[no subject]

     Sorry, I disagree.  In the medical field, 'diagnostics' has other
     meanings than in the computer field.  A med. tech. might think a
     diagnostic has to do with in-vitro assays of blood or other tissue.
     Pick a term that shows (1) it's for the computer software and (2)
     it checks for errors in same.

     doug_montalbano -at- cc -dot- chiron -dot- com

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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 11:49:44 PDT
From:    Richard Dimock <red -at- ELSEGUNDOCA -dot- ATTGIS -dot- COM>
Subject: Backup to CD

This CD backup issue will become more important as home-use
CD "burners" become cheaper. They are already down to $1200,
and blanks are cheap.

So sez a friend working in the CD Test business.

I expect a departmental CD "Burner" to archive docs and their
respective SWs will be quite common. Disk space is too expensive.


Dick Dimock,    Artfully Senior Tech Writer by many names
AT&T Global Information Solutions
El Segundo, CA  Where the blue sky meets the brown smog layer,
                which in turn rests on a solid layer of traffic.

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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 14:59:22 EDT
From:    Charles Fisher/Datatel <Charles_Fisher -at- DATATEL -dot- COM>
Subject: Project Scheduling Software

Here at Datatel, we use a product called Project Workbench
(from Applied Business Technology, Inc.) company-wide. It's
great for things like scheduling projects, tracking milestones,
and resource leveling. But, as others have said, it works
well only if you feed it good data.

We also use the estimating factors from PUB$Estimator
(from COMTECH). We have historical data on the amount of
time it takes to produce a particular type of manual (broken
down a bunch of different ways: per screen, per procedure
topic, per page, etc.). We develop an estimate based on what
we know, then use the factors to fine tune it.

What that number gives us, however, is a total amount of time
for the whole project. We break out the total number of hours
into milestones, like so:

 50% of the time is spent writing the first draft
 0% is spent on review (you're not doing it; someone else is)
 35% is spent writing the second draft
 0% is spent with the second round review of updated material
 15% is spent doing the final writing and production.

Once we have the time estimates and milestones, we feed them
into Project Workbench with all of our other estimates for other
books. We also can specify things like dependencies, critical
paths, and priorities. We let the tool figure out our schedules.
--
Why doesn't DOS ever say, "Excellent filename or command?"

Charles Fisher
Senior Documentation Specialist
Datatel, Inc.
charles -at- datatel -dot- com

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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 15:07:00 EDT
From:    "Cheverie, Paul [Cont]" <paul -dot- cheverie -at- CANADA -dot- CDEV -dot- COM>
Subject: Re: Project Scheduling Software

Hello Karyl,
     You wouldn't, perchance, have information as to where I can get a copy
of this software and at what price? Any assistance you can render in this
will be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Paul
Email:
paul -dot- cheverie -at- canada -dot- cdev -dot- com

or

cheverip -at- cia -dot- com
 ----------
From: TECHWR-L
To: Multiple recipients of list TECHWR-L
Subject: Project Scheduling Software
Date: Friday, June 30, 1995 10:30AM

Hello, TECHWRLRs -

I don't like sounding like a broken record, but I really think you
may all want to really consider Comtech's PUB$Estimator software,
which runs with Excel on either PCs or Macs.

The reason I keep harpin on this is because Comtech, under the
leadership of JoAnn Hackos, has developed the most accurate ways of
predicting documentation/training project schedules that I've seen.

Among the factors built into the software calculations are:

   * Product Stability
   * Information Availability
   * Availability of Subject Matter Experts
   * Review Time
   * Writing Experience of Writer(s)
   * Technical Experience of Writer(s)
   * Audience Awareness

Not only is PUB$Estimator a scheduling tool, but because it depends on
people keeping track of the way time is spent on a project, it also
provides time-tracking and budgeting features.

Comtech has figured out the formulas for us, developed all sorts of
worksheets and reports, and provided many other tools.  It comes as
close to being accurate as anything I've seen, plus it's a whole
heck of a lot easier to use than MS Project.

Ultimately, any of these tools are only as effective as the data
that we put into them.  And by the way, I have absolutely no affiliation
with Comtech or its employees.

Good luck in planning, budgeting, scheduling, and getting results!

