The Human Impact of Software

Software is not just an abstraction that exists in isolation. When I write code, it's not just about me, the code, the operating system, and the database. The impact of what I do when I develop software reaches far beyond those things and into people's lives.

Read, Daniel. developer.star (2001). Articles>Usability>Software

IBM ViaVoice, Millenium Edition  

Schulter reviews the performance of IBMís latest speech recognition software.

Schulter, David. Intercom (2000). Articles>Technology>Software>Voice

Identical Twins?

For the same reason a doctor uses different types of scissors or scalpels for specific cases, or a handyman carries different types of screwdrivers, a smart designer will have the tools that are necessary to complete any design task that might arise. In many ways Photoshop and Illustrator seem to be exactly alike, but they aren't.

Golding, Mordy. Illustrator World (2005). Articles>Graphic Design>Software

Identifying Additions and Deletions, Part I: Using Compatible Software  

Hart describes the problems and possibilities of Microsoft Word's Track Changes feature.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2001). Articles>Editing>Software>Microsoft Word

Identifying Additions and Deletions, Part II: Incompatible Software  

Hart describes the difficulties of viewing electronic edits when the editor and the author are using incompatible software, and offers tips for working around these difficulties.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. Intercom (2002). Articles>Editing>Software>Video

Implementing New Desktop Publishing Tools  

When faced with having to respond to increased demands for online documentation using outdated tools, the technical writing staff of Hughes Network Systems (HNS) realized the need for a whole suite of state-of-the art tools and techniques. The challenge lay in convincing management to spend the time and money to acquire them. By coupling an understanding of their own needs as well as those of their customers with an appreciation for the HNS corporate culture, the writers were able to effect a strategy that guaranteed success.

Lipkin, Regina M. STC Proceedings (2001). Articles>Document Design>Software>Case Studies

Implications for Writers Documenting Object-Oriented Projects  

Object-oriented (OO) projects bring with them new technology and new processes. While programmers focus on the OO methodologies governing design and implementation of program code, writers must struggle to adapt to a very different kind of development cycle. To avoid chaos, development teams must explicitly define their processes from the start.

Berry, Robert R., Karen L. Mobley and Kathryn L. Turk. STC Proceedings (1994). Articles>Documentation>Software

Import Text Without Surprises

With a little forethought, placing text in InDesign becomes almost effortless.

Adobe (2003). Articles>Document Design>Software>Adobe InDesign

The Importance of Software Documentation Standards

The look and feel of a help system can differ greatly from one product to the next, as can the writing. So how can the technical writing community emphasize the importance of software documentation standards and create a more unified help experience that users can adapt to?

Helpscribe (2008). Articles>Documentation>Standards>Software

The Importance of TMX for Translation Tool Buyers

In June of 1997, a small group of individuals representing the major buyers and providers of translation tools and services began a process that will have dramatic benefits for the users of translation tools. With the momentum of Microsoft behind it, that group began defining a standard for exchanging translation memory data between translation tools. This definition has been recently published by the Localization Industry Standards Association (LISA) as the Translation Memory eXchange (TMX) standard. Defined as a Document Type Definition (DTD) in SGML, this standard defines vendor-neutral conventions for storing translation memories in a manner that allows them to be uniformly exchanged between any tool of any vendor adhering to the standard. So how will TMX affect the translation tool market and what does it mean to current and future users of translation tools?

Briggs, Brian M. SDL International. Articles>Language>Localization>Software

Improving User Documentation and Customer Care

In recent years, the Customer Care Survey of Service and Support Practices in the Software Industry has consistently reported that only about half of software publishers put their documentation through a formal test. We thought that these numbers were low, so we checked them at the Software Testing, Analysis & Review (STAR) conference (Orlando, May 16, 1996). During a plenary session, Kaner asked attendees (software testers) whether their groups tested their companies’ user manuals. Confirming the Customer Care data, at least half the room stood up to signify that their companies did not. This means that reputable companies are not testing their manuals – companies who don’t care about quality don’t spend money to send testers to STAR.

Kaner, Cem and David Pels. Usability Interface (2000). Articles>Usability>Software

Improving Your Editing Efficiency: Software Skills, Soft Skills, and Survival Skills  

Editing efficiently involves a mix of software skills, soft (human) skills, and strategies for surviving chaos. Although software skills are certainly important--we never have as much time as we need, and computers really can help--we must still nurture author-editor relationships. Knowing the strategies battle-scarred editors have developed over the years can save you from duplicating those scars. In this paper, I'll discuss the software skills you'll need to work efficiently, how to cope with the human factors involved in editing, and some strategies for managing the often-chaotic editorial life.

