Authoring and Viewing Hybrid CD-ROMs  

Lanyi discusses technologies for authoring and viewing hybrid CD-ROMs. He defines hybrid CD-ROMs as standard CD-ROMs that integrate updates users periodically download from the Web. This combination of storage space and timeliness, Lanyi argues, makes hybrid CD-ROMs an effective means of delivering documentation to users.

Lanyi, Gabriel. Intercom (2000). Design>Multimedia>CD ROM

Automating Your Edits  

Suggests several uses of Microsoft Word's macro capabilities to help editors improve their speed and consistency. Macros, for example, are customized keystroke commands.

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

Avoiding Developer's Anguish  

Technical writers live in a state of anxiety. They are charged with creating a work within a specific time period, but they depend on the cooperation of subject-matter experts (SMEs) over whom they have no control.

McKelvey, Paul S. Intercom (2003). Careers>Writing>Collaboration>SMEs

Back to School: Convincing the Boss  

Becker discusses how to convince skeptical bosses that allowing technical communicators to enroll in continuing education classes will benefit the entire company.

Becker, Lynn A. Intercom (2000). Articles>Education

Be Productive When a Project Stalls    

With more and more companies adopting the Darwin Information Typing Architecture, Baril discusses how to choose a compatible content management system that also supports your company's processes.

Gutowski, Amanda and Lori L. Pennington. Intercom (2008). Articles>Project Management>Planning>Collaboration

The Benefits of Having a Mentor  

In the first article of a new section of Intercom devoted to students, Brown recounts her experience as a novice technical writer relying on a mentor for professional guidance.

Brown, Alison. Intercom (2001). Careers>Collaboration>Mentoring

Best of Show  

Highlights from the winners of STC's international technical art, technical publications, and online communication competitions.

Intercom (2003). Articles>TC

Best of Show -- Winners of STC's International Competitions  

Read about the Best of Show winners of the 2005•2006 competitions in international technical art, international online communication, and international technical publications. Also, meet the winner of the international student technical communication competition.

Intercom (2006). Articles>TC>Document Design>International

Best of the Best of the Best: Winners of STC's International Competitions  

This article profiles the winning entries in STC's international technical publications, technical art, online communication, and student technical communication competitions.

Intercom (2004). Articles>TC>Collaboration>STC

Best Practices for Developing Sales Proposals  

Help differentiate your company from the competition by using Schoenecker's suggestions to create effective sales proposals.

Schoenecker, Michelle M. Intercom (2004). Articles>Business Communication>Proposals

Beyond the Bleeding Edge Technical Sessions  

Perlin summarizes several presentations on new technologies given at STC's 49th Annual Conference in Nashville.

Perlin, Neil E. Intercom (2002). Articles>Technology>TC

Beyond the Buzzword: Single Sourcing  

Single sourcing, which has been a buzzword in technical communication for several years, is now emerging as a practical, efficient, and cost-effective method for creating multiple deliverables. You might want to consider single sourcing if you have some documentation projects that repeat, if not every one of your projects is a one-off, if you reuse some of your content, and if your budget planning includes more than just the very next project.

Brierley, Sean. Intercom (2002). Design>Content Management>Single Sourcing

Big Brother in the Boardroom  

The lives and antics of the housemates of the reality TV show Big Brother may have drawn our attention, but do we need to concern ourselves with the activities of a real Big Brother? Has George Orwell’s vision of electronic surveillance and mind control come true in the new millennium? Many people believe that Big Brother is alive and well and coming to a computer network near you. In fact, he could already be living with you in your office, watching your every move on the Internet. their rights by monitoring their employees: They need to ensure that their employees are not wasting time browsing adult Web sites, or sending and receiving personal e-mail. Hence the proliferation of sophisticated server software, which can perform all manner of filtering tasks automatically.

Archee, Raymond K. Intercom (2002). Careers>Workplace>Privacy

Biotechnology: Opportunities for Technical Communicators  

Tanrikulu describes the opportunities and professional requirements for technical communicators seeking employment in the biotechnology industry. The article includes a list of Web sites where readers can seek more information.

Tanrikulu, Marta. Intercom (2001). Careers>Scientific Communication>Biomedical

Branding Your Company  

Branding dates back to ancient times and can be an aspect of every field. Not only does branding provide clients with a sense of professionalism and reliability, it can also help define your company.

Frick, Elizabeth G. 'Bette'. Intercom (2008). Articles>Business Communication>Marketing

Breaking the Rules  

In our early writing years, many of us toiled under strict teachers who drilled the rules of English grammar into our collective consciousness. We sweated drops of blood on our pristine paper as we tried to craft perfect sentences for that much-desired 'A.' We prayed that we didn’t leave a word or clause misplaced or dangling for the teacher’s angry red pen to mark. Yet pick up a work of modern fiction, and you might notice that the writer has broken many of the rules that were drummed into our impressionable heads. These days, fiction often resembles the casual style of postmodern poetry, with sentence fragments and punctuation sprinkled about like seasoning. But in technical communication, we can’t be so casual. We must adhere to those rules of grammar our English teachers upheld— at least, for the most part.

Gallagher, Jolie A. Intercom (2002). Articles>Writing>Grammar>Technical Writing

Breaking the Sound Barrier  

I love my job but don’t feel the managers think it’s important, partly because of the noise. I also sometimes feel that I’m just an ISO requirement. I’ve also heard from techs that customers don’t look at the manuals; they just put them on a shelf. Any thoughts?

Alroy, Faye. Intercom (2003). Careers>Workplace>Writing>Technical Writing

Bridging the Gap: From Raw Usability Testing Data to Design Implementation  

Learn practical ways to influence members of your company’s product engineering group with usability testing data. Putting the authors’ tips into practice will help you improve the design of your company’s products.

Leritz-Higgins, Sarah E. and Catherine J. Yaspo. Intercom (2006). Articles>Usability>Information Design

A Brief History of STC  

Nielan summarizes fifty years of Society history and identifies key events that influenced the development of technical communication.

Nielan, Cate. Intercom (2003). Articles>TC>History

Bring on Rich Media    

Technical communicators must adapt to the changing dynamics presented by the addition of rich media in the technical documentation space. Discover some suggestions for how to do so.

Ortega, Dan. Intercom (2008). Articles>Documentation>Multimedia>Flash

Broaden Your Horizons: Enhance Your Image and Value  

Proposes ways that technical communicators can broaden their skill sets while improving their visibility and reputations within their organizations.

Russell, Karen Golden. Intercom (2004). Careers>Education>Continuing

Bug Reports: Your Road to Visibility  

Argues that technical writers have a professional duty to report defects in software and presents examples of software problems that require bug reports.

Leritz-Higgins, Sarah E. Intercom (2002). Articles>Writing>Editing

Buggy Whips, the Arch Deluxe, and Quality Improvement  

Sometimes quality is not enough to ensure success. Do you know who made the world’s finest buggy whips? Neither do I. Doubtless the manufacturer continuously improved its product to a fare-thee-well, but once the automobile became popular, the market for buggy whips (to say nothing of the market for buggies) evaporated, and there was nothing to be done for it.

Jong, Steven F. Intercom (2003). Careers>TC>Assessment

Building a More Effective Documentation Group  

Suggests ten ways that managers of technical communicators can make their departments more efficient, effective, and valuable to their companies.

Smith, Susan E. Intercom (2003). Careers>Management>Documentation

Building a PDF Book  

Wilson describes a process for PDF versions of papers manuals by converting Microsoft Word files with Adobe Acrobat.

Wilson, Dennis E. Intercom (2002). Design>Information Design>eBooks>Adobe Acrobat