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Free PowerPoint Templates Packs
Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Labels: downloads

Full link 11:17 AM, , links to this post

Free 2007 Microsoft Office Add-in: Save as PDF or XPS

Labels: downloads

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Can't drag a slide from PowerPoint 2007 to Word 2007?

You may get an error message when you drag a slide from PowerPoint 2007 to Word 2007

As well as the slide not appearring in the Word 2007 document, you receive the following error message: Word has encountered a problem.

To get around this problem, follow these steps:

1. Open the PowerPoint 2007 presentation that contains the slide you want to use in Word 2007.

2. In the Slide pane, locate the slide that you want to use.

3. Right-click the slide, and then click Publish Slides.

4. Click Browse, locate a folder to which you want to publish the slide, and then click Select.

5. Click Publish.

6. Exit PowerPoint.

Next, open the folder where you saved the one-slide presentation in step 5.

7. Open the Word 2007 document into which you want to insert the slide.

8. Locate the page on which you want the slide to appear.

9. Drag the one-slide presentation from the folder that contains the one-slide presentation to the page.

Labels: error messages

Full link 9:56 AM, , links to this post

Added technocrati Code
Sunday, November 26, 2006

Added code to setup account.

Technorati Profile

Full link 9:45 AM, , links to this post

Who can be a Technical Writer?
Saturday, November 25, 2006

Punita Jasrotia offers advice for anyone considering tech writing as a career.

Salary expectations range from:

"A technical writer today can start with an average salary of about Rs 10,000-14,000 and earn up to Rs 35,000 in 2-3 years. An individual can start at the entry level as a technical communicator, to become a senior technical communicator (2-3 years experience), a writers’ team leader (with 5 years of experience) and move on to become the director of technical communications (10 plus years of experience). "

Key skills include:

* Better scope for a science graduate with a one-year computer diploma course.
* A postgraduate degree/diploma in English literature, journalism, science or Electronics/Computers with a background in creative writing.
* Knowledge of DTP tools, development tools (RoboHelp) and web tools (HTML and XML coding is a definite advantage for an online environment.
* Basic knowledge of computer hardware, operating systems, software applications and programming languages is an added advantage. Familiarity with Windows and applications running in the Windows environment is a MUST.

http://www.expressitpeople.com/20020805/cover.shtml

Labels: india, jobs

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Tech Docs Resources

• Technical Documentation


• User Manuals


• Computer Based Manuals


• Online Help

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Get feedback to improve your technical writing

John West asks how do you know whether you are writing well?

"There’s only one test that really matters: when your audience understands your information and is moved to act in accordance with your goals. But how will you know when this happens? The odds are pretty good that, early in your career anyway, you won’t have any automatic indicators. Sometimes you will be writing a decision paper, and your decision will be adopted as the company line, and this is a good self-test. But this won’t happen often; more often than not early in your career your writing will not be directly acted upon.

Usually you’re going to have to solicit feedback."

http://onlytraitofaleader.com/2006/10/03/how-to-improve-your-technical-writing-get-feedback/

Labels: tech writing

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Podcast re: Technical Writing in India — Sandeep Balakrishna

For Indian readers considering tech writing as a career, download this free podcast with Sandeep Balakrishna, a seasoned technical writer based in Bangalore, India.

"He has been a technical writer for 10 years, and has observed the explosive growth of technical writing in India. According to Google Trends, seven of the top ten cities where the term “technical writing” is searched is India. What does that mean? Is outsourcing growing or shrinking? What is the Indian perspective on technical writing?"

http://techwritervoices.com/2006/10/30/technical-writing-in-india-an-interview-with-sandeep-beepu-from-bangalore-india/

Labels: india, jobs

Full link 11:15 AM, , links to this post

Common errors in technical writing

Intrepid offier notes from a session of the Mumbai chapter of the Society for Technical Communication.

The first session was by Gurudutt Kamath, who is probably the most well-known figure in the tech writing community in India.

"My interest in attending the session arose cause someone I know was also speaking there, and also because a lot of the work that we do involves a significant amount of technical writing. So while, we may not be professional technical writers, consulting does require us to have excellent written communication skills."

http://everydayentrepreneurs.blogspot.com/2006/10/common-errors-in-technical-writing.html

Labels: india

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Technical writing: the new black gold of India

The Economic Times reports that India's attention is focussed on its earnings from software, but the actual black gold may now come from technical writing and not just codes. The newspaper estimates that there may be 5000 technical writers in India today.

Rahul Prabhakar, who runs a network called the Technical Writers of India (TWI) says: "There are 2,000 of us on the TWI network alone."

