is practically a lifetime employment guarantee.
> >
> > --Becky
> > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> >
> >
> FrameMaker has some fairly decent documentation regarding XML, although
> the older FrameMaker versions use the older DTD-based DocBook prior to
> DocBook 5. Still, I adapted DocBook 5's DTD and produced an EED
> (formatting) file for my older FrameMaker 7.
>
> It isn't hard to transform some paragraph and character-styled DOC files
> using conversion tables to XML-structured FrameMaker or to create your
> own structured FrameMaker templates. Just dig in and do it...
>
> Gary
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> 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
>
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--
Bob Doyle
Editor In Chief, CMS Review - http://www.cmsreview.com
Founder, DITA Users - http://www.ditausers.org
Former Technology Advisor, CM Pros -
http://www.cmprofessionals.org/membership/cm-profiles/bob-doyle
Contributing Editor, EContent Magazine -
http://www.econtentmag.com/Articles/ArticleIndex.aspx?ContextSubtypeID=71
President and CEO, skyBuilders - http://www.skybuilders.com
77 Huron Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
Tel: +1 617-876-5676 Skype:bobdoyle
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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

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References:
moving into xml-based writing: From: Becky Edmondson
Re: moving into xml-based writing: From: Gary Schnabl

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