Re: [TCP] Technical writing and tools
Hi Tom, You have got my question right. For people looking to switch jobs, emphasis on tools may act as a stumbling block, whereas everything else will appear right for him or her. While writing skills can be checked, others such as interviewing skills, research abilities, organisational skills, team player mentality, and people management skills are not evaluated properly. I feel that learning tools is much easier than learning new and complex technologies. Moreover, in a team, all tech writers may not be using a tool to an expert level. Those who use a tool for basic purposes may be left behind or have to seek other avenues to enhance their knowledge. In a country like India, it is easily said than done. Raj From: tajohn...@microlinetc.com To: raj_gree...@hotmail.com; tcp@techcommpros.com Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:37:56 -0400 Subject: RE: [TCP] Technical writing and tools Is there ANY industry that has settled on one tool? Too many employers emphasize tool skills and don't place enough emphasis on critical thinking. Instead, they should be looking at real qualities like: the ability to think, writing skills, and organizational skills. If technical writers cannot learn how to use different tools, how can they ever hope to learn about new technology well enough to write about it? Tom Johnson 231-944-7454 tajohn...@microlinetc.com -Original Message- From: tcp-boun...@techcommpros.com [mailto:tcp-boun...@techcommpros.com] On Behalf Of raj nair Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 3:04 AM To: tcp@techcommpros.com Subject: [TCP] Technical writing and tools Hi All, Does multiple tools restrict the opportunities available for technical communicators? Why is that there is no single standard tool for the technical writing industry? Raj Nair _ Bollywood This Decade http://entertainment.in.msn.com/bollywoodthisdecade/ __ ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. Download Free Trial. www.doctohelp.comhttp://www.techcommpros.com/componentone/ Interactive 3D Documentation Parts catalogs, animated instructions, and more. www.i3deverywhere.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email t...@techcommpros.com. Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-subscr...@techcommpros.com Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-unsubscr...@techcommpros.com Need help? Contact listad...@techcommpros.com Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com _ Climate, controversies and the changing signatures of nature http://green.in.msn.com/ __ ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. Download Free Trial. www.doctohelp.comhttp://www.techcommpros.com/componentone/ Interactive 3D Documentation Parts catalogs, animated instructions, and more. www.i3deverywhere.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email t...@techcommpros.com. Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-subscr...@techcommpros.com Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-unsubscr...@techcommpros.com Need help? Contact listad...@techcommpros.com Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] Technical writing and tools
On Wednesday, April 28, 2010, Thomas Johnson wrote: An alternative would be to include a disclaimer stating that the random characters are included to discourage unauthorized re-use of your samples. I'd avoid that situation if possible. I agree with most of Tom's comments. Think about it, if my developers code our applications in C++ and I am looking for another resource, it only make sense for me to hire a qualified C++ programmer rather than a Delphi programmer if I can. Technical writing tools are no different. Become fluent in many tools, and your skills are more marketable. The one point of advice I disagree with is the one I've included above. From my perspective, such a comment would be untrue and would more than likely get you caught out by any interviewer who actually knows the tool. Failing to state the truth during an interview or in your portfolio is not going to win you any points with the hiring parties. 2 cents, Dana W. *** Dana Worley Software Product Manager/Manager, Software Support Group Campbell Scientific, Inc. Microsoft MVP, Windows Help www.jestersbaubles.etsy.com __ ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. Download Free Trial. www.doctohelp.comhttp://www.techcommpros.com/componentone/ Interactive 3D Documentation Parts catalogs, animated instructions, and more. www.i3deverywhere.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email t...@techcommpros.com. Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-subscr...@techcommpros.com Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-unsubscr...@techcommpros.com Need help? Contact listad...@techcommpros.com Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] Technical writing and tools
