Juggling or Struggling: The Art of Managing Online and Hardcopy Documentation  

While company budgets are increasing little or none, the responsibilities of technical writers continue to multiply as they are expected to produce online help as well as hard-copy documentation in short time periods. This demonstration explains how technical writers at Computer Power, Inc. produce usable online and hard-copy documentation from one source file. Participants will learn how to plan the file, create appropriate graphics, and use macros to convert text and other information for use in online help.

Bates, Michael P. and Catherine Cooper. STC Proceedings (1995). Articles>Documentation>Project Management

Re-Evaluating Your Skills

Given our current economic conditions, it is proving very difficult for a lot of technical communicators to find new positions as either contractors or full-time employees. It is important now, more than ever, to look closely at the core skills we have and can offer our future employers. Almost all of you that I have talked to are technical communicators who develop online help and hardcopy documentation. You are writers, editors, and managers. Many of you understand the intricacies of the tools of the trade like Adobe FrameMaker and RoboHelp from eHelp. You understand the products so well that you can troubleshoot the problems faster than the product support teams.

Bates, Michael P. STC Northeast Ohio (2001). Careers>TC>Assessment>Adobe RoboHelp

Remember Your First Meeting?

I walked into my first meeting in Northeast Ohio and didn't know anyone. I no sooner stuck my name badge to my shirt and someone was there to introduce themselves to me. From there, the person took me around the room and introduced me to others. I left that night feeling as though I had met 20 new professionals in my field. I couldn't wait to go to the next meeting. This fall, many of you and your chapter leaders will be running formal membership drives. You will be looking for new members and trying to identify ways to retain your current membership. You don't have to be the Membership Drive Chairperson or on the committee to help. Here are a few suggestions.

Bates, Michael P. STC Northeast Ohio (2002). Articles>TC>Collaboration

Tools and Technology Stem Overview  

Well, here it is. It's a little over one year after Netscape announced they have a tool for us to use when developing HTML help. We are all pretty well settled, right? We have determined which information we are converting to HTML first and how this new media is going to alter our development process. In fact, I’m sure that everyone is ready to make the leap and is simply waiting for all the other software vendors to release their tools so we can start comparing.

Bates, Michael P. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Documentation>HTML