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

Detailed reply forwarded separately. BTW if you come across a need to 
convert legacy FrameMaker documents to DITA, I have tools setup that
can handle it.  But then, you have to make the right decision and
go to DITA XML first :-) 

I was surprised how easy it was to get programmers to start drafting
doc material in DITA (most using the free XMLMind).  Eliminating the
presentation details (fonts, para indents etc etc ) seemed to appeal
to almost all -- although I'd been warned to expect resistance and
allow for retraining.  They took to it all v. quickly, even if they
had some reservations about XMLMind from time to time. 
 



>---- Original Message ----
>From: hfinger@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: RE: 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)?  __
>>
>>If so, why? __
>>If not, why not? __
>>
>>Which schema/DTD system are you using:
>>-- DocBook __
>>-- DITA __
>>-- 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 __
>>-- XMLspy
>>-- Other (name it) __
>>
>>What vector or pixmap (paint) application do you use for graphics in
>
>>your XML documents? __
>>How do you do callouts to graphics? __
>>
>>How are you styling the output to PDF -- XSL-FO (aaaaargh!) or
>CSS2.1/3? __
>>
>>
>>What PDF generator are you using? __
>>
>>What on-line help generator are you using? __
>>
>>What HTML pages generator are you using? __
>>
>>What version repository or content-management system are you using 
>>(file system and file folders can be regarded as a "CMS")? __
>>
>>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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