#31189
This tutorial is based on the PC version of Microsoft Word 2003, but the principles explained here should be similar for older versions of the program and for Macs.
Cramer, Dan. Ereunao (2007). Articles>Word Processing>Software>Microsoft Word
#26748
Word can be very frustrating. Take, for example, when it refuses to open a file that you have worked on only a few minutes earlier. You know you closed the file correctly. There were no error messages when you exited. So, why does this happen?
Klariti (2006). Articles>Software>Word Processing>Microsoft Word
#26747
Even if you do everything right, sooner or later one of your documents will become corrupt. Sometimes word will even open the file, but before you can do any work, it crashes! How can you retrieve the document?
Klariti (2006). Articles>Software>Word Processing>Microsoft Word
#27189
Word for Windows Commands, and Their Descriptions, Default Shortcuts and Menu Assignments
Word has a built-in command ListCommands, which produces a table of all the Word commands with their current key and menu assignments. However, it does not list the commands using their actual names; nor does it include descriptions of what the commands actually do.
Rado, Dave. Word MVP Site, The (2005). Articles>Word Processing>Software>Microsoft Word
#31968
This guide to dealing with the trials and tribulations of Master documents is virtually guaranteed to save whatever fragments of sanity you may have left as you deal with Master documents.
Hudson, Steve. TECHWR-L (2008). Articles>Word Processing>Software>Microsoft Word
#19686
Given that word processors are now common tools for writers and available to most students at all educational levels, integrating the software into a technical writing or English (or other language) composition course seems part of a natural progression. If you teach writing or are involved with students who use word processors for class assignments or other purposes, consider a group exercise in designing style sheets or complete file templates. Such teamwork introduces students to the collaborative environment of the workplace and provides opportunities for ancillary analytical and creative activities. It also allows you, as the instructor, to review and evaluate compositions electronically. Further, using word processing software and defining standards for its use emulate professional documentation workflows.
Ware, Bill. Intercom (2003). Articles>Writing>Software>Word Processing
#26326
It's ironic that the process of exporting a document from Word to HTML would have the effect of breaking the web page in Internet Explorer only. It's also pretty darned annoying.
alt tags (2005). Articles>Web Design>Software>Microsoft Word
#12967
This summary lists pros and cons for using FrameMaker or Word for creating large documents or books. The general consensus of techwhirlers is that FrameMaker is better-suited than Word for large documents and for creating a single-source documentation set.
Christopherson, Christie. TECHWR-L (1999). Articles>Software>Writing>Adobe FrameMaker
#29054
Word-Processing "Efficiency" By Means of Personalized Word-Frequency Lists 
This article examines the concept of the efficiency with which text is entered into a word processor from the perspective of effective use of keyboard shortcuts (sometimes called hot keys or accelerator keys ). The article makes reference to the Autotext facility which is available in Microsoft Word. The article illustrates how the possibility for productiveness offered by shortcuts, available through the use of features such as Autotext, are often under-utilized by many word processor users, academics being no exception. The method involves constructing a word list from a corpus of one s own writing. This word list can then be taken as the basis for a personalized set of shortcuts of the most frequent words in an individual s writing.
Coniam, David. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2001). Articles>Writing>Software>Word Processing
#28616
Working With External Text Files in Microsoft Access 2007
Step-by-step procedure explained with a large number of screen shots. Both linking and importing are described.
Krishnaswamy, Jayaram. OfficeUsers.org (2007). Articles>Software>Databases>Microsoft Access
#20061
Working with JAWS: Keystroke Quick Reference Chart
Using the JAWS screen reading software requires that the user know a large set of keystroke combinations to get the most from the application.
#27193
When you delete a section break, or move an entire section to another part of the document, you get what seem to be very strange results. For instance, deleting a Continuous section break causes the preceding Next Page section break to convert to a Continuous one, or deleting a section break causes an important Header to disappear from the document, or causes the entire document to become landscape.
Rado, Dave. Word MVP Site, The (2005). Articles>Word Processing>Software>Microsoft Word
#26936
Writing Documentation and Help for Eclipse Projects and Plugins
Eclipse is an open-source community. One of its primary projects is the creation of 'an extensible development platform...for building software.' This platform takes shape in the Eclipse workbench, a Java-based IDE (Integrated Development Environment).
