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Hi, Becky. I haven't done this recently, but in the past I have gotten
all my ducks in a row -- like buying a "Teach Yourself" book ahead of
time, or getting tutorial materials -- and then I've downloaded the demo
software. Usually it has full features but expires after 30 days. I work
my way through it before the demo expires, and create some kind of demo
document of my own to show. I've done this with RoboHelp in the past,
for example.
Unfortunately, tools like RoboHelp are not widely enough used to turn up
on Ebay or surplus sites for much of a discount.
--Nancy
On Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 3:00 PM, Becky Edmondson wrote:
> Hi guys,
Â
Anyone have any creative ideas on how to get experience with expensive
tools
like Flare and Robohelp, when you can't afford to just buy them and
don't
ever work at places that can afford them or have the bandwidth to deal
with
changing to a dedicated doc tool?
Â
All my clients are startups, and all they ever have is Word and
occasionally
Frame. I now have tons of experience setting up shoestring
singlesourcing
systems, but I can't figure out how to expand into other tools. I'd
prefer
to stay a contractor now, so the obvious answer of searching out a job
where
they use the tool is out, and anyway, in this economic client it's hard
to
find a company willing to train you.
Â
Maybe I should be looking at opensource HATs? I can't find anything
other
than industrial-strength stuff like DITA. My clients are way too small
for
that.
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