#13053
Essential Resources for FrameMaker Users 
FrameMaker may be the current standard for technical publication, but that doesn't mean it's a perfect program. Many writers who've used FrameMaker find that it's complex and quirky, with a lot functionality hidden in its now somewhat dated interface. So where do you go when you need help? This article will give you some suggestions.
Soltys, Keith. TECHWR-L (2001). Articles>Document Design>Software>Adobe FrameMaker
#29126
Evaluating the Effect of Iconic Linkage on the Usability of Software User Guides 
This study investigates whether Iconic Linkage--the use of the identical wording to present the same information recurring in a text--can improve the usability of user guides. Iconic Linkage is a writing strategy that potentially allows users to work more quickly and effectively and which promotes better retention of information. The usefulness of Iconic Linkage was tested in a laboratory-based usability study that combined: 1) objective task-based evaluation; and 2) users' subjective evaluations of a software program used in recording parliamentary debates. A post-test survey designed to test subjects' retention of information contained in the user guides was also administered. The study shows that Iconic Linkage significantly improved usability of the user guide: in all tasks, subjects worked more effectively and made fewer mistakes; while in the three timed tasks, subjects completed the tasks much more quickly. Subjects also gave higher ratings for the software and their retention of information was noticeably improved.
Byrne, Jody. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2005). Articles>Documentation>Software>Usability
#21677
Extending an Existing Word Template
In certain situations, you might want to extend an existing Word template, and add on new styles. Rather than create a RFP template from scratch, we modify the existing one—retaining all the styles and formatting that we want—and adding new styles where required.
#10630
The EZSort tool helps interface designers organize information based on users' expectations using statistical cluster analysis. This tool includes two packages -- USort and EZCalc. The USort program can be used by card sort participants to sort virtual cards with a simple GUI interface, instead of using physical cards. It can also be used by study administrators to generate card list and enter existing card sort result from individual participants. Once individual card sort results are captured by the USort package, test administrators can use the EZCalc package to manage card sort data from multiple participants, and perform cluster analyses. EZCalc generates tree diagrams that allow direct adjustment of the cluster thresholds. The packages can be used in designing Web sites, program interfaces, and many other information design applications.
IBM (1999). Resources>Software>User Centered Design>Card Sorting
#18497
Facets of Software Localization
That information technology has revolutionized the translator's working environment is a fact so obvious that it no longer even bears mentioning. For the vast majority of translators and their clients, computers have long since replaced typewriters and reams of paper. Modems and e-mail have replaced manila envelopes, mass storage devices have replaced drawers full of folders, CD-ROMs supplement dictionaries and encyclopedias, and more recently the Internet and its resources more and more often save us a trip to the library, while various online communities have brought many translators out of their isolation. But information technology not only offers us tools. It is itself a field in which more and more translation work is actually executed. As in other fields, this is certainly true of marketing materials, packaging materials, advertising copy, and manuals. But in the case of information technology products, it is frequently the products themselves that need to be translated. Whenever a program or process displays a word or a phrase on the screen, this means potential work for one or many translators.
Dohler, Per N. SDL International. Articles>Language>Localization>Software
#22323
In this tutorial you'll learn how to use layer masks to create the effect of one image gradually fading into another.
Elated (2003). Design>Graphic Design>Software>Adobe Photoshop
#14684
Faster, Better, and Cheaper: The Software Development Life Cycle 
Block shows how a technical writer's involvement in each stage of software development can lead to higher quality software products.
Block, Barbara M. Intercom (2001). Design>User Centered Design>Software
#20830
Features for the Next Generation of Web Browsers
The future is not what it used to be, especially regarding WWW browsers. They used to come in two flavors: text and Mosaic, but now there is a profusion of choices. Netscape has shown that it is possible to dominate the Internet almost overnight, going from less than one percent to about 70% market share during the last two months of 1994. Such rapid changes may be a unique characteristic of the Internet since most other markets award more permanence and slower erosion of market share to their leaders. On the Internet, news and customer testimonials spread immediately world-wide and 'shelf space' is limited only by the vendor's server capacity and connection bandwidth (indeed, Netscape would probably have spread faster if only people could get through to their FTP site!).
Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (1995). Articles>Software>Hypertext>Web Browsers
#21864
There are plenty of things in life worth fearing, but frame-based layout isn't one of them. If you've been using PageMaker 6.5 but haven't explored frames yet, here's your chance to find out just how much fun you've been missing.
Kvern, Olav Martin. Adobe Magazine (1998). Design>Document Design>Software>Adobe PageMaker
#28506
A Few Good RSVP Tools: Online Registration Options for Free Events
When you're planning a free event, it's hard to justify paying a lot of money for online registration software--but email or Evite can be frustrating. Happily, other choices exist. We talked to seven nonprofit technology experts about useful and affordable (or free!) options for collecting RSVPs for free events.
