http://tc.eserver.org/publisher/Klariti A listing of works published by Klariti in the field of technical communication. en-us Copyright (c) 2005-08 by the EServer. All rights reserved. tclib-editorial@eserver.org (TC Library Editorial Board) webmaster@eserver.org (Geoffrey Sauer) http://tc.eserver.org/images/newlogo.gif http://tc.eserver.org/dir/Klariti http://tc.eserver.org/31699.html http://tc.eserver.org/31699.html This page talks about technical writing and how to create technical documentation that is accurate, readable, and helpful to its target audience. http://tc.eserver.org/31655.html http://tc.eserver.org/31655.html Most professional writing jobs still require a college degree either in the liberal arts with a preference for Communications, Journalism, and English. Competition is expected to be less for lower paying, entry-level jobs. Writers who fail to gain better paying jobs usually can transfer readily to communications-related jobs in other occupations. http://tc.eserver.org/26753.html http://tc.eserver.org/26753.html Large documents often require several page number formats in the same document. In this article, we describe how to setup different page numbering formats. http://tc.eserver.org/26752.html http://tc.eserver.org/26752.html A macro is an action, or a set of actions, that automate tasks. Macros are recorded in the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) programming language. You can use the macro recorder to record a sequence of actions as a macro, or write VBA code in the Visual Basic Editor. http://tc.eserver.org/26751.html http://tc.eserver.org/26751.html Microsoft Word will 'lose' documents in certain situations. For example, it may lose a document if Word is forced to quit unexpectedly, if your computer has a power interruption while you're writing, or if you close the document without saving changes. In this article we explain different ways to recover these lost documents. http://tc.eserver.org/26746.html http://tc.eserver.org/26746.html Bloated file sizes are a real problem. No-one will deny this. But, in the course of creating some long documents in MS Word, I've learned a few small secrets. http://tc.eserver.org/26750.html http://tc.eserver.org/26750.html Word can be very unforgiving! Once a document becomes too unwieldy, it starts to stagger and then collapses, wiping out all the formatting in the process. In some cases, you can recover the raw text but, as a rule, the layout and presentation is destroyed. However, there are several ways that reduce the likelihood of this occurring. http://tc.eserver.org/26749.html http://tc.eserver.org/26749.html When you insert a graphic into your Word document, it increases the file size automatically as Word has to ‘store’ (i.e. duplicate) a rendering of the graphic in the document. To avoid this happening, you can reduce the file size by storing only the links to the graphics and not the actual graphic itself. http://tc.eserver.org/26748.html http://tc.eserver.org/26748.html 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? http://tc.eserver.org/26747.html http://tc.eserver.org/26747.html 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? http://tc.eserver.org/26722.html http://tc.eserver.org/26722.html An audience, whether it is one person or many, wants speakers to provide maximum relevant information, delivered in minimum time and in the clearest possible terms, centered on the needs and concerns of the audience. http://tc.eserver.org/26725.html http://tc.eserver.org/26725.html You have to stand out from the crowd. You have to sparkle. How do you do this? Simple. It all starts with The Big Idea. http://tc.eserver.org/26724.html http://tc.eserver.org/26724.html At some point in their careers, many writers may teach writing courses, either before a 'live' classroom audience or, these days, online. But how does a new teacher develop that first course proposal? What elements should go into it? http://tc.eserver.org/26720.html http://tc.eserver.org/26720.html This article takes a look at a methodology for developing and managing a Software User Assistance (UA) System, a way of doing things in a structured manner. It provides a complete walkthrough for managers responsible for designing, developing, and managing a software product’s user assistance system. The software’s UA system could comprise of both paper-based user manuals and online help systems. http://tc.eserver.org/26723.html http://tc.eserver.org/26723.html Connectors -- conjunctions, punctuation, and transitional phrases -- allow readers to process information promptly by creating balance and relationships between sentence parts. The connectors are performing the same work as verbs, objects, modifiers and multiple subjects. http://tc.eserver.org/26721.html http://tc.eserver.org/26721.html There is a raging debate over the relative importance of on-page search engine optimization and off-page optimization. This case study that offers presents some intriguing findings. http://tc.eserver.org/22742.html http://tc.eserver.org/22742.html When you open a new file in Word, the font is probably set to Times Roman size 12. It doesn’t have to be like this; maybe you’d prefer a more glamourous font! In this tutorial, we'll explain how to create a new Word template. http://tc.eserver.org/21676.html http://tc.eserver.org/21676.html In Microsoft Word, you can use menus and toolbars to control how you manage your documents. Menus display a list of commands. Most menus are located on the menu bar at the top of the Word window. Shortcut menus are available when you right-click text, objects, or other items. Toolbars can contain buttons with images, menus, or a combination of both. By default, the Standard and Formatting toolbars are docked side by side below the menu bar. You can also add a custom menu to your toolbar. http://tc.eserver.org/21675.html http://tc.eserver.org/21675.html The U.S. Dept. of Labor’s 'Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2002-03 Edition, Writers and Editors,' is recommended reading for those considering technical writing as a profession. Some of the main points highlighted in the handbook make interesting reading. http://tc.eserver.org/21680.html http://tc.eserver.org/21680.html For technical writers, a well-crafted index helps organise the writing process, in particular, when you get to the production stage. http://tc.eserver.org/21682.html http://tc.eserver.org/21682.html Deadwood phrases are found in all types of writing. In technical writing they are to be avoided at all costs as documentation needs to be crisp, concise and accurate. http://tc.eserver.org/21681.html http://tc.eserver.org/21681.html You need to anticipate the lifecycle of technical publications in advance so that all areas related to the final delivery are covered. These include issues such as costs, production, dissemination and archiving. http://tc.eserver.org/21677.html http://tc.eserver.org/21677.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/21678.html http://tc.eserver.org/21678.html 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. http://tc.eserver.org/21684.html http://tc.eserver.org/21684.html For many technical writing companies the issue of how to manage all the associated 'non-writing' costs can be a sensitive area. Do I charge for every email? Every phone call? Where do you draw the line? What do you charge for, besides the document you produced? http://tc.eserver.org/21679.html http://tc.eserver.org/21679.html So you think you know what a Template is? Well, what is it? http://tc.eserver.org/21674.html http://tc.eserver.org/21674.html The acceptance rate for many freelance writers is between 25% and 40%. In my own experience though, I’ve had an almost 75% acceptance rate. But, it hasn’t happened overnight. From trial and error, I’ve picked up a few tricks that seem to make all the difference. http://tc.eserver.org/21683.html http://tc.eserver.org/21683.html Have you ever wanted the word 'DRAFT' to appear as a light background on the pages of your printed documents? Microsoft refers to this use of words and images as 'watermarks.' http://tc.eserver.org/21686.html http://tc.eserver.org/21686.html Technical writers are midwives who deliver the message to users. Experienced technical writers enable you to understand complex technical concepts easily. Based on personal experience, technical writers always put the reader first. http://tc.eserver.org/21685.html http://tc.eserver.org/21685.html One of the keys to effective technical writing is to write, edit and re-write. Once you have completed the first draft, you will need to review it several times to identify errors and inconsistencies in the text. http://tc.eserver.org/21663.html http://tc.eserver.org/21663.html A specialist job opportunity newsletter for writers, copywriters, editors and content developers.