Karyl
 --

Karyl Severson
Technical Writer, Product Development
ADP Dealer Services, Portland, OR, USA
 *************************************************************************
*        This writing business,                                           *
*        pencils and what-not.                                            *
*        Overrated if you ask me.                                         *
*                     Eeyore                                              *
 *************************************************************************

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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 14:09:15 -0500
From:    Sally Derrick <sally -at- DEV -dot- TIVOLI -dot- COM>
Subject: Re: Project scheduling software

D. Gardner writes:
> > I think you'll find that no matter which software you use, your results
> > will only be as good as your estimate. We are using a high-end ($4,000)
> > system Primavera, and I guarantee you, that it hasn't improved my guesses a
> > bit.

> OK, how does one geustimate the length of time needed for a doc?
> Especially if it's a cdrl and all you have is the cdrl description
> from the sow?

> D

I find the Magic 8 Ball method works pretty well.

WRITER:  Oh, Magic 8 Ball, can I write this 400 page manual from
scratch in the requested 2 months?

8 BALL:  It is unlikey.

RESULT:  Add a month and pray!

:-)

Seriously, I think experience is the best tool for estimating docs.
Use your experience from past projects and SWAG it (Scientific Wild
$ -at- #% Guess, for the curious).  Be sure to document what your estimates
were based on and what you expect to produce.  If additional
information comes along later that changes the scope of the job, TRY
to use the new info as basis for changing your schedule.

Either way you choose to make your estimates, the final step is
usually the same - PRAY!

Sally Derrick
Tivoli Systems Inc.
sally -at- tivoli -dot- com

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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 15:14:00 EDT
From:    "Cheverie, Paul [Cont]" <paul -dot- cheverie -at- CANADA -dot- CDEV -dot- COM>
Subject: Re: Sentence structure

If I understand them correctly, the milspecs used by the USAF (upon which
Canadian military pubs spec are based) require that if notes, cautions or
warnings are required in text, that these notes, cautions or warnings must
precede the text they refer to.
Other than that it makes sense to me too tell the readers what to look out
for before telling them what to do. It's already too late if the reader
carries out the instruction before reading the cautionary text.
Paul
paul -dot- cheverie -at- canada -dot- cdev -dot- com
 ----------
From: TECHWR-L
To: Multiple recipients of list TECHWR-L
Subject: Re: Sentence structure
Date: Friday, June 30, 1995 9:53AM

At 10:31 AM 6/29/95, Nancy Hayes wrote:
>In article <199506261855 -dot- LAA00795 -at- mail -dot- direct -dot- ca>,
>Matt Ion  <mion -at- direct -dot- ca> wrote:
>>On Thu, 22 Jun 1995 16:57:44 PDT you wrote:
>>
>>>Well, for one thing, the question has nothing to do with sentence>TO
EJECT
> FROM
>> THE AIRPLANE
>>>1. Pull the left-hand lever upward sharply.  This will eject the
>>>   canopy.
>>>2. Pull the right-hand lever upward sharply.  This will eject you
>>>   from the airplane.
>>3. DO NOT REVERSE THESE STEPS!!!

>What the heck.  Here's how it's done according to our company guide (and,
>No, I don't agree w/ the guide's placement of the conditional; the only
>conditional steps allowed are those used with logic operators:  IF, THEN,
>etc.).

>             ===========================================
>                           WARNING

>              Reversing the following steps could kill
>              you.
>             ============================================

>1.  Eject from the airplane by performing the following steps in the
>    order given.

>    1.1  Pull the left-hand lever upward sharply to eject the canopy.

>    1.2  Pull the right-hand lever upward sharply to eject from the
airplane.

>Aren't style guides =fun=? *cheap shot*

>Nancy (nancyh -at- pmafire -dot- inel -dot- gov)
=======================
Is this anything like "Ready, Fire, Aim"?

=======================

M_a_r_c_ A. _S_a_n_t_a_c_r_o_c_e_________________________
Technical Writer/Trainer        TRW Financial Systems, Inc.
300 Lakeside Dr.                Oakland, CA 94612-3540
(510) 645-3469 (W)                  (510) 944-9814 (H)
santa -at- tfs -dot- com (W)               santacroce -at- aol -dot- com (H)
                                   santa -at- ccnet -dot- com (H)

"An idiot with a computer is a better, faster idiot!"

