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: TECHWR-L Digest - 4 Mar 1997 to 5 Mar 1997 From:Russ Shade <rshade -at- FAST -dot- NET> Date:Sun, 9 Mar 1997 00:55:02 -0500
Mitch Berg made some comments about Doc-To-Help to the effect that he does
not agree with the philosophy of using the printed docs in an online help
package.
I tend to agree with the philosophy statement. What Mitch failed to
mention (he did say it had been a few years), is that it is quite simple to
designate which portions of the printed doc are to go into the online
package, which are to appear only in the doc, and which are to appear in
both.
I don't believe any of the other packages that he gave kudos to demonstrate
that capability.
My experience with Robo-Help (admittedly limited) was that I spent more
time fiddling around with the "settings" than I did writing the content.
While Robo-Help is, indeed, robust, it lacks features that are quite simple
to use in Doc-To-Help. With Doc-To-Help I get outstanding looking printed
docs as well as excellent quality online help. That opinion, incidently,
was echoed by the companies I recently approached during a work search.
As far as the comments by others about "breaking," I did not experience a
single crash with Doc-To-Help in 2-1/2 years... and that included working
with both versions 1.6 and 2.0. Sometimes cars crash because the drivers
can't drive.
Russ Shade
rshade -at- ast -dot- net
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html