Comments on: Free Doc Train Ticket ($899) for Your Response to a Question About Innovation http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/14/free-doc-train-ticket-899-for-the-best-response-to-a-question-about-innovation/ The Latest Trends in Technical Communication Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:45:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Emilio Luby http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/14/free-doc-train-ticket-899-for-the-best-response-to-a-question-about-innovation/comment-page-1/#comment-166598 Emilio Luby Sun, 24 Oct 2010 14:35:30 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/14/free-doc-train-ticket-899-for-the-best-response-to-a-question-about-innovation/#comment-166598 I have come to the conclusion that this article and supporting comments are very important to my interests. Overall, this is a good web site to find information on topics such as travel tips. Could someone here tell me where to locate more particular articles on this subject, please? Much appreciated! I have come to the conclusion that this article and supporting comments are very important to my interests. Overall, this is a good web site to find information on topics such as travel tips. Could someone here tell me where to locate more particular articles on this subject, please? Much appreciated!

]]> By: Tina Turner http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/14/free-doc-train-ticket-899-for-the-best-response-to-a-question-about-innovation/comment-page-1/#comment-133320 Tina Turner Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:05:16 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/14/free-doc-train-ticket-899-for-the-best-response-to-a-question-about-innovation/#comment-133320 Nice blog and nice contest. I am very sorry that i didn't read this at time because that ticket would made me very happy. I hope that this small contest will not be the last one and I hope that I will be here at time next time. Nice blog and nice contest. I am very sorry that i didn’t read this at time because that ticket would made me very happy. I hope that this small contest will not be the last one and I hope that I will be here at time next time.

]]> By: Dave http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/14/free-doc-train-ticket-899-for-the-best-response-to-a-question-about-innovation/comment-page-1/#comment-107065 Dave Wed, 20 Feb 2008 08:40:30 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/14/free-doc-train-ticket-899-for-the-best-response-to-a-question-about-innovation/#comment-107065 Definitely! Drop me an email to sync up on the exchange. Definitely!

Drop me an email to sync up on the exchange.

]]> By: Tom http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/14/free-doc-train-ticket-899-for-the-best-response-to-a-question-about-innovation/comment-page-1/#comment-106959 Tom Wed, 20 Feb 2008 03:18:17 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/14/free-doc-train-ticket-899-for-the-best-response-to-a-question-about-innovation/#comment-106959 I drew a random number (see <a href="http://idratherbewriting.com/jing/contest.swf" rel="nofollow">http://idratherbewriting.com/jing/contest.swf</a>). The winner is 1. That corresponds to Dave. Dave, do you want the ticket to Doc Train? I drew a random number (see http://idratherbewriting.com/jing/contest.swf).

The winner is 1. That corresponds to Dave.

Dave, do you want the ticket to Doc Train?

]]> By: Moshe Kruger http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/14/free-doc-train-ticket-899-for-the-best-response-to-a-question-about-innovation/comment-page-1/#comment-105336 Moshe Kruger Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:57:24 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/14/free-doc-train-ticket-899-for-the-best-response-to-a-question-about-innovation/#comment-105336 The most innovative thing I have done is successfully integrate automated documentation into the Help v2 .NET programming environment topics. The most innovative thing I have done is successfully integrate automated documentation into the Help v2 .NET programming environment topics.

]]> By: Craig Prichard http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/14/free-doc-train-ticket-899-for-the-best-response-to-a-question-about-innovation/comment-page-1/#comment-103831 Craig Prichard Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:46:22 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/14/free-doc-train-ticket-899-for-the-best-response-to-a-question-about-innovation/#comment-103831 The most innovative thing I have done recently was to multi-target the context-sensitive help (CSH) content of a Windows application to CHM (1 MB with all images removed)and WebHelp (30+ MB with all images in place) and integrate hyperlinks to MP3 "audiobytes" (2-3 minute audio segments explaining a procedure or concept), WMV streaming video (2-8 minute how-to videos), and supplemental documentation (white papers, marked-up images describing process flow, etc.). The CHM linked to the same portal-based content as the WebHelp but allowed the deployment to as small as possible. Every CHM topic linked to its WebHelp equivalent, allowing the user to see the missing images with bulleted hotspots and descriptions. The variety of content mediums allowed for various granularities of detail and aided the users (all of whom were new to the product because it was new in its industry) in learning the material as quickly as their preferred learning style (visual, auditory, or kinesthetic) allowed. Fun stuff. The most innovative thing I have done recently was to multi-target the context-sensitive help (CSH) content of a Windows application to CHM (1 MB with all images removed)and WebHelp (30+ MB with all images in place) and integrate hyperlinks to MP3 “audiobytes” (2-3 minute audio segments explaining a procedure or concept), WMV streaming video (2-8 minute how-to videos), and supplemental documentation (white papers, marked-up images describing process flow, etc.). The CHM linked to the same portal-based content as the WebHelp but allowed the deployment to as small as possible. Every CHM topic linked to its WebHelp equivalent, allowing the user to see the missing images with bulleted hotspots and descriptions. The variety of content mediums allowed for various granularities of detail and aided the users (all of whom were new to the product because it was new in its industry) in learning the material as quickly as their preferred learning style (visual, auditory, or kinesthetic) allowed. Fun stuff.

