Comments for Just Write Click http://justwriteclick.com Documentation as conversation Mon, 07 May 2012 08:28:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 Comment on Author-it and MadCap Flare comparison by Jo Levitt http://justwriteclick.com/2009/02/10/author-it-and-madcap-flare-comparison/comment-page-1/#comment-39931 Jo Levitt Mon, 07 May 2012 08:28:38 +0000 http://justwriteclick.com/?p=85#comment-39931 No way to edit what I wrote before it is published. Three oopses! ..standard single-sourcing toolset in the company..., I now run..., its not it's. Thanks! Jo. No way to edit what I wrote before it is published. Three oopses!
..standard single-sourcing toolset in the company…, I now run…, its not it’s.
Thanks! Jo.

]]> Comment on Author-it and MadCap Flare comparison by Jo Levitt http://justwriteclick.com/2009/02/10/author-it-and-madcap-flare-comparison/comment-page-1/#comment-39930 Jo Levitt Mon, 07 May 2012 08:17:55 +0000 http://justwriteclick.com/?p=85#comment-39930 I have been a technical writer for many years. I have used Word and FrameMaker. I implemented a full CMS plus Arbortext editor, which was the standard single-sourcing toolset - in the broadest sense. I then moved on and implemented Author-it in another company. I know run my own business and evaluated tools for a start-up company who will need localization and multiple outputs. The result of the evaluation was Flare, chosen for its ability to handle localization of multiple languages on a small scale without heavy costs, it's ability to output high quality PDFs and web help without too much effort, and the possibility of a certain amount of content reuse. I understand the rant about Author-it. Some of it is justified. For example, the search and replace function does not find all instances. We also experienced unexplained crashes, particularly at the beginning, while importing large documents from FrameMaker. The PDF output is frustrating by comparison with Flare. It is done through a Word template and we spent a lot of money having macros written, some of which was just to get numbering to work correctly. On the other hand, Flare also has its downside. I was able to produce acceptable PDF output very quickly, but there are still small issues which I have not yet ironed out. Others have said that you need to know CSS to make the best of Flare. That is absolutely true. I am a CSS novice, which is probably why I am still struggling with some things. If you need content reuse and don't want to invest in a full CMS/XML system then I think that Author-it is a good choice. It is definitely easier to use than the non-integrated toolset which I originally used, although I believe there are better systems out there. If you want a really good system to output to a range of help/web and print types, then I would choose Flare. Flare made a big step forward on useability with its V8 release. I am looking forward to improved reuse functionality in future. I have been a technical writer for many years. I have used Word and FrameMaker. I implemented a full CMS plus Arbortext editor, which was the standard single-sourcing toolset – in the broadest sense. I then moved on and implemented Author-it in another company. I know run my own business and evaluated tools for a start-up company who will need localization and multiple outputs. The result of the evaluation was Flare, chosen for its ability to handle localization of multiple languages on a small scale without heavy costs, it’s ability to output high quality PDFs and web help without too much effort, and the possibility of a certain amount of content reuse.
I understand the rant about Author-it. Some of it is justified. For example, the search and replace function does not find all instances. We also experienced unexplained crashes, particularly at the beginning, while importing large documents from FrameMaker. The PDF output is frustrating by comparison with Flare. It is done through a Word template and we spent a lot of money having macros written, some of which was just to get numbering to work correctly.
On the other hand, Flare also has its downside. I was able to produce acceptable PDF output very quickly, but there are still small issues which I have not yet ironed out. Others have said that you need to know CSS to make the best of Flare. That is absolutely true. I am a CSS novice, which is probably why I am still struggling with some things.
If you need content reuse and don’t want to invest in a full CMS/XML system then I think that Author-it is a good choice. It is definitely easier to use than the non-integrated toolset which I originally used, although I believe there are better systems out there.
If you want a really good system to output to a range of help/web and print types, then I would choose Flare. Flare made a big step forward on useability with its V8 release. I am looking forward to improved reuse functionality in future.