Dana, I appreciate you pointing out the importance of ethical behavior. Ethical behavior is important and my advice crossed the line. By implying the inclusion of random characters was something that I might choose to do, rather than an unavoidable feature of a trial version, I conveyed a wrong and misleading context. That could indeed get you into trouble. Here's my new advice. Buy legitimate copies of software and become a power user, produce excellent samples and you have your in with prospective employers. Now that I think through the issue a little more, could using those samples as part of a portfolio--with or without random characters--be considered unethical? Would using materials produced with trial software for a tangible project such as a portfolio piece go beyond the purpose of the trial software? Is using trial software to solely enhance your skills outside the realm of fair use? Presumably, Madcap is okay with whatever work you produce during an evaluation period as long as you buy the software after the evaluation period because purchased copies of Madcap's software will strip out the random characters. It's just something to think about. Tom Johnson 231-944-7454 tajohn...@microlinetc.com -Original Message- From: tcp-boun...@techcommpros.com [mailto:tcp-boun...@techcommpros.com] On Behalf Of Dana Worley Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 12:19 PM To: tcp@techcommpros.com Subject: Re: [TCP] Technical writing and tools On Wednesday, April 28, 2010, Thomas Johnson wrote: An alternative would be to include a disclaimer stating that the random characters are included to discourage unauthorized re-use of your samples. I'd avoid that situation if possible. I agree with most of Tom's comments. Think about it, if my developers code our applications in C++ and I am looking for another resource, it only make sense for me to hire a qualified C++ programmer rather than a Delphi programmer if I can. Technical writing tools are no different. Become fluent in many tools, and your skills are more marketable. The one point of advice I disagree with is the one I've included above. From my perspective, such a comment would be untrue and would more than likely get you caught out by any interviewer who actually knows the tool. Failing to state the truth during an interview or in your portfolio is not going to win you any points with the hiring parties. 2 cents, Dana W. *** Dana Worley Software Product Manager/Manager, Software Support Group Campbell Scientific, Inc. Microsoft MVP, Windows Help www.jestersbaubles.etsy.com __ ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. Download Free Trial. www.doctohelp.comhttp://www.techcommpros.com/componentone/ Interactive 3D Documentation Parts catalogs, animated instructions, and more. www.i3deverywhere.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email t...@techcommpros.com. Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-subscr...@techcommpros.com Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-unsubscr...@techcommpros.com Need help? Contact listad...@techcommpros.com Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
[TCP] Technical writing and tools
Hi All, Does multiple tools restrict the opportunities available for technical communicators? Why is that there is no single standard tool for the technical writing industry? Raj Nair _ Bollywood This Decade http://entertainment.in.msn.com/bollywoodthisdecade/ __ ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. Download Free Trial. www.doctohelp.comhttp://www.techcommpros.com/componentone/ Interactive 3D Documentation Parts catalogs, animated instructions, and more. www.i3deverywhere.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email t...@techcommpros.com. Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-subscr...@techcommpros.com Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-unsubscr...@techcommpros.com Need help? Contact listad...@techcommpros.com Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] Technical writing and tools
On Tue, Apr 27, 2010 at 3:04 AM, raj nair raj_gree...@hotmail.com wrote: Does multiple tools restrict the opportunities available for technical communicators? Why is that there is no single standard tool for the technical writing industry? Perhaps because technical writing, the people who do it, and the contexts in which they do it are diverse. -- Milan Davidović http://twitter.com/altmilan http://altmilan.blogspot.com http://ca.linkedin.com/in/milandavidovic __ ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. Download Free Trial. www.doctohelp.comhttp://www.techcommpros.com/componentone/ Interactive 3D Documentation Parts catalogs, animated instructions, and more. www.i3deverywhere.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email t...@techcommpros.com. Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-subscr...@techcommpros.com Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-unsubscr...@techcommpros.com Need help? Contact listad...@techcommpros.com Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] Technical writing and tools
