#21481
ComponentOne maintains the WexTech-L discussion list as a place for our customers to discuss the Doc-To-Help Legacy products, and provide peer-to-peer support. List subscribers range from certified Doc-To-Help consultants and trainers to users who have just started working with a newly downloaded evaluation copy. Discussions on the WexTech-L list range from quick, simple question-and-answer exchanges to lively threads on Help authoring, printing manuals, and other topics of interest. On an average day, about 20-30 messages are sent to the WexTech-L list.
#25800
#13778
For developing HLP files you do not need so much. In fact: All absolutely needed tools are available with no charge.
#13776
WinWriters Online Help Resource Directory
This comprehensive, up-to-date list is your one-stop link to the brightest and best resources in the Help world—all the tools, contacts, and information you'll need to develop thorough, effective, polished Help projects.
#32162
My name is Miranda, and I am an Information Developer (aka technical writer). I am the junior writer on my team, new to the company, and new to the industry. It’s safe to say, I’m the greenhorn. However, I have the honor to work beside some very experienced and very knowledgeable senior writers, so it’s only a matter of time before their good habits rub off on me.
Bennett, Miranda. On Writing (2008). Resources>Documentation>Technical Writing>Blogs
#32556
Your Writing Dept Blog is a collection of writings from technical writers who would like to develop dynamic, and hopefully, useful content when not creating technical documentation, user guides and training materials. The blog contains useful tips for how to work with a documentation team, and how to best manage documentation project.
Your Writing Dept (2008). Resources>Documentation>Technical Writing>Blogs
#32975
A collection of screen captures from online documentation, to permit technical writers and documentation designers to review a variety of visual styles.
Gallery of Onscreen Help. Resources>Documentation>Help>Online
#33424
Often conflicting pressures to produce communications that better fit customer demands as well as stay within tightening constraints on budgets and schedules are leading many technical communications organizations to a topic-based approach to authoring. In fact, 58% of participants in Aberdeen Group's October 2008 DITA and the Technical Communicator’s Transformation study report that they currently follow author content in a topic-based manner, with a vast majority of those remaining planning to implement one in the future. A topic-based approach promotes greater content reuse and is seeing a considerable impact on the authoring efficiency of technical communications projects today. The benefits of topic-based authoring can be compelling, with findings from the The Technical Communicator’s Transformation study indicating that when pursued the right way, topic-based authoring can have a broad range of benefits, enabling an organization to meet authoring and localization cost targets as well as documentation quality expectations, among others. However, as the adoption of this approach spreads, the advantages seen by today's leading organizations will flatten out. This Sector Insight provides a guide for current adoption of topic-based authoring and those still considering it; outlining the changes that are expected to take place in as topic-based authoring goes mainstream.
Jackson, Chad and David Houlihan. Aberdeen Group (2008). Resources>Documentation>Information Design>Technical Writing
#33746
A blog about publishing and technical communications.
O'Keefe, Sarah S. Scriptorium. Resources>TC>Documentation>Blogs
#34472
The site is about Structured Authoring. That is a broad subject, but will focus on SGML and XML and the implementation. Tools used to author, manage, communicate and deploy data usually in the maintenance from some small widget to a large weapon system. Covering Mil-Stds and S1000D.
Wade, Douglas Paul. Structured Authoring (2009). Resources>Documentation>XML>Blogs
#34657
Introduction to Screen Capturing
This is our renewed screencast resource. We discuss software, techniques and technologies and offer suggestions and tutorials to create the best onscreen demonstrations. We also have a useful resource directory that hopefully may direct you towards the best screencast stuff online.
#34769
Regular Expressions Cheat Sheet
This PDF is not a guide to any specific language, and so would be great for developers who do not code in any specific language (or who code in more than one language).
Added Bytes (2007). Resources>Documentation>Programming>Regular Expressions
#34791
Defining Quality for Documentation Practices
Defining quality means developing expectations or standards of quality. Standards can be developed for inputs, processes, or outcomes; they can be clinical or administrative. Unfortunately when it comes to documentation, many companies only focus on the standards related to time and accuracy. Quality standards should be in place for all aspect of the documentation development pathway—moving from planning, to authoring, to reviewing.
Cuppan, Gregory. Brainery.net (2009). Resources>Business Communication>Documentation>Standards