]]> Comment on Author-it and MadCap Flare comparison by Mark Trotter http://justwriteclick.com/2009/02/10/author-it-and-madcap-flare-comparison/comment-page-1/#comment-39927 Mark Trotter Mon, 07 May 2012 04:24:47 +0000 http://justwriteclick.com/?p=85#comment-39927 Hi Steve, I work with Author-it and have been using the product since 1999. I truly understand the hassle you are going through at the review stage in your workflow. Author-it identified this as an issue a few years ago and has since launched a new product (ironically called the 'Author-it Reviewer) to help smooth out this process. The Author-it Reviewer helps automate the review process so that review teams and editors are in the loop by using a web-based reviewer to enter their information or comments. You as the manager of this process can accept, incorporate or remove these. All information feeds directly to the database. If you want to have a test of this system your Author-it account manager will be able to set this up for you. I think all tools have their limitations and Author-it is no different. It is not a WYSIWYG editor but this is how it manages to publish to so many outputs and integrate with other systems. There are pros and cons of any tool but the most important thing is that the producer of that tool is focused on continuous improvement. I believe that Author-it takes this approach and the Author-it Reviewer (and more recently Author-it Cloud) are good examples of this. Hi Steve,

I work with Author-it and have been using the product since 1999. I truly understand the hassle you are going through at the review stage in your workflow. Author-it identified this as an issue a few years ago and has since launched a new product (ironically called the ‘Author-it Reviewer) to help smooth out this process.

The Author-it Reviewer helps automate the review process so that review teams and editors are in the loop by using a web-based reviewer to enter their information or comments. You as the manager of this process can accept, incorporate or remove these. All information feeds directly to the database. If you want to have a test of this system your Author-it account manager will be able to set this up for you.

I think all tools have their limitations and Author-it is no different. It is not a WYSIWYG editor but this is how it manages to publish to so many outputs and integrate with other systems. There are pros and cons of any tool but the most important thing is that the producer of that tool is focused on continuous improvement. I believe that Author-it takes this approach and the Author-it Reviewer (and more recently Author-it Cloud) are good examples of this.

]]> Comment on Best Twitter Account Idea Yet from The Information by Larry Kunz http://justwriteclick.com/2012/05/02/best-twitter-account-idea-yet-from-the-information/comment-page-1/#comment-39836 Larry Kunz Thu, 03 May 2012 14:19:18 +0000 http://justwriteclick.com/?p=1866#comment-39836 I like this, Anne. If you set up this Twitter account, I'll follow you! It reminds me of the story about the tragic car wreck, back in the days when people paid by the word for telegrams: Bruises dead. Erased afford. Erector. Analysis hurt. Infectious dead. I like this, Anne. If you set up this Twitter account, I’ll follow you! It reminds me of the story about the tragic car wreck, back in the days when people paid by the word for telegrams:

Bruises dead. Erased afford. Erector. Analysis hurt. Infectious dead.

]]> Comment on Best Twitter Account Idea Yet from The Information by annegentle http://justwriteclick.com/2012/05/02/best-twitter-account-idea-yet-from-the-information/comment-page-1/#comment-39834 annegentle Thu, 03 May 2012 13:25:14 +0000 http://justwriteclick.com/?p=1866#comment-39834 Meep! We need more meeps in our daily lives. Meep!

We need more meeps in our daily lives.

]]> Comment on Best Twitter Account Idea Yet from The Information by Cindy Pao http://justwriteclick.com/2012/05/02/best-twitter-account-idea-yet-from-the-information/comment-page-1/#comment-39828 Cindy Pao Thu, 03 May 2012 12:22:23 +0000 http://justwriteclick.com/?p=1866#comment-39828 I follow one called BeakerMeeps, which is nothing but Beaker the Muppet saying meep and then including hashtags. It cracks me up - plus I have fun figuring out what is the hot topic of the day. Also, right after the Deepwater Horizon disaster, there was a fake BP account that was terrible - terribly funny, that is. Loved them both! I follow one called BeakerMeeps, which is nothing but Beaker the Muppet saying meep and then including hashtags. It cracks me up – plus I have fun figuring out what is the hot topic of the day.

Also, right after the Deepwater Horizon disaster, there was a fake BP account that was terrible – terribly funny, that is.

Loved them both!

