Merry Christmas Folks! Have a great holiday season and a terrific new year. :-)
Write to me: Suman[at]sumankumar[dot]com
Write to me: Suman[at]sumankumar[dot]com
Friday, 24 December 2004
Thursday, 23 December 2004
Folks, I know some of you were irritated by the fact that you had to login (if you're a Blogger user) or post as Anonymous while posting comments on this blog. I have done away with that. Now, anyone can post comments. No need to login to Blogger and stuff. Trust this improves the interaction here. I should have done it long time back (when Guy Haas suggested it) but I did not... Well, it is never too late. Give it a spin and offer feedback! And hey, Merry Christmas!
Write to me: Suman[at]sumankumar[dot]com
Write to me: Suman[at]sumankumar[dot]com
Monday, 20 December 2004
Thursday, 9 December 2004
- Firefox has an in-built popup blocker.
- Firefox saves your screenspace through its tabbed-browsing feature. Firefox allows for opening multiple sites using tabs (within
one instance), unlike IE that opens a separate instance of the browser everytime you open a new window. What it means is that you could be browsing 20 sites, but there is only one Firefox window. Very cool. - Firefox allows you to highlight your search results. When you are searching for a keyword on a webpage (ctrl+f) you can set Firefox to highlight the matches.
- FireFox Allows you to search dictionary.com (without having to visit dictionary.com).
- Firefox is RSS friendly. It auto-detects RSS feeds from any website and allows you to bookmark it as a 'live bookmark'. Refresh the bookmark to see what's latest (through a drop-down).
- Firefox allows you to select text from a web page using your keyboard! Yes, you can scroll through the page using the arrow keys. Hit F7 on your Firefox and check it out.
And, migrating to Firefox is a breeze. Firefox imports your existing settings from Internet Explorer. An import wizard will run when you first install Firefox (and is also available later through the File menu, File > Import), and it imports your Favorites, options, cookies, stored passwords, and a variety of other data. This saves you time customizing Firefox to fit your needs.
Also, the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT), a division of the Department of Homeland Security, recommends switching from IE to an alternative browser, thanks to certain severe security exploits in IE.
So, what are you waiting for? Download Firefox now!
Write to me: Suman[at]sumankumar[dot]com
Monday, 15 November 2004
In a world where accuracy is all important, a lot goes over the head of the dummy. I don't know if it's intellectual snobbery, but programmers and managers seem to think that if they understand it, so should the user. It doesn't matter whether or not they do… they SHOULD! Stupid users! Maybe it's the geek's ultimate revenge…
Your document can be 100% accurate, but if the audience can't read it, you've wasted your time.
Excerpt from Glenn Murray's article - Tech-writers – A Necessary Evil (via WebproNews)
I told you! Didn't I?
Sunday, 31 October 2004
Wipro Technologies is probably the first IT organization in India to embrace blogging. They have started http://wiproweblog.com. I was surprised when I found a link to their blog site on their home page. Very cool.
Saturday, 23 October 2004
Folks Madhu 'Madman' Menon is is featured in an article on career-switching in The Hindu..
When the great exodus to the IT industry started, just about everyone dropped what they were doing and flung themselves into the gold rush; some wanted to move to the USA, some wanted to make money, and some wanted both. From the early 90s to now, things have changed. Last year not many engineering entrants were interested in taking up IT as a branch of study. The honeymoon, sadly, is over. But amid this mileu a few individuals had the courage, initiative, and the brains to break into entrepreneurship. Madhu 'Madman' Menon is one of them. I am not surprised that The Hindu featured him in this article:
The Hindu Business Line : Doing business with relish
There's a lesson in it for each one of us. IT is not the only pasture. If only you applied your brains, you could hit upon a great idea. India needs entrepreneurs.
Madhu, make it two. ;-)
When the great exodus to the IT industry started, just about everyone dropped what they were doing and flung themselves into the gold rush; some wanted to move to the USA, some wanted to make money, and some wanted both. From the early 90s to now, things have changed. Last year not many engineering entrants were interested in taking up IT as a branch of study. The honeymoon, sadly, is over. But amid this mileu a few individuals had the courage, initiative, and the brains to break into entrepreneurship. Madhu 'Madman' Menon is one of them. I am not surprised that The Hindu featured him in this article:
The Hindu Business Line : Doing business with relish
There's a lesson in it for each one of us. IT is not the only pasture. If only you applied your brains, you could hit upon a great idea. India needs entrepreneurs.