Is there ANY industry that has settled on one tool? Too many employers emphasize tool skills and don't place enough emphasis on critical thinking. Instead, they should be looking at real qualities like: the ability to think, writing skills, and organizational skills. If technical writers cannot learn how to use different tools, how can they ever hope to learn about new technology well enough to write about it? Tom Johnson 231-944-7454 tajohn...@microlinetc.com -Original Message- From: tcp-boun...@techcommpros.com [mailto:tcp-boun...@techcommpros.com] On Behalf Of raj nair Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 3:04 AM To: tcp@techcommpros.com Subject: [TCP] Technical writing and tools Hi All, Does multiple tools restrict the opportunities available for technical communicators? Why is that there is no single standard tool for the technical writing industry? Raj Nair _ Bollywood This Decade http://entertainment.in.msn.com/bollywoodthisdecade/ __ ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. Download Free Trial. www.doctohelp.comhttp://www.techcommpros.com/componentone/ Interactive 3D Documentation Parts catalogs, animated instructions, and more. www.i3deverywhere.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email t...@techcommpros.com. Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-subscr...@techcommpros.com Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-unsubscr...@techcommpros.com Need help? Contact listad...@techcommpros.com Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com __ ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. Download Free Trial. www.doctohelp.comhttp://www.techcommpros.com/componentone/ Interactive 3D Documentation Parts catalogs, animated instructions, and more. www.i3deverywhere.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email t...@techcommpros.com. Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-subscr...@techcommpros.com Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-unsubscr...@techcommpros.com Need help? Contact listad...@techcommpros.com Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] Technical writing and tools
Although I have some experience with most tools, one point I often make to recruiters is that if the were looking for a truck driver to drive a Peterbuilt and they had a great candidate who'd only driven Kenworths, would they present that candidate? You bet. Even if I've never seen it before I can be productive with pretty much any DTP, WP, or graphics tool in a very short time. I make my living working without a net... learning how to use completely undocumented software packages and writing the documentation for them, in most cases with very little input from subject matter experts. -- Mike StarrWriteStarr Information Services Technical Writer - Online Help Developer - Technical Illustrator Graphic Designer-Desktop Publisher - MS Office Expert (262) 694-1028 - m...@writestarr.com - http://www.writestarr.com On 4/27/2010 11:37 AM, Thomas Johnson wrote: Is there ANY industry that has settled on one tool? Too many employers emphasize tool skills and don't place enough emphasis on critical thinking. Instead, they should be looking at real qualities like: the ability to think, writing skills, and organizational skills. If technical writers cannot learn how to use different tools, how can they ever hope to learn about new technology well enough to write about it? Tom Johnson 231-944-7454 tajohn...@microlinetc.com __ ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. Download Free Trial. www.doctohelp.comhttp://www.techcommpros.com/componentone/ Interactive 3D Documentation Parts catalogs, animated instructions, and more. www.i3deverywhere.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email t...@techcommpros.com. Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-subscr...@techcommpros.com Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-unsubscr...@techcommpros.com Need help? Contact listad...@techcommpros.com Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] Technical writing and tools
And doesn't it all boil down to choices? If there was only one tool, that vendor would have a monopoly. Business diversity dictates innovation, doesn't it? If there is no competition, would we even have the options we have now to be creative in what we do? ...sue __ ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. Download Free Trial. www.doctohelp.comhttp://www.techcommpros.com/componentone/ Interactive 3D Documentation Parts catalogs, animated instructions, and more. www.i3deverywhere.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email t...@techcommpros.com. Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-subscr...@techcommpros.com Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-unsubscr...@techcommpros.com Need help? Contact listad...@techcommpros.com Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] Technical writing and tools