IdealWare (2006). Articles>Project Management>Software
#10172
Finally: Progress in Internet Client Design
There has been no progress in client software for the last seven years: Mosaic defined the Web feature set in 1993, and since then there has only been more fancy page layouts, no better user interfaces. This sorry picture is finally changing. Several recent software products have introduced specialized applications with better user interfaces for special-purpose use. And there is even a new browser out with improved user control.
Nielsen, Jakob. Alertbox (2000). Articles>Usability>Software>Web Browsers
#27426
Shows how to find the exact center point of your Photoshop document.
Kloskowski, Matt. Planet Photoshop. Design>Graphic Design>Software>Adobe Photoshop
#27204
Finding and Replacing Characters Using Wildcards
Wildcards are like the blank pieces in Scrabble, or like the Jokers you can use in some card games to stand in for any card.
Mayor, Graham. Word MVP Site, The (2005). Articles>Word Processing>Software>Microsoft Word
#27203
Finding and Replacing Non-Printing Characters (such as Paragraph Marks) and Text Formatting
How to find text that has particular formatting and replace it with different text, but without changing the formatting.
Rado, Dave. Word MVP Site, The (2005). Articles>Word Processing>Software>Microsoft Word
#31727
Customer support costs account for as much as 60 percent of a high-tech company’s total costs. Documentation is the first line of support for most customers, and customers usually use documentation to find the answer to a problem they’re having. The inevitable result of poor or nonexistent documentation is that more people try calling the customer support lines for help.
Butow, Eric. Software Development Times (2006). Articles>Documentation>Software>Technical Writing
#21678
Five Steps to Update Word Templates
You can customize the templates that come with Word in a few easy steps. In this exercise, we will change the Memo template's font type and size.
#28030
Flare 5: Adding Advanced HTMLHelp Features
Flare current provides the majority of HTMLHelp settings, and does this in a much more flexible way that HTMLHelp workshop does. Particularly useful are the WYSIWYG help window size and potitioning. However, there are some advanced HTMLHelp settings (such as advanced help, or remembering the users last help settings) that are not currently available.
Tech Write Tips (2006). Articles>Documentation>Software>Madcap Flare
#24831
Flash Design: Does It Really Deliver What Is Promised?
Flash design? Is it all it's cracked up to be? In this article, we'll be confronting all the questions head on: What is Flash? What's good about it? What's bad about it? And, most importantly, what will it do for your online business?
Hatton, Jody. Flash DJS (2004). Design>Web Design>Software>Flash
#24832
This site is for Flash designers who want to skip the piss and vinegar of the so called 'usability' experts and get right to the solutions for your Flash usability problems. Named in response to Jakob Neilsen's influential 2000 article Flash: 99% Bad.
#27157
Macromedia Flash is spreading rapidly across the Internet and many web designers and developers believe Flash, as it is commonly called, is the future of Internet design. The use of Flash includes moving graphics, sounds, motion, and interactivity. These are great from a graphics standpoint although the areas most important to web surfers are content, speed and simple navigation. Of course, Flash has its benefits it has its drawbacks as well and an evaluation of both the pros and cons of Macromedia Flash will help you determine whether Flash is your website's friend or foe.
DevBay (2005). Design>Web Design>Software>Flash
#20014
The home for Rick Turoczy's Flash and Powerpoint tutorials.
#27234
Floating Objects in Word 2000 Table Cells are Vertically Aligned Wrongly
Whenever I insert a graphical object (picture, drawing object, etc.) into a Word 2000 table cell I lose the vertical formatting. The text is always aligned at the top of the cell, instead of being centered or at the bottom of the cell. Why, and what can I do about it?
Meister, Cindy. Word MVP Site, The (2002). Articles>Word Processing>Software>Microsoft Word
#22298
How you can combine layers and scripting to power up PDFs to deliver richer, more versatile content.
Wraight, Dave. PlanetPDF (2004). Design>Information Design>Software>Adobe Acrobat
#19998
Foolproof Your Files, Part 1: Proofing
After weeks or months of preparation, review, and production, it can be cathartic to package up a job and send it to the print shop. If files have been too quickly or carelessly assembled, however, sending that final disk to print means crossing your fingers and hoping that nothing goes wrong.
Lenihan, Amy. Editorial Eye, The (1999). Articles>Software>Prepress
#21835
In Part I, you got PDF forms to run and talk. Now you get to make them really smart.
Guthrie, Malcolm. Adobe Magazine (2000). Design>Document Design>Software>Adobe Acrobat