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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 12:36:30 PDT
From:    Richard Dimock <red -at- ELSEGUNDOCA -dot- ATTGIS -dot- COM>
Subject: Windows now registered TM

I just got the "word" ;) on the Windows trademark.

(It went to my company May 17, and just now filtered down
to us at the rubber/road interface.

As of Jan 10, 1995, use:

Windows^(R)      (Thatsa superscript circle R)
Windows^(R) 95

and the footnote legend:

"Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft in the U.S. and other
        countries."

BUT Windows NT is still only noted as

Windows NT^TM   (Thatsa superscript TM)

Microsoft requests these be changed in your NEXT :) printing.


Come to think of it, this might be an OLD topic that  Newbie
is repeating. Heck w/it. Deliver button!


Dick Dimock     Artfully Senior Scribe and other titles
AT&T Global Information Solutions
El Segundo, CA     Where the population breathlessly awaits
                   the end of the OJ Simpson trial. Not the
                   outcome, mind you. Just the END! You think
                   it's bad where YOU are?

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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 15:51:14 -0400
From:    Richard Davenport <RKDaven -at- AOL -dot- COM>
Subject: $$-US-MD-Rockville-Tech Writers-Database Building

Consulting (start July 1995) and full-time positions (start Sept. 1995) to
design and write database building documentation describing database
components, the building process, and how to perform the steps necessary to
implement and run database building routines. Also develop standardized
procedures and templates to support the preparation of database building
documentation that meets customer requirements.

Positions require interaction on a technical level with programmers and
analysts, and with the technical writing supervisor and customer service
representatives to plan and develop assigned documents. An appropriate
college-level degree is required, as well as 5 years experience documenting
and analyzing complex processes. Knowledge or experience is also desired in
two or more of the following: database building, SAS coding in an MVS
mainframe environment, SDLC, the healthcare industry, and Word for Windows.

E-mail responses or questions to rkdaven -at- aol -dot- com or FAX them to 301-258-9324.

Richard Davenport
GMIS, Inc.
301-963-1710

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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 12:52:22 -0700
From:    Holly Joyce Hamilton <hhamilto -at- HARP -dot- AIX -dot- CALPOLY -dot- EDU>
Subject: <No subject given>

 Unsubcribe Holly Hamilton

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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 12:41:30 MST
From:    Beverly Parks <bparks -at- HUACHUCA-EMH1 -dot- ARMY -dot- MIL>
Subject: Re: Project scheduling software

D Gardner asks-->
   OK, how does one geustimate the length of time needed for a doc?
   Especially if it's a cdrl and all you have is the cdrl description
   from the sow?
===============
I don't know how common CDRL is outside of government contracts,
so for those wondering, it's "contract data requirements list."

    =*=  Beverly Parks =*= bparks -at- huachuca-emh1 -dot- army -dot- mil  =*=
   =*=  "Unless otherwise stated, all comments are my own. =*=
    =*=   I am not representing my employer in any way."  =*=

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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 15:19:44 CST
From:    D Gardner <DGARDNER -at- UWOHALI -dot- COM>
Subject: Guestimating effort

> > I think you'll find that no matter which software you use, your results
> > will only be as good as your estimate. We are using a high-end ($4,000)
> > system Primavera, and I guarantee you, that it hasn't improved my guesses a
> > bit.

> OK, how does one geustimate the length of time needed for a doc?
> Especially if it's a cdrl and all you have is the cdrl description
> from the sow?

> D

BTW, this got bounced back because of supposed duplication of
messaged content.  Not remembering having seen it show up, I'm
reposting it.  If it did indeed make it out there, please ingnore the
duplication.

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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 13:32:58 PDT
From:    Richard Dimock <red -at- ELSEGUNDOCA -dot- ATTGIS -dot- COM>
Subject: Project scheduling quesstimates

        D asked:


        OK, how does one geustimate the length of time
        needed for a doc?
        Especially if it's a cdrl and all you have is the
        cdrl description from the sow?


ASrTW tosses in $0.02:

The BEST way to get accurate in estimates is to accumulate your
own (department?) database on past jobs and their times.
In general, only old, established, mature Pubs Depts have the
peoplepower to track productions and maintain the database.

The database includes the doc type, topic, length, writer( 80! )
(no, not a number) , software used, and lots of other fields.

