Microsoft Windows is a series of software operating systems and graphical user interfaces produced by Microsoft. Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal computer market, particularly in the field of technical writing, although in recent years it has come to be challenged more by Mac OS and Linux.
#18993
A glossary of Microsoft terms for Arabic localization.
#18260
This online column is devoted entirely to internationalization and all of its related issues. Dr. International's focus is in the area of his actual work, the Windows International group (responsible for the global support in products such as Windows 2000 and Windows XP, but anything international that is related to Microsoft products can be fair game here!
#26363
Describes an alternative to automatic page refresh in HTML. Automatic page refresh can confuse users with cognitive disabilities when a page reloads without the user's request. This article provides you with instructions on how to apply explicit manual control of page refreshing.
Microsoft (2003). Design>Accessibility>Web Design
#25968
Describes an alternative to automatic page refresh in HTML. Automatic page refresh can confuse users with cognitive disabilities when a page reloads without the user's request. This article provides you with instructions on how to apply explicit manual control of page refreshing.
Microsoft (2003). Design>Web Design>Accessibility>DHTML
#26189
Best Practices for Globalization and Localization
Dos and don'ts from pros! This article advises on technical, cultural and political issues of software localization.
Microsoft (2004). Articles>Language>Localization
#26037
Can Color-Blind Users See Your Site?
Information that will help you to create more readable Web sites.
Hess, Robert. Microsoft (2000). Design>Web Design>Accessibility>Color
#26364
Captions and Audio Descriptions for PC Multimedia
This article discusses the various types of captions, when to use captions, as well as the various types of audio descriptions.
Microsoft (2002). Articles>Multimedia>Documentation
#25969
Captions and Audio Descriptions for PC Multimedia
This article discusses the various types of captions, when to use captions, as well as the various types of audio descriptions.
Microsoft (2002). Design>Multimedia>Accessibility>Audio
#25973
Web authors gain unprecedented control over the look of documents with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). This section contains a list of articles that are available for CSS in Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Microsoft (2000). Design>Web Design>CSS
#20396
The purpose of the Character Design Standards is to state the general rules for character shapes in Latin based languages in digital fonts. Primarily defining the guidelines designers use for character alignments, both vertical and horizontal and how these relate to other similar characters or character groups.
Microsoft (1999). Design>Typography>Fonts>Online
#22502
Color Management and Windows: An Introduction 
An overview of Microsoft image color management technology.
#26365
This paper outlines the requirements for console accessibility in Microsoft Windows XP.
Microsoft (2001). Design>Accessibility>Software
#25970
This white paper is intended to show how the console Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) can be used to programmatically access information about the console and applications running under the console in Windows XP.
Microsoft (2001). Articles>User Interface>Accessibility>Microsoft Windows
#20491
Convince the Crowd With Presentations and Diagrams
Why just get by with a boring presentation when you can create a dynamite Microsoft Office PowerPoint® presentation or a colorful Microsoft Office Visio® diagram? Get ready to impress the big boss or the new team with simple ideas that go a long way.
Microsoft. Articles>Presentations>Software>Microsoft PowerPoint
#25972
Create More Accessible UI with Dynamic Annotation
This article discusses dynamic annotation (DA), a feature that allows developers to improve the accessibility of their user interface.
Microsoft (2000). Design>User Interface>Accessibility
#26366
Creating Text Equivalents for Images
This article is for developers and content editors seeking to supplement the visual elements of a user interface with text equivalents. This article describes what text equivalents are, why they are required, how to create them, and the best approach to writing and editing them.
Microsoft (2002). Articles>Accessibility>Software
#25971
Creating Text Equivalents for Images
This article is for developers and content editors seeking to supplement the visual elements of a user interface with text equivalents. This article describes what text equivalents are, why they are required, how to create them, and the best approach to writing and editing them.
Microsoft (2002). Design>User Interface>Accessibility>Visual
#13785
The reference material accessed through the following links will help you to create compelling Dynamic HTML (DHTML) Web pages.
Microsoft (2002). Resources>Web Design>DHTML
#22635
A Disagreeably Facetious Type Glossary
For the amusement and edification of people beginning a love affair with fonts.
Microsoft (1998). Design>Typography
#14812
Examining World Wide Web Designs--Lessons from Pilot Studies
Since 1994, our faculty and graduate students have studied a variety of design issues critical to enhancing the effectiveness of World Wide Web (WWW) sites. Guided by earlier literature from such wide-ranging disciplines as information design, text legibility, hypertext, multimedia, interface design, human computer interaction, and communication science, we have completed five studies. Further, we developed a research protocol designed to enhance the effectiveness of WWW sites for education and information delivery. Our research protocol was guided by Berger and Chaffee's (1987) communication science orientation where communication science seeks to understand the production, processing, and effects of symbol and signal systems by developing testable theories, containing lawful generalizations, that explain phenomena associated with production, processing and effects.
Zimmerman, Donald E., Michel Muraski, Michael Palmquist, Emily Estes, Catherine McClintoch and Linda Bilsing. Microsoft (1996). Design>Web Design>Usability
#19142
Field Oriented Design Techniques: Case Studies and Organizing Dimensions 
An article of faith among members of the CHI community is that successful design stems from the synthesis of a profound understanding of users' work and the capabilities offered by technology.
Wixon, Dennis and Judith A. Ramey. Microsoft (1995). Design>User Centered Design>Methods
#26186
Formatting Issues (part of Globalization and Localization Issues)
This article addresses all formatting concerns related to software localization. It discusses country and regional differences in addresses, currency, dates, numerals, paper sizes, telephone numbers, time and units of measure. Very thorough!
Microsoft (2004). Articles>Language>Localization
#28311
Writers can increase the value of their documentation by visiting customers where the customers work and seeing what they are doing. It's easier to write targeted topics when you know what readers need. Ann Beebe, User Education manager for Visual Studio, gave me two examples of writers who went into the field and discovered how the customer's experience can be very different from the experience in the development team.
Miller, Harry. Microsoft (2006). Articles>Writing>Technical Writing>User Centered Design
#28303
Harry Miller's Technical Writing Blog
Podcasts about documentation, technical writing, and technical editing.
Miller, Harry. Microsoft. Resources>Writing>Technical Writing>Podcasting
#14213
Help! It's Not Just a Beatles Movie
Windows Help has steadily improved to the point where the Windows XP Help and Support Center provides nearly exhaustive answers to your queries. Here’s how the Help and Support Center works.
Crawford, Sharon. Microsoft (2001). Articles>Documentation>Help
