http://tc.eserver.org/publisher/TechRepublic A listing of works published by TechRepublic 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/TechRepublic http://tc.eserver.org/33430.html http://tc.eserver.org/33430.html Persuasive design techniques focus on "getting the lead" or "closing the sale". Here are some techniques to help you do just that. http://tc.eserver.org/32513.html http://tc.eserver.org/32513.html Poor performers can drag down your whole team. Business and leadership coach John McKee shares some strategies for determining the underlying issues and turning those underachievers around. http://tc.eserver.org/32038.html http://tc.eserver.org/32038.html Help desks often follow written scripts based on how an application should work, but what if the user is faced with something out of the ordinary, and it’s something not written in the script? Software might not always behave as it’s supposed to; did a technical writer somewhere have to form a logical conclusion that might not have been correct? http://tc.eserver.org/29380.html http://tc.eserver.org/29380.html PowerPoint is the jacks-or-better of the corporate world--you've got to have it in order to stay in the game. Just try giving a seminar without PowerPoint or showing up at a meeting with, gasp, paper handouts. I live in mortal fear that my eulogy will be delivered as a broken PowerPoint stack. http://tc.eserver.org/29381.html http://tc.eserver.org/29381.html In order to be successful, you must master the persuasion process, which will enable you to deliberately create the attitude change and subsequent actions necessary for persuading others to your way of thinking. In other words, you have to be able to 'sell' your ideas in order to make changes in your favor and, in a win-win situation, provide the other side with a fair deal. http://tc.eserver.org/29382.html http://tc.eserver.org/29382.html These days, we tend to communicate via the keyboard as much as we do verbally. In general, we can slip up in a verbal conversation and get away with it. A colleague may be thinking, Did she just say 'irregardless'?, but the words flow on, and our worst transgressions are carried away and, with luck, forgotten. That's not the case with written communications. When we commit a grammatical crime in e-mails, discussion posts, reports, memos, and other professional documents, there's no going back. Catching typos is easy (although not everyone does it). It's the other stuff -- correctly spelled but incorrectly wielded -- that sneaks through and makes us look stupid. Here's a quick review of some of the big ones. http://tc.eserver.org/29383.html http://tc.eserver.org/29383.html Buried within Word are lots of cool tricks that not too many people have discovered. These are small things--shortcuts that, in some cases, may not look much more efficient than pulling down a menu and heading for the dialog box you need. But if you perform a certain task a thousand times a week, being able to bypass some steps or automatically slap a change into a document without having to stop and think about it can be a welcome convenience. The techniques included here include things like making vertical text selections, creating a shortcut to launch Word using a specified template, placing the Calculate command on a toolbar for quickly adding numbers, and duplicating text and objects with the mouse. http://tc.eserver.org/29368.html http://tc.eserver.org/29368.html Developing in the .NET environment requires internal documentation changes. Learn how to adjust your documentation plan so that it encompasses additional elements, such as the needs of mobile users. http://tc.eserver.org/29374.html http://tc.eserver.org/29374.html As an IT support pro, you not only need to be able to diagnose computer problems, you also must be able to effectively communicate the problem to the user. Use these tips to develop your soft skills, become a star player, and move up the IT ladder. http://tc.eserver.org/29373.html http://tc.eserver.org/29373.html If you have ever been forced to deal with business types who have no technical know-how, then you know how these types can work against IT's progress. Here's how to improve your business/IT communication by concentrating on the strategic goals. http://tc.eserver.org/29367.html http://tc.eserver.org/29367.html Technical support relies heavily on users' abilities to perform tasks, and we're all more than familiar with the difficulty involved with assisting inexperienced computer users. Most widespread worms and viruses take hold and spread due to poorly maintained systems, commonly home systems found on broadband networks. http://tc.eserver.org/29371.html http://tc.eserver.org/29371.html Delivering project reports in radically different formats gave the client a bad impression of this consulting firm. Here's how the staff remedied the situation and learned from their mistake. http://tc.eserver.org/29366.html http://tc.eserver.org/29366.html Moving into management is tempting to many IT pros. But before jumping into a position you're not ready for, there are a few issues you need to examine. Review these five steps and decide if you're prepared to move successfully into management nirvana. http://tc.eserver.org/29365.html http://tc.eserver.org/29365.html It takes time and a strong focus to create a solid white paper, according to TechRepublic members who shared tips and insight about white paper creation. Find out what should be your first step and your last for a successful effort. http://tc.eserver.org/29363.html http://tc.eserver.org/29363.html It's tempting to fill your early days as an IT manager by focusing on problems in your comfort zone: the technical side. But to be effective, you'll have to learn to balance managing your team and attending to technical problems. http://tc.eserver.org/29369.html http://tc.eserver.org/29369.html Avoid looking too closely at the details when taking on a project. http://tc.eserver.org/29370.html http://tc.eserver.org/29370.html You may think that because you're an expert, it will be easy for you to write training materials for your