]]> By: Dave http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/14/free-doc-train-ticket-899-for-the-best-response-to-a-question-about-innovation/comment-page-1/#comment-103140 Dave Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:42:13 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/14/free-doc-train-ticket-899-for-the-best-response-to-a-question-about-innovation/#comment-103140 I work as a programmer writer (I write about code). One of the biggest problems that we faced when I started was that we never knew what the developers were adding or removing from the build, or when. In fact, very few of the developers actually knew what was happening to the build. I worked with another writer/developer to create a software application that would: - introspectively look at each DLL in a build to analyze what was 'in it'. (Very much like what Reflector does) - store this information in a database - compare the information against previous builds This allowed us to compare version to version what we had in any given build. Once we finished that, we realized that in the database was 90% of the content that appears in API documentation. (Name of a member, its return type, parameters, etc). So, we added: - the ability to associate documentation written in XML with every member in the database. - the ability to publish API documentation from the database in several formats. Adding this did the following: - sped up our production process for API docs (previously in frame or word) from hours to minutes - reduced the number of translatable words in that doc set by 90%, without reducing the content of the output - substantially reduced the time to author content (I have to write 90% less material, even though most of that was boilerplate) - allowed us to single source content for similar projects - allowed us to produce other formats (such as intellisense) in english and 8 other languages for essentially no cost I work as a programmer writer (I write about code). One of the biggest problems that we faced when I started was that we never knew what the developers were adding or removing from the build, or when. In fact, very few of the developers actually knew what was happening to the build.

I worked with another writer/developer to create a software application that would:
– introspectively look at each DLL in a build to analyze what was ‘in it’. (Very much like what Reflector does)
– store this information in a database
– compare the information against previous builds

This allowed us to compare version to version what we had in any given build. Once we finished that, we realized that in the database was 90% of the content that appears in API documentation. (Name of a member, its return type, parameters, etc). So, we added:

– the ability to associate documentation written in XML with every member in the database.
– the ability to publish API documentation from the database in several formats.

Adding this did the following:

– sped up our production process for API docs (previously in frame or word) from hours to minutes
– reduced the number of translatable words in that doc set by 90%, without reducing the content of the output
– substantially reduced the time to author content (I have to write 90% less material, even though most of that was boilerplate)
– allowed us to single source content for similar projects
– allowed us to produce other formats (such as intellisense) in english and 8 other languages for essentially no cost

]]> By: How to Write Better Posts, Every Time | Mighty Blogger http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/14/free-doc-train-ticket-899-for-the-best-response-to-a-question-about-innovation/comment-page-1/#comment-129614 How to Write Better Posts, Every Time | Mighty Blogger Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/14/free-doc-train-ticket-899-for-the-best-response-to-a-question-about-innovation/#comment-129614 <!--%kramer-pre%-->ConverStations: Spring Training: All-Stars in theA List Apart: Articles: They Shoot Browsers, Don'tWordPress 2.5 Revealed and Compared to Version 2.3.xDo I Really Write Lengthy Posts? | Ian FernandoLet’s Hear it for the Lowly Pun!Free Doc Train Ticket ($899) for the Best Response<!--%kramer-post%--> ConverStations: Spring Training: All-Stars in theA List Apart: Articles: They Shoot Browsers, Don’tWordPress 2.5 Revealed and Compared to Version 2.3.xDo I Really Write Lengthy Posts? | Ian FernandoLet’s Hear it for the Lowly Pun!Free Doc Train Ticket ($899) for the Best Response

]]> By: The Winners of The Affiliate Summit Tickets | Mighty Blogger http://idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/14/free-doc-train-ticket-899-for-the-best-response-to-a-question-about-innovation/comment-page-1/#comment-129615 The Winners of The Affiliate Summit Tickets | Mighty Blogger Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2008/02/14/free-doc-train-ticket-899-for-the-best-response-to-a-question-about-innovation/#comment-129615 <!--%kramer-pre%-->Monthly Stories Do I Really Write Lengthy Posts? | Ian FernandoLet’s Hear it for the Lowly Pun!Free Doc Train Ticket ($899) for the Best Response<!--%kramer-post%--> Monthly Stories Do I Really Write Lengthy Posts? | Ian FernandoLet’s Hear it for the Lowly Pun!Free Doc Train Ticket ($899) for the Best Response

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