Sapir, Rick. KeyContent.org (2006). Articles>Documentation>Software>Java
#26104
Writing, Editing, and Reviewing Documents 
OpenOffice.org Writer provides many ways to write, edit, review, and comment on documents. This chapter covers some of those techniques, plus some other tips.
Weber, Jean Hollis. O'Reilly and Associates (2004). Articles>Word Processing>Software>OpenOffice
#31165
XML Documentation: The Missing Link (1)
Technical documentation is a prime beneficiary of XML technology, with standards such as DocBook and DITA. However, while XML revolutionized the way technical documentation is written, it did nothing to help documentation teams improve the collaboration process with the SMEs and other invested parties. In some cases, things got worse, with another layer of complexity added between the documentation team and the documentation stakeholders. Where is the missing link?
Talbot, Fabrice. LiveTechDocs (2008). Articles>Documentation>Software>XML
#31166
XML Documentation: The Missing Link (2)
Sharing XML documents during the writing and review process is a missing link in the XML publication chain. While Office or PDF applications help, they also add another extra-layer of complexity and lose the 'XML awareness' of our initial document. That's where LiveTechDocs comes into play.
Talbot, Fabrice. LiveTechDocs (2008). Articles>Documentation>Software>XML
#31164
XML Editors for Technical Documentation
Looking through my Programs folder, I see many programs I use to work with XML documentation. Which one is my favorite? Well, that depends on the size of my project, the size of my budget, and the file I am working on.
Mulvihill, Teresa. LiveTechDocs (2008). Articles>Documentation>Software>XML
#26318
XML-Based Documentation Using AurigaDoc
A review of an XML-based documentation tool.
Nesbitt, Scott. NewsForge. Articles>Documentation>Software>XML
#29975
Review: XMLmind XML Editor v3.0
XMLmind is a great introductory tool for technical writers entering the world of structured authoring and DocBook. It successfully hides the esoterics of XML markup from the author, so that the focus can be on the words, rather than the code. At no cost (yes, absolutely free) for the Standard edition, and USD220 for a single user licence for the Professional Edition, XMLmind offers excellent value. The software is available for Linux, Windows and Mac. There are two main problems with XMLmind XML Editor: it does not currently support DITA schemas, and it does not incorporate a (Notepad-like) text editor in case you do need to patch up your code.
Self, Tony. HyperWrite (2007). Articles>Reviews>Software>XML
#32079
Developers as Users of SharePoint
In SharePoint, we are likely to think of developers as people who work to customise SharePoint, but there are a lot of developers out there who are simply end users of SharePoint. How do they like the system?
Technical Writer (2007). Articles>Content Management>Software>Microsoft SharePoint
#32081
Joomla: Another Simple Content Management System
Joomla is more complex than WordPress but it has more power. Because it’s a real content management system—unlike WordPress which is a blog with content management capabilities—you don’t have to customise it to make it look like one. Other people have also created templates you can use.
Technical Writer (2007). Articles>Content Management>Software
#32082
WordPress as a Simple Content Management System
I know that some users of high-end CMS’s may dispute this definition, as a high-end CMS does a lot more. But what is a content management system really? It is content, stored in some kind of database, accessed via a front end. That is exactly what WordPress is.
Technical Writer (2007). Articles>Content Management>Software
#32088
I've long been an advocate that teaching technical communication without teaching tools is like teaching art students about painting without talking about brushes.
Hughes, Michael A. User Assistance (2008). Articles>TC>Software
#32146
Getting FLOSSy: Acrobat Killer Or HAT Replacement?
Some writers truly hate Adobe Acrobat and any tool that can do the job better is worth a shot, particularly if it’s open source and easily navigated. Flossmanuals.net introduces FLOSS which does a lot of the single desktop Acrobat Pro’s job - collaboratively and open source.
Jeter, Charles. Charles Jeter (2008). Articles>Content Management>Documentation>Software
#32204
Eight Steps to Successful Software Documentation
Whether software documentation is designed for a company’s internal users or for a variety of end customers, one thing is for certain: Documentation that is well written, well structured, easily accessible, and thoroughly compliments the software it supports can play a significant role in a product’s overall success. And it doesn’t matter if the documentation stands alone or it is integrated with the product. As long as it is properly planned, developed, and configured, success is eminent.
Capri, Steve. TechCom Manager (2006). Articles>Documentation>Software