THis topic was presented more than one way at the 1994 STC
convention.

In fact, I'll bet that JoAnn Hackos' software has a
tracking system of some kind, tailored for pubs use.

Until you get your database established, use the mental
equivalent:

A)      What have I done that is similar?

B)      How long did it take me?

C)      How is this new one different and similar?

D)      How will the differences affect the new time?

That is what the old timey Wetware has been using for centuries.


No, I don't have a database. Just fond memories.


Dick Dimock,  Artfully Senior Tech Writer of Tech Manuals on Tech Subjects
AT&T Global Information Solutions
El Segundo, CA  Overlooking, from the 16th floor, the 4th of July
                traffic building up to the 15th floor. We take
                holidays Seriously! Me, I'm gonna wait for a big wave
                and car surf home.

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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 14:54:26 -0500
From:    Bill Bledsoe <taft!bledsobl -at- UUSTAR -dot- STARNET -dot- NET>
Subject: Re: Project scheduling SW

Richard, Techwr-ler's,

We unfortunately use Project right now.  It IS a tremendous resource hog
and really has a "bottom-up" mentality when it comes to project
scheduling.  We are waiting on our copy of PUB$ Estimator from Comtech.
Much better product, much cheaper too!!!

I am not affiliated with Comtech either, but I've taken JoAnn's Managing
Documentation & Instructional Design Projects from SkillTech.  Great
class!!!!!!!!!!

Bill Bledsoe
AGE Systems
Systems Administration Center
Technical Writer
bledsobl -at- agedwards -dot- com


*************************************************
*  Bill's opinions are Bill's, not Ben's!!!     *
*************************************************


On Fri, 30 Jun 1995, Richard Dimock wrote:

> Grant,

> I have used MS Project successfully in managing multiple-
> document, multiple-writer projects.

> It is not **TOO** hard to learn the basic uses, such as
> one writer, tasks and sub-tasks. It gives great charts,
> time lines, etc.

> Where it gets difficult is using half of Joe and 2/3rds of
> Suzie and Sally only on weekends, to do ten different
> books. But once you get it figured out, you can see how
> the project can actually run.

> No big machine requirements. I've run it on my 386 4Meg
> notebook.

> The larger software stores have it. There are 3rd party
> books written on it.

> Happy Planning!

> Dick Dimock,   Artfully Senior Tech Writer
> AT&T Global Information Solutions
> El Segundo, CA   Overlooking the sleek German Shepards along
>                  the LA Airport security fence.



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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 13:56:23 -0800
From:    Marc Santacroce <santa -at- TFS -dot- COM>
Subject: Re: Project scheduling software

Sally you broke the code.

================
At 2:09 PM 6/30/95, Sally Derrick wrote:
>D. Gardner writes:
>> > I think you'll find that no matter which software you use, your results
>> > will only be as good as your estimate. We are using a high-end ($4,000)
>> > system Primavera, and I guarantee you, that it hasn't improved my guesses a
>> > bit.
>>
>> OK, how does one geustimate the length of time needed for a doc?
>> Especially if it's a cdrl and all you have is the cdrl description
>> from the sow?
>>
>> D

>I find the Magic 8 Ball method works pretty well.

>WRITER:  Oh, Magic 8 Ball, can I write this 400 page manual from
>scratch in the requested 2 months?

>8 BALL:  It is unlikey.

>RESULT:  Add a month and pray!

>:-)

>Seriously, I think experience is the best tool for estimating docs.
>Use your experience from past projects and SWAG it (Scientific Wild
>$ -at- #% Guess, for the curious).  Be sure to document what your estimates
>were based on and what you expect to produce.  If additional
>information comes along later that changes the scope of the job, TRY
>to use the new info as basis for changing your schedule.

>Either way you choose to make your estimates, the final step is
>usually the same - PRAY!

>Sally Derrick
>Tivoli Systems Inc.
>sally -at- tivoli -dot- com
================

=======================

M_a_r_c_ A. _S_a_n_t_a_c_r_o_c_e_________________________
Technical Writer/Trainer        TRW Financial Systems, Inc.
300 Lakeside Dr.                Oakland, CA 94612-3540
(510) 645-3469 (W)                  (510) 944-9814 (H)
santa -at- tfs -dot- com (W)               santacroce -at- aol -dot- com (H)
                                   santa -at- ccnet -dot- com (H)

"An idiot with a computer is a better, faster idiot!"

