Perils of DITA publishing, part 6: EPUB and Kindle
In which we jump through flaming hoops for EPUB and Kindle.
Opinion
Perils of DITA publishing, part 4: PDF acrobatics
In which we bend PDF publishing to our will. Eventually.
Webcast: To DITA or not to DITA
In this webcast recording, guests Alyssa Fox (NetIQ) and Toni Mantych (ADP) discuss their differing DITA implementation decisions.
Perils of DITA publishing, part 3: Indexing
In which we are boxed in by the limitations of DITA indexing support.
Perils of DITA publishing, part 2: Graphics
In which we build assorted graphics and develop style guidelines.
Perils of DITA publishing, part 1: Writing
In which we develop narrative content in a modular architecture.
The true cost of incumbency bias
When selecting authoring and publishing tools, there is an unfortunate human instinct to cling to the familiar. This ranges from a slight preference for the tool currently in use to “You will pry this software from my cold, dead hands.”
The convergence of information science and tech comm
Until I started working at Scriptorium, my educational and work background was in information and library science.
Design isn’t free
The mantra of XML is that you separate content from formatting. Authors do content; formatting happens later. During a panel discussion at last week’s (excellent)Â UA Europe conference, I realized that this is only half the story.
Cloudy with a chance of WOMBAT
For remote work, file management in the cloud is way easy. Other methods, not so much…
New to tech comm? Expect the unexpected
When I started at Scriptorium a year ago, I knew almost nothing about tech comm. I knew what technical content was, having used it many times, but I’d never really thought about how it was produced.
Breaking the batch habit
The batch publishing paradigm is deeply ingrained in technical communication, and breaking out of it is going to make the transition from desktop publishing to structured authoring look easy.
When perceptions bite tech comm’s backside
It can be a mightily sucktacular experience when you discover what other people think technical communicators do.
Even wireframes need real content
We all know that Lorem Ipsum is not your friend. But sometimes, even sample content fails.
Webcast: Ask the experts panel
In this interactive session, technical communication experts Sarah O’Keefe, Nicky Bleiel, and Tony Self give their opinions about important current topics in the industry.
Hug it out with your IT department: collaboration beyond content
The stereotypical technical writer working in isolation is an endangered species—if not already extinct.
Avoiding an extinction event
The elimination of the distribution monopoly for content is upending the publishing industry and technical communication specifically.
Intelligent Content conference thoughts
Palm Springs provides a spectacular setting for the Intelligent Content conference. But despite the beautiful scenery (and outside temperature!), conference-goers were more likely to be found in the chilly, windowless meeting rooms.
Webcast: The Changing Role of the Professional Technical Communicator: What’s Next?
In this webcast recording, Scott Abel, The Content Wrangler, and Val Swisher, CEO of Content Rules, host a lively discussion with technical communication industry professionals Jack Molisani and Sarah O’Keefe. The four discuss the impact of globalization, outsourcing, off-shoring, technological advances, and mobile devices on the technical communication landscape.
Webcast: Trends in technical communication, 2012
In this webcast recording, Sarah O’Keefe and guest presenter Char James-Tanny discuss tech comm trends for the upcoming year and beyond. Topics include use of the cloud, help authoring tool innovation, business value, adoption of standards, shift to mobile, and more.
“Trust me” isn’t a business plan
Knowing you can rely on someone is vital to professional relationships. But when it comes to proposing process change, the words “trust me” are never, ever enough.
Another peril in ebook publishing: Amazon KF8 compatibility
KF8. Nope, it’s not K2‘s long-lost mountain cousin. It’s Amazon’s new ebook format.
While dealing with this new format probably isn’t as daunting as scaling a 28,251Â ft. mountain, KF8 is providing a particularly bothersome challenge right out of the gate: it’s not compatible with any Kindle devices other than the Kindle Fire!