]]> Comment on Must Read: Confluence, Tech Comm, Chocolate by annegentle http://justwriteclick.com/2012/04/26/must-read-confluence-tech-comm-chocolate/comment-page-1/#comment-39715 annegentle Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:43:41 +0000 http://justwriteclick.com/?p=1871#comment-39715 Why, you're welcome! Thank <em>you</em> for your lovely book. :) Why, you’re welcome! Thank you for your lovely book. :)

]]> Comment on Must Read: Confluence, Tech Comm, Chocolate by Sarah Maddox http://justwriteclick.com/2012/04/26/must-read-confluence-tech-comm-chocolate/comment-page-1/#comment-39673 Sarah Maddox Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:32:47 +0000 http://justwriteclick.com/?p=1871#comment-39673 Hallo Anne Thank you so much for a lovely and thoughtful review! I love this sentence of yours: "Wikis with wings are the way technical writers will show their value to the world." Short, sweet, and encapsulating one of the primary messages of the book. Cheers Sarah Hallo Anne

Thank you so much for a lovely and thoughtful review! I love this sentence of yours: “Wikis with wings are the way technical writers will show their value to the world.” Short, sweet, and encapsulating one of the primary messages of the book.

Cheers
Sarah

]]> Comment on Google Summer of Code Doc Summit Stories by Neljä kirjaa kolmessa päivässä « FLOSS Manuals (Suomi) http://justwriteclick.com/2011/10/21/google-summer-of-code-doc-summit-stories/comment-page-1/#comment-39633 Neljä kirjaa kolmessa päivässä « FLOSS Manuals (Suomi) Thu, 26 Apr 2012 04:12:49 +0000 http://justwriteclick.com/?p=1798#comment-39633 [...] lukea myös kirjapyrähdyksiin osallistuneiden Anne Gentlen ja Andy Oramin blogaukset, joissa kirjapyrähdysprosessia [...] [...] lukea myös kirjapyrähdyksiin osallistuneiden Anne Gentlen ja Andy Oramin blogaukset, joissa kirjapyrähdysprosessia [...]

]]> Comment on Author-it and MadCap Flare comparison by Steve Wheeler http://justwriteclick.com/2009/02/10/author-it-and-madcap-flare-comparison/comment-page-1/#comment-39622 Steve Wheeler Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:14:12 +0000 http://justwriteclick.com/?p=85#comment-39622 A recent post muses about why writers might find the Author-it interface lacking. As a writer who with 12 years of experience working with FrameMaker, perhaps I can give some useful insight. Coming from a wysiwyg environment, I find the lack of page number visibility in Ait's interface a big time waster. We give large Word manuals to review teams and the helpful reviewers refer to page numbers for their comments. When I'm endeavoring to work in the Ait editing tool I have no page numbers to steer by. This forces me to constantly hunt through the TOC to find the topic. I MUST have a printout of the manual open as I do this to minimize the hunting so I can perform my work. The Ait search function is not intuitive when it comes to locating topics or phrases that happen to be in a "book" that is part of a larger "book". This took over an hour to discover while my revision deadline loomed. Given that I can't see page numbers and the search funtion is clugy, well, that just makes revision work a real chore. Too bad that sort of work happens toward the end of a writing project when time is precious. If I never had to work with Author-it again, I'd be much happier. A recent post muses about why writers might find the Author-it interface lacking. As a writer who with 12 years of experience working with FrameMaker, perhaps I can give some useful insight.

Coming from a wysiwyg environment, I find the lack of page number visibility in Ait’s interface a big time waster. We give large Word manuals to review teams and the helpful reviewers refer to page numbers for their comments. When I’m endeavoring to work in the Ait editing tool I have no page numbers to steer by. This forces me to constantly hunt through the TOC to find the topic. I MUST have a printout of the manual open as I do this to minimize the hunting so I can perform my work.
The Ait search function is not intuitive when it comes to locating topics or phrases that happen to be in a “book” that is part of a larger “book”. This took over an hour to discover while my revision deadline loomed.
Given that I can’t see page numbers and the search funtion is clugy, well, that just makes revision work a real chore. Too bad that sort of work happens toward the end of a writing project when time is precious.
If I never had to work with Author-it again, I’d be much happier.

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