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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 13:04:23 -0700
From:    "W. C. Mackey" <wmackey -at- CTS -dot- COM>
Subject: Re: Provocation? Damn straight.

Right On

On Thu, 29 Jun 1995, Matt Ion wrote:

> This is prompted by the number of responses I've received to my little comment
> to "Skhan -at- wb -dot- com", to wit, "You're so cute when you're in a snit."

> Okay, it was deliberate provocation.  No, wait.  Provocation?  Nah.  A
> "tweak".

> Nobody - NOBODY - that I know in real life, either on a personal or a
> professional level, is this uptight about PC crap.  Most of them are irritated
> by it as much as I am.

> So I wonder, why is it I can't act and talk the same way in here, with other
> professionals, as I can in "real life"?  Or are ALL my real-life friends and
> business associates just unenlightened boors?  Maybe I'm not meeting the right
> kind of people?

> I try to participate in subject and threads that are on-topic for this list.
> I try to be helpful when I can.  Unfortunately, it seems I can't do so without
> someone biting my ankle for being "politically incorrect" - be it
> inadvertantly insensitive, to blatant and intentional anything-ism.  Now I
> know how a mailman feels going into a yard full of schnauzers.

> Okay, so my comment was deliberately intended to smack someone back.  So sue
> me.  Considering the constant abuse I keep getting in my inbasket while just
> trying to be myself, I think I've been remarkably restrained.

> Okay, okay, so I should just wipe ALL adjectives and adverbs from my
> vocabulary.  I should write all my postings as completely bland, devoid of any
> personality.  That would solve the problem, right?

> Sorry.  That's fine when actually writing a technical document, but I really
> don't see it being necessary for interacting with collegues on a daily basis.
> As has been pointed out so many times before, it becomes impossible for one to
> concentrate on the POINT of the whole job when one must spend all one's time
> concerned with who's going to be annoyed next.

> Other people have their "pretty little heads" and "bright lassies" - these are
> phrases that are as often as not regional ("bright lassies" sound SOOOOO
> Scottish) and while they may offend your PC 'sensibilities', they may be compl
> etely innocuous in the writer's native location.

> So it starts to become, not just a matter of one person forcing on another
> their ideas of what "politically correct" should be, but their concepts of
> what it is coloured by their particular environment or location.  Let's try to
> remember, this is a GLOBAL network, and "offensive" in one language may be
> common, completely acceptable, or even considered a compliment in another.

> So it all becomes pretty pointless anyway.

> Personally, I would dearly LOVE to get back to the gist of what this list is
> for and not be bothered with this anymore.  Unfortunately, it seems that the
> only way I can do that is, as I said, become just another bland,
> character-less automaton at the keyboard.  No opinions, no humour, no nothing
> for fear someone might not like it.  "Just the facts, ma'am" (no, wait,
> "ma'am" is sexist).

> So, if anyone has any questions I have a response for, expect direct mail
> only.  No more will anyone have to worry about my knowledge or experience
> gracing the public airwaves.  No more will I add to discussions of dtp
> software, sentence structure, or just WHY it's "i befere e except after c".

> Thank you all very much for such a lovely start to my day.  I must now go to
> work.

> Matt




>  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>  Opinions expressed      /         ROCK-IT SCIENCE Mobile Audio and Security
>  do not necessarily     /| ...the   1040 MIDI & Music BBS Technical Services
>  reflect those of any  [ SOUNDMAN   Internet mion -at- direct -dot- ca  Fido 1:153/7106
>  marginally sane human  \|             WWW http://www.musicwest.com/1040bbs/
>  being anywhere.         \         FAX: (604)253-8312    DATA: (604)732-4446
>  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------


Bill Mackey            |When I was younger I spent my time learning
                       |   Less and Less about More and More,
                       |Now that I am older
wmackey -at- crash -dot- cts -dot- com  |   I know nothing about everything

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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 17:06:38 -0600
From:    Richard Anderson <RICHARD -at- ERUDITE -dot- COM>
Subject: Project Scheduling Software -Reply

Karyl wrote:

> I really think you may all want to really consider Comtech's
PUB$Estimator software, which runs with Excel on either PCs or Macs.