low-level user base. But it can be tough to think like a beginner. Use these tips to create appropriate instructions for newbies. http://tc.eserver.org/29364.html http://tc.eserver.org/29364.html How do you explain highly technical designs in terms that nontechnical managers and executives--who typically have decision-making power over the budget--can understand and appreciate? Unless you know a technical writer who can translate for you, you're going to have to do it yourself. http://tc.eserver.org/29362.html http://tc.eserver.org/29362.html One sure-fire way to improve help desk morale and raise awareness of your technical support team is to write a help desk mission statement. Get some tips on what to include and find some samples of other mission statements. http://tc.eserver.org/29372.html http://tc.eserver.org/29372.html DHTML coders have had to overcome many obstacles to writing clean, portable code, including specific browser requirements. See how some straightforward coding tenets can help you sidestep such challenges. http://tc.eserver.org/29338.html http://tc.eserver.org/29338.html In this article, we outline how IT analysts can effectively make determinations about the value of process documentation, and in the process, transform a potential scourge into a possible blessing. http://tc.eserver.org/29337.html http://tc.eserver.org/29337.html For the techno-savvy TechRepublic member, writing in some form or fashion is an almost daily occurrence. But how effective is your communication? In this interview, author Barry Rosenberg shares his thoughts about the current state of technical writing skills. http://tc.eserver.org/29329.html http://tc.eserver.org/29329.html If you face a Web site redesign or need a head start on your development efforts, our free Dreamweaver MX XHTML and CSS2 template may come in handy. Download the template and see how XHTML and CSS2 can reduce coding time and increase site accessibility. http://tc.eserver.org/29336.html http://tc.eserver.org/29336.html Want to know the secret to better quality documentation and improved software design? Will Kelly outlines how the key is an effective relationship between project managers and technical writers. http://tc.eserver.org/29341.html http://tc.eserver.org/29341.html A CEO is enamored with technology but doesn't understand the issues involved in implementing his time- and money-hungry IT ideas. What would you do to solve this problem? http://tc.eserver.org/29340.html http://tc.eserver.org/29340.html Your resume could be hurting your chances of landing a new job. Columnist Jeff Davis shares some advice for making sure your resume is one that hiring managers will read. http://tc.eserver.org/29346.html http://tc.eserver.org/29346.html Traditional approaches to management won't work with knowledge workers, who are brilliant yet notoriously resistant to being managed. http://tc.eserver.org/29349.html http://tc.eserver.org/29349.html Not all documents require a full lifecycle, but if you understand the nature of building documents, you will be better able to plan for the time required to complete them successfully. http://tc.eserver.org/29348.html http://tc.eserver.org/29348.html You may not have the time to read or the money to burn on analysts' reports, but adopting a technical mentor can help you keep your skills fresh. Here are the pros and cons of making the move. http://tc.eserver.org/29327.html http://tc.eserver.org/29327.html As its name suggests, XHTML--which is considered the successor to HTML 4--is a combination of HTML and XML. By combining the power of XML and HTML, XHTML makes Web content more accessible to devices such as phones, handhelds, and televisions. XHTML 1.0 is broken up into what the W3C refers to as three flavors: Strict, Transitional, and Frameset. In this article, I focus on the two most useful, Strict and Transitional. http://tc.eserver.org/29332.html http://tc.eserver.org/29332.html This article offers tips for project and development managers hiring a technical writer to document a software development project. http://tc.eserver.org/29342.html http://tc.eserver.org/29342.html XML-based development projects often require the development of a Document Type Definition (DTD), which defines the XML code used in an XML document or application. Even if you are customizing an existing DTD like the DocBook DTD, documenting the DTD is a best practice for a number of reasons, including:Providing documentation http://tc.eserver.org/29347.html http://tc.eserver.org/29347.html What do you do about those intelligent and talented employees who are simply unable to finish anything? These are the people who are seemingly paralyzed by ambiguity and are incapable of moving forward until every possible question has been answered. Paul Glen has some advice. http://tc.eserver.org/29344.html http://tc.eserver.org/29344.html Users often become committed to certain versions and features of technology, making them leery when upgrades roll around. You can make the transition easier with these communication techniques. http://tc.eserver.org/29345.html http://tc.eserver.org/29345.html One of your most effective means to communicate with team members may not involve words. See why senior editor Matthew Osborn believes body language can say it all. http://tc.eserver.org/29343.html http://tc.eserver.org/29343.html Microsoft Word 2002's Handwriting Recognition feature allows you to use a pen and electronic tablet or a mouse to add a signature to your documents. Find out how you can start adding this feature to all your letters. http://tc.eserver.org/29339.html http://tc.eserver.org/29339.html Never assume that hiring managers don't look at cover letters, even when you apply for a job via e-mail. Use this outline to make sure you include the right information in your cover letter. http://tc.eserver.org/29328.html http://tc.eserver.org/29328.html XHTML is emerging as the content-authoring language for wireless development, so you'll need to have a strong grasp of XHTMLMod and XHTML Basic. See what you need to know about the changing wireless development landscape.