Madhu, make it two. ;-)
Thursday, 7 October 2004
Today, many software product companies have a base in India. A huge pool of talent, low wages, and an English-speaking population made India a great outsourcing destination. In the past few years, technical writing too transitioned to India for the same aforementioned reasons. If you are a technical writer working in the onsite-offshore model, please tell me how your experience has been. What are the challenges that you face? Are you satisfied with the job content? Please participate in this informal survey. Offer your feedback through the comments link on this blog or write to me at suman (at) Sumankumar (dot) com.
I look forward to hearing from you. Do pass the word around!
Write to me: Suman[at]sumankumar[dot]com
I look forward to hearing from you. Do pass the word around!
Write to me: Suman[at]sumankumar[dot]com
Tuesday, 21 September 2004
Quite a few of us do not write the SI units correctly. If you are a Physics or Chemisty student, and still remember what you studied in school, you'll know the importance of getting your units and symbols right.
Links:
potsdam.edu
poynton.com
lamar.colostate.edu
Write to me: Suman[at]sumankumar[dot]com
Important in SI:
- The short forms for SI units (such as mm for millimeter) are called symbols, not abbreviations.
- SI symbols never end with a period unless they are the last word in a sentence.
- RIGHT: 20 mm, 10 kg
- WRONG: 20 mm., 10 kg.
- RIGHT: 20 mm, 10 kg
- SI symbols should be preceded by digits and a space must separate the digits from the symbol.
- RIGHT: It was 300 mm wide. The millimeter width was given.
- WRONG: It was 300mm wide. The mm width was given.
- RIGHT: It was 300 mm wide. The millimeter width was given.
- Symbols always are written in the singular form (even when more than one is meant).
- RIGHT: 1 mm, 500 mm, 1 kg, 36 kg
- WRONG: 500 mms, 36 kgs
- BUT: It is correct to pluralize written-out metric unit names: 25 kilograms, 250 milliliters
- RIGHT: 1 mm, 500 mm, 1 kg, 36 kg
- The symbol for a compound unit that is a quotient of two units is indicated by a solidus or by a negative exponent.
- RIGHT: km/h or km·h-1 (for kilometers per hour)
- WRONG: kmph or kph (do not use p as a symbol for "per".)
- BUT: It is correct to say or write "kilometers per hour".
- RIGHT: km/h or km·h-1 (for kilometers per hour)
- The meaning of an SI symbol can be changed if you substitute a capital letter for a lower case letter.
- RIGHT: mm (for millimeter, which means 1/1000 of a meter)
- WRONG: MM or Mm (M is the prefix for mega, which means one million; a megameter is a million meters)
- RIGHT: mm (for millimeter, which means 1/1000 of a meter)
Links:
potsdam.edu
poynton.com
lamar.colostate.edu
Write to me: Suman[at]sumankumar[dot]com
Wednesday, 15 September 2004
Lot of people ask me what I do for a living. When I say 'Tech writer.' they go, 'What's that?'. And I explain,
'What do you do when you are stuck with MS-Word or Excel?'
'Call the guy that sold me the computer?'
And I'd hide my exasperation and pain,
'No, I mean, it is 2 a.m. and you can't call anyone.'
'What's the big deal? I'll call the next morning, but hey,you haven't told me what you do as a tech writer man.'
And I'd resign saying, 'I write help. Like when you hit F1 on MS-Word, you know?' And my audience would groan, 'ohhhh! Never read that stuff.' A pause. And, 'Is that it?'
There. Do you see my misery?
My audience includes lay people, software engineers, undertakers, tea-tasters, musicians, and my dad. Phew. All you guys, read this:
Write to me: Suman[at]techwritersindia[dot]com
'What do you do when you are stuck with MS-Word or Excel?'
'Call the guy that sold me the computer?'
And I'd hide my exasperation and pain,
'No, I mean, it is 2 a.m. and you can't call anyone.'