The leading indian publication quotes a "recent survey by TWIN found that about two-thirds of Indian technical writers were engaged in some form of writing before switching to technical writing. Most of these technical writers were in journalism, copywriting or research-oriented writing.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2221687.cms

Labels: india

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Adobe kuler Released - Free Download

This month's release from Adobe Labs is kuler, the first creative, hosted web application designed both to stand alone and to complement Adobe Creative Suite 2 components.

Created with Macromedia Flash and ActionScript 3.0, kuler is all about color: color for exploration, inspiration, experimentation and sharing.
What is Kuler?

kuler is a hosted web application from Adobe Labs designed both to stand alone and to complement Adobe® Creative Suite® 2 components.

What can you do with kuler?
Search, create, share and exchange color themes online. Download kuler color themes as an Adobe Swatch Exchange (.ASE) file for use in Creative Suite 2 components, as well as in individual versions of Adobe Illustrator® CS2, InDesign® CS2, Photoshop® CS2, and GoLive® CS2.

Cost?
kuler is being released free of charge as a technology preview to give you the chance to check it out and take it for a test spin.

http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/kuler/

Labels: adobe

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Electronic Forms in Office 2007
Friday, November 24, 2006

Those of you involved in developing electronic forms, should take a look at this article from James Morgan.

"The 2007 release streamlines data collection through integration between InfoPath 2007 and the core applications. Electronic forms can be presented as standalone forms in the InfoPath 2007 client or in the browser, imported into Groove 2007 workspaces, embedded in Document Information Panels and Task Panes, or embedded in Outlook 2007 e-mail messages so colleagues can complete forms without leaving the familiar Outlook environment."

Key features are listed at:

http://jamorgan.wordpress.com/2006/11/20/support-for-electronic-forms-in-office-2007/

Labels: tech writing tools, vista

Full link 10:17 AM, , links to this post

Andre Da Costa on Office 2007

• Installation: 95%
• Ease Of Use: 85%
• Features: 93%
• Improvements: 95%
• Design: 94%
• Options: 95%
• Help/Documentation: 90%
• Price: 85%
• Overall: 91.5%

Labels: tech writing tools, vista, web writing

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Office 2007 may be Microsoft's Titanic

The Australian publication IT Wire has an interesting angle on the new Office release.

Dr Steve Hodgkinson, the recently departed Deputy CIO for the Victorian State Government, believes that Office 2007 could well be a disaster that Microsoft has created for itself.

"The new version Microsoft Office... is headed for a giant obstacle with major sites in both the public and private sector. Cost of product upgrade aside, Dr Hodgkinson believes the migration will be a hard sell.

"The migration effort, including training, has created an obstacle for them," says Dr Hodgkinson. "Microsoft will have to work really hard to make the migration path as trouble free as possible."

http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/7234/53/

Labels: tech writing tools, vista

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Screencast Tutorials

Labels: tech writing tools

Full link 9:39 AM, , links to this post

Screencast Tutorials

Techsmith (the people who make SnagIt) have launched a website focussed on their new screencasting tool. It's worth a look if you're interested in web content development and/or technical documentation.

• Screencast.com is targetted at professionals who want to share multimedia content online.
  

• Screencast.com does not resize your video! You retain the original quality of content.
  

• You keep the rights to your content, and you can decide who views it.

• Use RSS and iTunes options to automatically deliver content to customers desktops.
  

Screencast.com offers hosting plans ranging from 25-100 GB of storage space and bandwidth limits from 1 GB - 100 GB.

See: http://www.screencast.com/ and here for some excellent tutorials.

Labels: screencasting

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FAQs about the Office Activation Wizard and reduced-functionality mode in 2007 Office
Tuesday, November 21, 2006

For those who want to know more about the Microsoft Office Activation Wizard, please take a look at this FAQ on the MS support site.

"The 2007 Microsoft Office suites include an Activation Wizard. To fully use a retail version of a 2007 Office suite or program, you must activate it. If you do not activate the product after you install it, the 2007 Office programs can be started only in reduced-functionality mode. In reduced-functionality mode, 2007 Office programs function more like viewers.

In other words, you cannot save modifications to documents or create new documents. Additional functionality may be reduced. No existing 2007 Office files are damaged when a product runs in reduced-functionality mode."

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927921

Labels: vista

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Reduced functionality mode in Office 2007

Todd Bishop discusses some v interesting differences between Office 2007 and previous versions, in particular the reduced mode options.

"The reduced functionality mode in the 2007 Office programs differs from Windows Vista by applying only to the initial retail product activation process. Windows Vista goes further by reducing functionality if the software doesn't pass an additional "validation" process. Not passing that extra validation step in Office prevents access to downloads and add-ons but doesn't reduce the software's basic functionality."