Hart, Geoffrey J.S. STC Proceedings (2005). Articles>Editing>Software

InDesign Tutorial: Setting up a Document

Let's start with some basics. Here you will learn how to create a new document, add pages and other basic functions. A second tutorial will follow to complement this one.

Bruno, Elisabetta. Designorati (2005). Articles>Document Design>Software>Adobe InDesign

InDesign's Work Area

This tutorial goes through the different parts that compose InDesign's work area. If you want to drive a car, you want to make sure that you know where the break is, where your wheel is, where your indicator is and so on. The same is for InDesign. You want to know where you can find all the tools that you will be using to create your InDesign documents.

Bruno, Elisabetta. Designorati (2005). Articles>Document Design>Software>Adobe InDesign

Indexing in FrameMaker: Challenges and Opportunities

Indexing in FrameMaker can feel frustrating and time-consuming — especially when under the pressure of a deadline.

Brown, Fred. Allegro Time! (2000). Articles>Indexing>Software>Adobe FrameMaker

Indexing with FrameMaker

Indexing a document is an art in itself. Since Adobe FrameMaker is the program of choice for most companies producing technical documentation, it is worth while to find out how to create an index in FrameMaker.

Kurtus, Ron. School for Champions (2000). Articles>Indexing>Software>Adobe FrameMaker

Indexing with Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word assists you in creating an embedded index. While Microsoft Word makes it easy to enter individual index entries, much effort is still required to create page ranges and to edit the final index.

Brown, Fred. Allegro Time! (2001). Articles>Indexing>Software>Microsoft Word

Indexing with Open Source Tools    

The index can often be the most heavily used 'chapter' in any publication and helping the user find an answer is the key to fulfilling the technical document's mission, justifying the effort and expense for its creation. Yet, indexing facilities in open source packages for document creation remains largely unexplored, offering a marvelous opportunity to do it right! This article provides a generic specification (with reasons) to open source developers for creating useful indexing facilities in packages such as OpenOffice and Scribus. It also informs writers about what to look for and what to ask for in any indexing tool. Finally, the article demonstrates the need for software developers to work closely with practitioners and users.

Brown, Fred. International Journal for Technical Communication (2006). Articles>Indexing>Software>Open Source

The Ins and Outs of InDesign

If you ever create multi page layouts such as brochures, newsletters or booklets there is an application that is made for you. InDesign, which can be purchased as a stand alone product or as part of the Adobe Creative Suite, has many, many tools for streamlining the process of setting up and working on these types of projects. In this article we will look at what InDesign is for and highlight some of the features that set it apart from other applications.

Dudley, Kim. Community MX (2006). Articles>Document Design>Software>Adobe InDesign

Instructions for installing Adobe PS 4.26 for Windows 95/98 And Attaching it to Acrobat Distiller for use with FrameMaker 5.5x, with Acrobat 3.0x  

Instructions for installing Adobe PS 4.26 for Windows 95/98 and attaching it to Acrobat Distiller for use with FrameMaker 5.5x.

Halva, Wade C. InFrame (1998). Articles>Software>Document Design>Adobe FrameMaker

Integrating End-User Support Into New Software  

Most writers have little or no control on how their online support is integrated into the product. Except for contextsensitive links, most help systems, online manuals, and tutorials are standalone applications. This separation negatively impacts the usability of the product. Technical writers need to insist on integrating their support material into the product ifthey are to achieve Day-One Performance.

Timpone, Donna. STC Proceedings (1997). Articles>Software>User Interface

Introducing "King Memo" (David vs. the Goliaths?)

I work as a freelance translator, mostly with Word and html files. I also regularly organize localization projects involving translations into the main European languages. When I looked around at the translation memory systems on the market today, I found them not only seriously overpriced but also laden down with so many features that I'd never expect to use in a month of Sundays.

Abele, Wolfgang. TC-FORUM (1999). Articles>Language>Localization>Software

An Introduction to Computer-Aided Translation

Computer Aided Translation (CAT) is the broadest term used to describe an area of computer technology applications that automates or assists the act of translating text from one spoken language to another. Today CAT tool technology is being used by both business users and professional translators. Business users conducting business internationally are now finding benefit in tools when communicating across languages when a translator is not available and the user has limited multilingual skills. Professional translators are finding CAT tools highly effective in improving their translation productivity and quality for work that lends itself to the use of the different technologies.

SDL International. Articles>Language>Localization>Software

Introduction to PowerPoint  

Discusses how to prepare a PowerPoint slide show.

Nielan, Cate. Intercom (2001). Articles>Presentations>Software>Microsoft PowerPoint