#18558
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
#10705
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
#18543
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
#27884
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
#31007
Indezine has evolved as a platform for PowerPoint presentations, presentation software, image editing and clip media.
Bajaj, Geetesh. Indezine. Resources>Presentations>Software>Blogs
#22530
#27554
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
#28736
Inserting Special Characters in FrameMaker 
In Adobe FrameMaker, it is necessary to use special keyboard combinations to insert special typographic characters in your work. You can find an extensive list of special characters in FrameMaker's online help. You also can paste in special characters from Word or HTML.
EDITsphere (2007). Articles>Document Design>Software>Adobe FrameMaker
#22112
Inside "Skip Intro": An Author Interview
Flash has been in the news quite a bit these days, partly because of the current release and partly because of the ongoing fallout over the Jakob Nielsen article (Flash: 99% Bad). Even Macromedia has gotten into the act, working with Nielsen to improve the face of Flash and the challenge of usability. 'What Nielsen said, apart from the sensationalistic nature of the headline, was bang-on,' said Duncan McAlester, co-author of ‘Skip Intro.’ 'Flash, for the most part, had been used in a very poor manner up until that time (and still is in many cases).'
Segal, Nathan. Streaming Media World (2002). Design>Web Design>Software>Flash
#20037
Inside Indexing with RoboHelp HTML 
RoboHelp HTML, from eHelp Corporation, is a powerful software tool for creating online Help systems. Included within RoboHelp HTML is the ability to develop indexes for online Help projects.
Smith, Suzanne. STC Indexing SIG. Resources>Indexing>Software>Adobe RoboHelp
#20502
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
#20186
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
#18488
International technologies describes a collection of Macintosh technologies and resources developers can use to internationalize or localize their applications. Internationalization is the process of readying your software to handle different text systems and locale-specific features. Localization is the process of translating an application's text elements, and adjusting the user interface for a specific language or region.
Apple Inc. (2002). Resources>Language>Localization>Software
#23484
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
#21985
Introduction to Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is hands down, the most popular program for creating and modifying images for the Web. This is true not only because Photoshop is available on a wide array of platforms ranging from Mac to Windows to UNIX, but because after four generations of development, Adobe Photoshop has the most intuitive user interface, the most complete set of tools, and the largest number of reference books around.
#18490
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.
#14160
Introduction to Digital Painting
Believe it or not, Adobe Photoshop can be used for more than just photo editing and design. Yes, despite its name, Photoshop is one of the ever-expanding range of tools available for digital painters, illustrators, and just plain doodlers. These tools are allowing people incredible freedom to express themselves and create fun pictures. Imagine reliving your childhood days of drawing and scribbling, without ever having to worry about making a mess, or running out of supplies. Best of all, digital art is much more forgiving when you make mistakes. No other medium would let you erase 1000 times, without harming your canvas one bit. At the other end of the spectrum, Photoshop can be used to create professional, print-quality illustrations with great efficiency. Here's a general introduction to the world of digital painting.
Priest, Jeff. Design, Typography and Graphics (2002). Design>Graphic Design>Software>Adobe Photoshop
#14714
An Introduction to Illustration Software
Follas describes the differences between various types of graphic editing software.
Follas, Brian J. Intercom (2001). Design>Graphic Design>Software
#22322
This beginner's tutorial explains the concept of layers in Photoshop. Layers are a very powerful tool for image editing, and are a fundamental tool in Photoshop for creating complex images.
Elated (2002). Design>Graphic Design>Software>Adobe Photoshop
#15148
Discusses how to prepare a PowerPoint slide show.
Nielan, Cate. Intercom (2001). Articles>Presentations>Software>Microsoft PowerPoint
#13645
This page provides links to files that people have provided to me to host for downloading. I am looking for files to add to this section, for example, collections of useful macros, templates, or useful utilities. Please email me if you have something you would like to see published here.
#29793
What do customers want from our software and documentation? They want to accomplish tasks, and to obtain information about tasks, as quickly and painlessly as possible. Do they also expect to be entertained along the way? No, not when there is work to be done. Years of usability analysis in the software industry indicates very clearly that clarity and ease-of-use is topmost on the minds of software users.
Kocher, Sue. Carolina Communique (2007). Articles>User Interface>Software>Usability
#19318
Amongst Internet developers, Macromedia Flash is certainly something of a hot potato. On the one hand, many designers see Flash as a powerful multimedia tool that encourages originality and dynamism on the otherwise 'static' web. Proponents of usability, on the other hand, have argued that the presence of Flash on a website is a 'usability disease', '99% bad' and have even branded it as 'evil'. They ask the obvious question: why do the biggest, most well known and profitable websites in the world decide against using Flash? However, the reality is that although Flash presents many usability issues, it is not inherently unusable. It can be used to create usable websites - but this requires designers to follow strict implementation guidelines.
Gaine, Frank. Frontend Infocentre (2000). Design>Multimedia>Software>Flash
#23854
How many times has a vendor’s help desk operator told you that the solution to a problem is either an upgrade or a patch? Those of us in the IT industry are familiar with this reply because that’s the advice our own helpdesk operators tell our customers. If corporate profits depend on improving product design, and selling upgrades, there is no profit in supporting old software and creating patches. The profit is in selling new and improved products. Some questions you need to consider before buying a software upgrade.
Dick, David J. Usability Interface (2004). Articles>Management>Software
#27155
Is Open Source is Killing the Lone Coder?
It is probably more true that open source is helping the lone coder find a niche or their own market share. There are plenty of them and more are appearing everyday. With potential clients looking for specialists in content management software like Drupal, Joomla, Mambo, Typo3 and a gang of newcomers finding a niche is becoming increasingly easier.
Hiveminds (2005). Articles>Collaboration>Software>Open Source