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/108905.asp

Labels: vista

Full link 11:38 AM, , links to this post

Help, Now i have to create online help for..

1. Login Screens
2. Transaction details.
3. Creating reports

There are several types of document requires here.

I've selected three articles (some are for newbies while others are more advance) that are worth printing out and reading carefully.

Login Screen - instructions for the user to login and outWeb Writing: Create Writing Flow With

Four Uncommon Connectors from Catherine Franz is well-woth reading.

"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://www.klariti.com/technical-writing/Web-Writing-Create-Writing-Flow-With-Four--Uncommon-Connectors.SHTML

Transaction detail - I assume this shows the result of the financial transactions. My question is what do you need to capture here?

Successful Documentation Projects – Part 1, 2 and 3By Glenn Murray

The creation of user documentation is a big component of any software project. Unfortunately, it’s often undervalued and left to the last minute. But that doesn’t mean it should be without a good management plan. This is the first in a series of three articles outlining the key elements of a good user documentation process. [Read More]

http://www.klariti.com/technical-writing/Successful-Documentation-Projects--1.shtml

Creating reports - are these for executives or end users?

Jane Watson's The Recipe for Good Reports highlights these points

Good writers take time to analyze their readers before they begin to write. They take into account the following details:

• the information the reader already has
• the information the reader needs to make a decision
• the technical information the reader understands
• the step you want the reader to take after reading your message
• the reader's reaction toward the message
• the sort of reports the reader likes to read

http://www.klariti.com/business-writing/Recipe-for-Good-Reports.shtml

Let me know what specific difficulties you're having and I'll try to help you out.

Ivan

Labels: newbie, online help, web writing

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I am a newbie and i need some tips

There are many things to consider here, especially if you are new to tech writing.

So, what I've done is highlight some of articles on the Klariti tech writing site that might help you. If you search for 'user guides' you'll also find other tutorials that may be of use.

How to write a User Guide
http://www.klariti.com/technical-writing/User-Guides-Tutorial.shtml

How to Improve User Guides

Technical writers make difficult subjects easier to understand and ensure that the guides assist the user with the task at hand.

Well-written documentation should be easy to:

• Read
• Understand
• Access

To do this, when you are writing you need to know:

Who is the target audience? What is their levels of proficiency? What special requirements are needed?. Where will the product be used?

http://www.klariti.com/technical-writing/How-to-Improve-User-Guides.shtml

Document Planning Checklist

Before starting a large documentation project, plan ahead so that all areas related to the final delivery are covered, such as costs, production, resources, dissemination, and archiving.

This page includes a checklist that outlines some areas to consider before starting your project.
http://www.klariti.com/technical-writing/Document-Planning-Checklist.shtml

If you have more specific questions, please post them here and we can all share what we know.

Ivan

Labels: newbie, tech writing

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WordProcessingML Transform Inference Tool
Friday, November 17, 2006

John Durant on MSDN announces the WordProcessingML Transform Inference Tool.

Why should you get excited about this?

"Say you have a bunch of XML files that get pumped out of system every day. You often have to do a lot of busy work to take the data, copy/paste it into a Word document and then do some formatting. It's tedious, but Word is the the best place for people in your organization to work with the information, collaborate around it, etc.

Obviously, WordProcessingML is great because you can run a transform agains the XML data files and get nicely formatted Word docs to send out to information consumers. But, what should the transform look like? How should you structure it? To be sure, there is no replacement for cracking open a good text on XSLT and getting up to speed on it, especially when you want to do advanced things."

Even for a non-technie like me that idea of how the "Inference Tool lets you create a "seed" document in Word where you load one of the raw XML data files into a doc and format it to your liking. You save the Word doc as an XML document marked up with WordProcessingML. Then, you run the tool against your saved file to produce the XSLT."

Download it at: http://blogs.msdn.com/johnrdurant/archive/2004/11/12/256756.aspx

Labels: xml

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Microsoft Office 2003 XML Reference Schemas Released

Lars Munch writes "On Monday the 17th November the xml schemas for the Word Document ML along with documentation, was uploaded to the Infostructurebase (ISB). With the Word Document ML specification anybody can generate, view and process Microsoft word documents on any format."

Legal terms are here: http://rep.oio.dk/Microsoft.com/officeschemas/LegalNotice.htm

It its own words "Permission to copy, display and distribute the contents of this document (the “Specification”), in any medium for any purpose without fee or royalty is hereby granted, provided that you include the following notice on ALL copies of the Specification, or portions thereof, that you make:"

http://rep.oio.dk/Microsoft.com/officeschemas/Welcome.htm

Labels: misc

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Error Message - Microsoft Word has encountered a problem and needs to close

You may get this error message "Microsoft Word has encountered a problem and needs to close" when you start Word 2002 or Word 2003.

