atw: Re: Who is using XML for user documentation?

Some attempt to deal with your queries.

Good luck with it...

---- Original Message ----
From: hfinger@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Who is using XML for user documentation?
Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:57:12 +1100

>
>This is just a short survey to satisfy my curiosity as I am presently
>
>working on a project to (a) make some money perhaps and (b) learn the
>
>DITA system more thoroughly.  Who knows, perhaps someone wavering on 
>a decision to go to XML might find it comforting to know that They 
>Are Not Alone.  (The underscores [_] mean "write your answer here".)
>
>Are you using XML for user documentation (Y/N)?  Not right now, but
was. 
>
>If so, why? Think DITA's the way to go, particularly for
translations etc.
>If not, why not? Current customer hasn't moved to it.
>
>Which schema/DTD system are you using:
>-- DocBook __
>-- DITA -- way to go. Used it at previous job .
>-- Another standard, either endorsed by a standards or industry body,
>
>or de facto (name it) __
>-- Inhouse developed __
>
>What XML editor are you using?
>-- Arbortext Author __
>-- XMetaL __
>-- <oXygen/> __
>-- Serna -- detects points of syntax errors and allows you to
correct, out of WYSIWYG mode -- but then to return to WYSIWYG. Also
way cheaper than most.
>-- XMLspy
>-- Other (name it) Hey FrameMaker 8 works mostly, as does 7.2 with
the DITA kit, and 
look up Scott's plugin tool for DITA at leximation.com
>
>What vector or pixmap (paint) application do you use for graphics in 
>your XML documents? Was still using SmartDraw, converting to png. 
>How do you do callouts to graphics? include them in within the
original 
>
>How are you styling the output to PDF -- XSL-FO (aaaaargh!) or
>CSS2.1/3? We had aaaargh! actually building automatically during a
nightly build direct from the XML sources (via XSLT naturally). But
then, that was a shop with 
XLST and FO expertise.
>
>
>What PDF generator are you using? Just read it all into FrameMaker
and use FrameMaker output via SaveAs PDF. Pagination only works
really when you can tweak it by hand. Frame 8's PDF has a bug or two
but there is at least one workaround. 
>
>What on-line help generator are you using? Were using ePublisher
(Webworks)
>
>What HTML pages generator are you using? See above.
>
>What version repository or content-management system are you using 
>(file system and file folders can be regarded as a "CMS")? We were
using CVS but the hierarchical file/folder system was starting even
in early stages to turn into a nightmare -- particularly when we
started some sensible re-use.  Clear that you need indexed database
for the XML as a sensible alternative.... Don't think files / folders
stuctures will do -- eventually they'll tangle to buggery.
>
>I will analyse the results into some sort of report but don't expect 
>standard deviations or advance statistical analysis.  Perhaps one day
>
>Howard might incorporate a version of this in his all-singing, 
>all-dancing survey!
>
>Regards,
>Hedley
>
>
>--
>Hedley Stewart Finger
>28 Regent Street   Camberwell VIC 3124   Australia
>Tel. +61 3 9809 1229   Mobile +61 412 461 558,
>E-mail <mailto:hfinger@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
>
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