2003-05-09

MSHelpWiki

www.mshelpwiki.com demonstrates and explains a Wiki.
Basically it is a website that users can add to, alter or correct. Seems like a good idea, and yes it is moderated, so the work of people who make a mess can be rolled back.
The content of the site is everything you need to know about online documentation, help file authoring and the Microsoft file formats for this purpose. We have been contributing to it.

2003-04-23

Editing documents in MSWord?

Be sure to check the document properties, File => Properties

These can often show information that is not consistent with the content. If the information was borrowed/stolen from someone then it may also show the original author.

2003-03-05

Integrated development

We hold these things to be self evident:
Any manuals and online help (inc. those for software) should be created using an integrated development process.
The manual and the product it supports should be entirely consistent with each other. The content of the manual should be focussed on the functions of the product.
To do this the documentation must start with the functional specifications and be developed alongside the product.

2002-03-01

Document conversion problems in HDK

To find the error, (use a copy of the document) make it into two documents and see which half crashes.
Remember to put a Heading 1 at the start of the second half.

Reboot and then split that document in half until you find the problem. Also watch the compile process for clues on which topic has the problem.

Once you find the topic with the problem, go to the original document and copy the text to Notepad then back. This will clean up the code. If what you find is a table, select the table and convert it to text then back again to clean up the table.

Sometimes the problem is with an imbedded graphic, normalise the graphic in some way and then reinsert it.

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