TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Manuals on CD-ROM From:Chuck Banks <chuck -at- ASL -dot- DL -dot- NEC -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 2 Dec 1993 12:22:28 CST
Telecommunications companies (such as, AT&T and Northern Telecom, Inc.)
have issued CD-ROM copies of their documentation for a number of years.
These companies, and others -- they were just the first I know off to
do this, included navigational software with the CD-ROMs. Telephone
Companies nationwide requested this form of documentation, initially
for their maintenance centers. Later, these TELCOs began ordering
sets for use by technicians as well. The documents are stored in their
fully formatted form. They appear on the screen just as they do on
the page. Users can print pages as they desire using a graphics
or laser printer.
With the advent of graphic interfaced SGML tools, most telecommunications
manufacturers are considering adding HyperText functions to their
navigational software. HyperText links can be included in the documents
as part of the original generation cycle. Customers could see fully
HyperText functional, SGML compatible documents on CD-ROM in the next
few years.
Regardless of the type of navigational software used, some sort of
navigational software must accompany a CD-ROM version of a document,
or you're just passing the print job to your customers. Because
your customers will probably have to print your CD-ROM documents
to be able to find information quickly if you don't include a
navigational program.
Best Regards!
Chuck Banks
--
__ ________ ______
|\\ | || // Chuck Banks
| \\ | ||_______ || Senior Technical Writer
| \\ | || || NEC America, Inc.
| \\| \\______ \\______ E-Mail: chuck -at- asl -dot- dl -dot- nec -dot- com
America, Incorporated CompuServe: 72520,411