OK, but is PUB$Estimator available for commercial use?  Where can I find
it?

Richard

Erudite Software
richard -at- erudite -dot- com

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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 16:20:00 PDT
From:    Garret Romaine <GRomaine -at- MSMAIL -dot- RADISYS -dot- COM>
Subject: Odd Request

One of the engineers here wants a spell-checker that works for German. My
question for the group:  does Word For Windows 6.0 come in a foreign
language flavor? If it does, I could use it's spell checker.

Garret Romaine
gromaine -at- radisys -dot- com

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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 20:17:17 EDT
From:    Karen Mayer <Karen_Mayer -dot- TOUCH_TECHNOLOGY -at- NOTES -dot- COMPUSERVE -dot- COM>
Subject: Re: Whatsa dtp?

  I responded to Richard personally, but this deserves a full scale post.
Dtp software is not a fancy word processor.  All text should be created in
a word processing application and then imported into a dtp package.  The
first time you insert a word into the front of a document and then have to
wait while all the other text repositions itself will convince you not to
do your original text creation in the dtp package.
Good luck,
J.P.

Not necessarily true. A  REAL DTP, like Frame (I assume) or Interleaf (I know),
would be quick enough to handle direct input. Writing in a word processor
then converting to a DTP is time consuming. Often you have to run some kind of
filter, which can take forever if you have a large document or one
with graphics files already in it. Then you probably have to format the thing
once you get it in the DTP. Yes, I have used low-end DTPs that are too slow
to effectively handle document creation or large-scale editing, but a high-end
package won't have this problem.

Desktop publishers are to word processors like the PC is to the Commodore 64.
More powerful, more features, easier to accomplish tasks. I have seen
DTPs that are no better than some higher-end word processors, though, so careful
 research is in order if you're thinking of using one.

-- km

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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 20:17:22 EDT
From:    Karen Mayer <Karen_Mayer -dot- TOUCH_TECHNOLOGY -at- NOTES -dot- COMPUSERVE -dot- COM>
Subject: Re: Tool for Moving AmiPro Docs Online

  If you need the classical Windows help, try Forehelp by Forefront. I'm
  not sure if they convert directly, but that's what my dad uses and all of
  his files are in AmiPro 3.0 format.

  If Windows Help format isn't necessary, try Adobe Acrobat. It has its own
  reader which you can distribute for free. The writer software costs about
  $130 discounted.

   -- km

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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 20:22:45 EDT
From:    Karen Mayer <Karen_Mayer -dot- TOUCH_TECHNOLOGY -at- NOTES -dot- COMPUSERVE -dot- COM>
Subject: Re: Re[2]: Recomendations for dtp software for windoze

  We had problems with our TIF filter in Ileaf. It converted some, but most
  were the wrong flavor. I even tried converting the TIF via HiJaak Pro,
  but couldn't get them in the Ileaf files. I ended up using HPGL, which
  worked great (some of our engineering drawings were available in HPGL, so
  I didn't have to recreate circuit board drawings!).

   --km

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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 17:34:00 PDT
From:    Rose Wilcox <RWILC -at- FAST -dot- DOT -dot- STATE -dot- AZ -dot- US>
Subject: Re: Project scheduling software

>>D Gardner asks-->
>>   OK, how does one geustimate the length of time needed for a doc?
>>  Especially if it's a cdrl and all you have is the cdrl description
>>   from the sow?
>===============
>I don't know how common CDRL is outside of government contracts,
>so for those wondering, it's "contract data requirements list."

And the answer is... punt!

1)  Are you guestimating the time for the contract before it is accepted or
has it been accepted?  If it's been accepted, you need input from the
project planners.

2)  You want to allow a reasonable amount of time following the final
delivery date for completion of the doc.

3)  The things you don't know yet:
  A)  What books or on-line help appls will be needed.
  B)  What tools will be used to create them.
  C)  Who will be the developers and will they be available for research
needs.
  D)  What specification documents will there be to work from.
  E)  What access there will be the application as it is being created.

4)  The things you know:  Who the audience of the document will be.  What
the application is supposed to do.

5)  Take the two things you do know and extrapolate a likely answer to A).

6)  Find out as many of the answers to B, C, D, and E as you can.