This may occur if the global template (Normal.dot) is a Word document named Normal.dot.

To fix this;

1. Click Yes on the message that follows the error message: "Word has detected a problem with the existing normal.dot. Would you like to create a new normal.dot?"

2. After you do this, a new Normal.dot template file is created and Word starts as expected.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/286839/en-us?spid=2530&sid=global

Labels: error messages

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There is insufficient memory. Save the document now

MS have published an answer to this error message on their Knowledgebase.

First, select another Word template before you process the document, and then delete the original template that causes the error.

1. In Small Business Accounting, open the document that you want to process.

2. On the File menu, click Print.

3. Select the Word template option, and then click Templates.

4. In the Select Word Templates dialog box, click a template that differs from the template that causes the problem, and then click Select.

5. Click OK.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926385/en-us?spid=2488

Labels: error messages

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XML Browser to leverage Adobe Flash Platform

Labels: adobe

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Add Comments to WebPages with Fleck

• The basic Fleck service is free. But we will also be offering a PRO package for $2.99 a month that offers more functionality than the standard and free package.
  
• Fleck acts like a layer on the web. It doesn't change the actual code or design of a page.
  
• Fleck does not work well on Flash of IE websites? Flash movies overlap the Fleck interface.

Labels: web content, wordpress

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Technical Writers needed in Basel, Switzerland
Thursday, November 16, 2006

The French STC has a vacancy on behalf of Day Software (www.day.com), who want technical writers to create and maintain new and existing documentation for Communiqué and CRX software products.

Candidates must be native or near-native English speakers with strong backgrounds in both English and software technology (preferably enterprise content management).

Other requirements include: knowledge of Java and XML technology and applications, knowledge of the software development and documentation processes, and
creativity in information gathering and problem solving.

Send resume and cover letter to: ch.jobs@day.com

Labels: jobs

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How to Convert PDF files into Word

Labels: adobe

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Senior Technical Editor at Network Appliance

Role for Sr. Technical Editor in RTP, Pittsburgh, and Waltham (MA) coordinating with Publication groups in Sunnyvale, CA.

• Perform developmental edits and copy edits.
• Proofread software installation guides, release notes, web pages, and other product documentation.
• Learn department documentation development processes, how to apply structured writing principles to new material, how to use the FrameMaker templates, and how to apply NetApp's style guide to all documentation.

See www.netapp.com

Labels: jobs

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Does Helium Pay Good Rates?

Labels: jobs

Full link 12:17 PM, , links to this post

Where are all the tech writer jobs?

Doug Davis from ProEdit asks some interesting questions about the state of the tech writing industry, in particular, the demand for new writers.

"You sit in your favorite comfy chair and open the Sunday newspaper. The economy is steadily improving. Good. Unemployment rates are down. Nice. You’ve seen all the data. You’ve read the reports. So, where are all the jobs?"

http://www.stc.org/pubs/onlinePubs01.asp

Labels: jobs

Full link 12:13 PM, , links to this post

Demand for Business Writers increases

I've been tracking the number of hits on Google for Business Writers recently and noticed that the demand, or at least the number of hits, has increased in the past six months.





Right now, Nov 2006, Google shows the following hits:





Technical Writer - 2.34 million webpages
Business Writer - 1.6 million webpages
Proposal Writer - 1.25 million webpages

I'll keep an eye on this over XMAS and see if there is an increase over the holiday period.



Many IT companies have stopped hiring for 2006 but will restart in Jan. as new budgets are released to HR Depts.

Labels: google

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What kind to documents should i write for Java project?
Tuesday, November 14, 2006

I was recently asked

how to start documentating for a Banking solution which is been developed in Java on Open-Source platform. What kind to documents should i write for this project?

Now, there isn't much to go on here, so...

It depends on what the client actually wants.

Here's what I'd do:

1. Ask the person in charge which activities are most important, for example, installing the servers, updating the databases, teaching users and so on.

2. Once you have a list of the most essential activities, discuss with him/her what you believe are most necessary...

3. then you can write books that support these tasks,

Without knowing too much else about the project, I'd say that you need to produce:

• Admin Guides
• User Guides
• Release Notes
• Training Documents
• Installation Guides
  

If you let me know more abour the project, I can give you more concrete answers.

Labels: technical writing, writing

Full link 10:22 AM, , links to this post

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