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.
Documentation via Relational Database (was Writing for On-line)
Subject:Documentation via Relational Database (was Writing for On-line) From:Barb Ostapina <Barb -dot- Ostapina -at- METROMAIL -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 19 Feb 1998 13:57:55 -0500
Matthew Bin wrote:
Hear, hear! I agree one hundred percent, and I have often thought that
information ought to be presented in an interface which draws on a
relational database in a structured way.
Incidentally, there are programs out there that do this. I am
evaluating one right now, and I must say it makes an intelligent effort
at true single-sourcing capability.
++++++++++++
What are the programs out there that "do this?" I'm currently managing a
system documentation effort here (old system, bunch of old, useless "doc,"
need it current in three months sort of story) that we've decided to
"document" as an MS Access database, suupplemented by program overviews
linked to the database and also available in print. I'm thinking that if
this model flies here, we could use it for a whole bunch of other old,
undocumented systems. But if there's a better alternative, I'm all ears
(well, in this case, eyes).
Thanks,
--Barb
barb -dot- ostapina -at- metromail -dot- com
...speaking only for myself