7)  Make assumptions about the answers to B, C, D, and E if you don't cannot
find out the answers.

8)  Create your estimate, based on your deliverables list created in number
5, documenting your assumptions.

In other words, something like this:

*****
The following time estimates are based on the assumption that the writer
will have access to the developers, the specifications, and the application
as it is being developed with adequate data to test its functions.  In
addition, the writer will be using FrameMaker to create the hard copy and
online documents,  with access to a high-speed, high-quality printer.

User Manual         3 months
Administrator Guide 2 months
Online Help         16 weeks
Quick Reference Card     4 weeks

These estimates are subject to change if the requirements for the
application are altered in any way.
*****

That's the best you can do.  If you have to change your proposed "library"
of deliverables after you do your initial estimate, you'll have to get with
your management and project planners.  But it's no big tragedy.  The
likelihood is that at this point, estimates are expected to be shakey and
you've put a lot of caveats in your explanations.

Good Luck!

Rose A. Wilcox
rwilc -at- fast -dot- dot -dot- state -dot- az -dot- us

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

Date:    Fri, 30 Jun 1995 16:05:00 GMT
From:    Dee Gardner <dgardner -at- UWOHALI -dot- COM>
Subject: Re: Flaming sexism

Matt Ion <mion -at- direct -dot- ca> wrote:
>On Tue, 27 Jun 1995 08:43:10 PDT you wrote:

>John,
>>Words like sexism and racism are commonly used to mean
>>the beliefs, words, deeds, or very existence of "men" and "white people." I
>>call that insensitive, as well as inaccurate.

>..says it all so well.  Mind if I steal it?  I get the feeling I could use
>this extensively in the future!

Unfortunately, it has been very true in the past.  For example, our constitution
 was
written with the idea of freedom for all but that all seemed to be defined as
 all IF
you were a)male and b)white.  Perhaps that's where the common usage of the terms
mentioned above springs from.



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

Date:    Thu, 29 Jun 1995 14:59:08 -0400
From:    Bonnie Nestor <mnj -at- ORNL -dot- GOV>
Subject: Re: MUDs and MOOs

In article <3suk46$1j4o -at- bubba -dot- ucc -dot- okstate -dot- edu>, Mickey Wadia
<WADIAM -at- apsu -dot- bitnet> wrote:

> I ran into MUDs and MOOs on the list of topics for The IEEE
> Transactions on Professional Communication. Forgive my ignorance,
> but can someone please clarify these acronyms? I asked around
> my place, but was unable to get a coherent response. Thanks in
> advance.

Here's some sketchy information. If you have access to the World Wide Web,
check out Yahoo/Entertainment/Games.

-----
MUD: Multiple User Dimension, Multiple User Dungeon, or Multiple User Dialogue
MUSE: multi-user simulated environment
MUSH: multi-user shared hallucination
MOO: MUD, object oriented
WOO: Webbed MOO

A MUD is a computer program that allows users log into and explore a
virtual environment constituted as a database. In a typical MUD, each user
takes control of a computerized persona/avatar/incarnation/character. You
can walk around, chat with other characters, explore dangerous
monster-infested areas, solve puzzles, and even create your very own
rooms, descriptions and items.

The Tiny- and Teeny- family of MUDs are usually more social in
orientation; the players on those MUDs gather, chat, meet friends, make
jokes, and discuss things.

The LP- family of MUDs are based on roleplaying adventure games. In these,
your character runs around killing monsters, finding money, and making
experience in the quest to become a wizard. DikuMUDs and AberMUDs are a
bit like LPMUDs, except that LPMUD wizards have access to a very powerful
programming language with which they can add more sections to the
database. BSXMUDs are LPMUDs with simple graphics.

There are still other programs, called MUCKs or MUSHes, that extend the
TinyMUD programs by including a usable programming language. MOOs have an
object-oriented programming language, and are more social in nature.
UnterMUDs can connect to each other directly, and have both a scripting
language and a programming language.
-----

Bonnie Nestor
mnj -at- ornl -dot- gov
DISCLAIMER: I work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, for Lockheed Martin Energy
 Systems, which is under contract to the U.S. Department of Energy -- but I
 don't speak for any of them, and they return the favor.

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

End of TECHWR-L Digest - 29 Jun 1995 to 30 Jun 1995
***************************************************