Is there ANY industry that has settled on one tool? Television came very close to selecting Regis Philbin... ;) -- Bill Swallow Twitter: @techcommdood Blog: http://techcommdood.com LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/techcommdood Available for contract and full time opportunities. __ ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. Download Free Trial. www.doctohelp.comhttp://www.techcommpros.com/componentone/ Interactive 3D Documentation Parts catalogs, animated instructions, and more. www.i3deverywhere.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email t...@techcommpros.com. Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-subscr...@techcommpros.com Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-unsubscr...@techcommpros.com Need help? Contact listad...@techcommpros.com Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] Technical writing and tools
Does multiple tools restrict the opportunities available for technical communicators? Why is that there is no single standard tool for the technical writing industry? Because there's no one single need. Any argument for industry-wide tool standardization should be met with a trip to the hardware store. ;) -- Bill Swallow Twitter: @techcommdood Blog: http://techcommdood.com LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/techcommdood Available for contract and full time opportunities. __ ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. Download Free Trial. www.doctohelp.comhttp://www.techcommpros.com/componentone/ Interactive 3D Documentation Parts catalogs, animated instructions, and more. www.i3deverywhere.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email t...@techcommpros.com. Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-subscr...@techcommpros.com Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-unsubscr...@techcommpros.com Need help? Contact listad...@techcommpros.com Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
Re: [TCP] Technical writing and tools
Indeed. Look no further than screws and bolts, or twist fasteners. - slot head - Robertson/square-socket head - Philips/cross-head, with PoziDriv and SupaDriv variants - Torx - hex-head (Ikea furniture anyone? - socket-style (what's the correct term?) that is turned with a wrench or socket screwdriver - usually machine screws - ... various 'security' styles (intended to be difficult to remove without the special driver and the secret handshake) - etc. That's all in aid of fastening two pieces of hard material together. Every decade or three, another standard pops up for spiral, threaded fasteners and the driver/head to turn 'em... And that's only one tool category and subset of fasteners. There are plenty more fasteners that need all sorts of tools that are not screwdrivers... and each of those has its own subsets for different tasks and specialty niches. There must be about six or eight basic styles of hammers, and an infinite variety of sizes and shapes. Saws? Don't get me started, on just hand-saws alone... before we get into the powered ones like bench circular saws, portable circular saws, chop/mitre saws, band saws, jig saws, demolition reciprocating (Sawzall) saws, spiral saws, hole saws, etc. How could techwriting possibly be expected to ... well... NOT follow that example? As a further observation, to keep this relevant, could we not draw a parallel between the dark thoughts (sometimes spoken aloud) that we hold for the people who hand us a document riddled with spot formatting or a million custom styles, and the kind thoughts that we have toward whatever brain-dead !...@#$%$^!! chose to use SLOT-head screws on the item that we now need to disassemble and fix? -Original Message- From: tcp-boun...@techcommpros.com [mailto:tcp-boun...@techcommpros.com] On Behalf Of Bill Swallow Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 2:18 PM To: raj nair Cc: tcp@techcommpros.com Subject: Re: [TCP] Technical writing and tools Does multiple tools restrict the opportunities available for technical communicators? Why is that there is no single standard tool for the technical writing industry? Because there's no one single need. Any argument for industry-wide tool standardization should be met with a trip to the hardware store. ;) -- Bill Swallow The information contained in this electronic mail transmission may be privileged and confidential, and therefore, protected from disclosure. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to this message and deleting it from your computer without copying or disclosing it. __ ComponentOne Doc-To-Help 2009 is your all-in-one authoring and publishing solution. Author in Doc-To-Help's XML-based editor, Microsoft Word or HTML and publish to the Web, Help systems or printed manuals. Download Free Trial. www.doctohelp.comhttp://www.techcommpros.com/componentone/ Interactive 3D Documentation Parts catalogs, animated instructions, and more. www.i3deverywhere.com ___ Technical Communication Professionals Post a message to the list: email t...@techcommpros.com. Subscribe, unsubscribe, archives, account options, list info: http://techcommpros.com/mailman/listinfo/tcp_techcommpros.com Subscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-subscr...@techcommpros.com Unsubscribe (email): send a blank message to tcp-unsubscr...@techcommpros.com Need help? Contact listad...@techcommpros.com Get the TCP whole experience! http://www.techcommpros.com
