Gone with the width: what’s the optimal length for a line of text?
When it comes to a line of text, how long is too long? And do the rules for text column width change when content is rendered on different devices?
Opinion
2012 tekom thoughts
Some thoughts on technical communication, content strategy, and the state of the industry at tekom/tcworld 2012.
Perils of DITA publishing, part 8: PDF Acrobatics, revisited
A few weeks ago, I described some of the issues we faced in producing a PDF of Content Strategy 101 from DITA sources. Time and space didn’t permit me to finish the list of changes out. Now I can.
Perils of DITA publishing, part 7: the displeasures of distributing ebooks
In which we uncover some unpleasant realities about distributing ebook editions.
Perils of DITA publishing, part 6: EPUB and Kindle
In which we jump through flaming hoops for EPUB and Kindle.
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.
Migration for the un(der)funded
Content migration from format A to format B is a challenge in the best of times. And then there are the worst of times, like the depressing situation in this message (published with permission from the author):
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) 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.
