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: equipment standard From:Kat Nagel <KatNagel -at- AOL -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 8 Feb 1995 15:21:26 -0500
I'm beginning to lose track of who said what...
Person 1 said:
>>
>> So when you push for that upgrade, why not push for a Mac? I think you'll
>> be glad you did.
Person 2 replied:
>Unless you need to use screen shots of a Windows or OS/2 product
>in your docs. Then, having to port the graphics over to the MAC
>is a real liability. I never found a good way to do it (and I'm
>glad I don't have that problem here!).
Now, a word from Person 3 (aka Kat Nagel):
I just finished a long project involving manymany DOS screen captures in Mac
FrameMaker documents.
If (1) you only have a few screens to worry about (say <30),
and (2) your screen capture utility gives you files in one of the
standard multi-platform graphics formats (TIFF, EPS, etc.)
AND (3) you are importing the screen images directly into your document
without editing in a graphics pkg
then transferring them from a PC to a System 7 Mac is fast and easy.
You copy the graphics files to floppy disks on the PC, then pop the floppies
into the Mac. You can drag DOS files onto a Mac hard drive, then import them
into your Frame document. No extra file translation or filters needed.
However...
* If you have _lots_ of screen files to transfer, you would be better off
networking the two beasts, or transferring the files by modem. Sneakernet is
a pain if it involves more than a few disks.
* If your screen capture utility uses a proprietary format, you will need to
convert each file to one of the standard graphics file formats that your doc
s/w recognizes.
* If you need to edit the files in PhotoShop or Illustrator, the problem
gets more complicated (but _not_ impossible).
BTW, this project was the first _extended_ chunk of time I've had to deal
with DOS since I converted to Macs in 1986. It was kinda fun. I'd almost
forgotten how much I enjoy troubleshooting computer problems <grin>.
@kat katnagel -at- aol -dot- com
=======
LIFE 1: MasterWork (technical writing/document design)
LIFE 2: PlaynSong, et al. (vocal chamber music)
======= LIFE 1 pays for LIFE 2