'What's the big deal? I'll call the next morning, but hey,you haven't told me what you do as a tech writer man.'
And I'd resign saying, 'I write help. Like when you hit F1 on MS-Word, you know?' And my audience would groan, 'ohhhh! Never read that stuff.' A pause. And, 'Is that it?'
There. Do you see my misery?
My audience includes lay people, software engineers, undertakers, tea-tasters, musicians, and my dad. Phew. All you guys, read this:
God I hate writing help files. I'll never be able to be a technical writer. How do those people do it? There are actually technical writing sites that are devoted to the love of the profession. I seriously admire these people. It takes nothing but love and hard work to be good at this (much like C++..?). And all I'm trying to do is make a simple help file on The Regulator. Geez. You'd think I'd have done it by now, 4 days after starting, but no. I only have like one page and a basket full of chocolate wrappings(kidding... we're trying to have the least amount of chocolate available in the house, specifically for situations such as this). So. any suggestions? anyone else wants to help me write this thing? I promise a serious credit in the about :)(via rosherove)
To be honest, I've never had to do this before. Sure, I've written many technical documents, but documents that say “click this then you'lll see this so click that to get this” are simply ....ugh!
Write to me: Suman[at]techwritersindia[dot]com
Monday, 13 September 2004
Excerpt from LOUIS MENAND's review of Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation” (Gotham; $17.50), by Lynne Truss.
Write to me: Suman[at]techwritersindia[dot]com
"Does this mean that the written "voice" is never spontaneous and natural but always an artificial construction of language? This is not a proposition that most writers could accept. The act of writing is personal; it feels personal. The unfunny person who is a humorous writer does not think, of her work, "That’s not really me." Critics speak of "the persona," a device for compelling, in the interests of licensing the interpretative impulse, a divorce between author and text. But no one, or almost no one, writes "as a persona." People write as people, and if there were nothing personal about the result few human beings would try to manufacture it for a living. Composition is a troublesome, balky, sometimes sleep-depriving business. What makes it especially so is that the rate of production is beyond the writer’s control. You have to wait, and what you are waiting for is something inside you to come up with the words. That something, for writers, is the voice."
Write to me: Suman[at]techwritersindia[dot]com
Thursday, 26 August 2004
One of the guidelines is:
Read all the guidelines at AskOxford site
Write to me: Suman[at]techwritersindia[dot]com
Commandment: Test with a panel of typical users – Give the draft instructions, and any product associated with them, to a focus group of typical readers. Watch them trying to use the instructions. Observe any false moves they make. Discuss with them how they got on. Ask them about any misinterpretations. Redraft the instructions in the light of what you find.Ah!Usability testing of end-user documentation. How many of us do it?
Read all the guidelines at AskOxford site
Write to me: Suman[at]techwritersindia[dot]com
Wednesday, 25 August 2004
Questions and suggestions from users of The Gregg Reference Manual
Write to me: Suman[at]techwritersindia[dot]com
Write to me: Suman[at]techwritersindia[dot]com
Friday, 30 July 2004
Location: Bangalore
Corporate Headquarters: Redwood City, CA
Contact: Thao Diep, tdiep@informatica.com
Job Description
Responsibilities
Plan, develop, and write highly technical information (concept, task, and reference) that describes the functionality of our PowerAnalyzer and PowerCenter Connect products.
Maintain schedules for specific products and communicate documentation status to documentation manager.
Edit documentation for completeness, style, and accuracy to ensure it reflects Informatica's commitment to quality.
Mentor new writers.
Qualifications
Write to me: Suman[at]techwritersindia[dot]com
Corporate Headquarters: Redwood City, CA
Contact: Thao Diep, tdiep@informatica.com
Job Description
Responsible for writing documentation to support our PowerAnalyzer and PowerCenter Connect product lines. PowerAnalyzer is a business intelligence tool that helps decision makers access, analyze, and share enterprise data. PowerCenter Connect products enable integration to ERP systems such as SAP and PeopleSoft, CRM systems such as Siebel, and messaging systems such as IBM MQSeries. As a Senior Technical Writer at Informatica, you will be required to write new manuals and update existing ones. You will be responsible for delivering high-quality printed manuals, online help, release notes, and webzine articles on time.
Responsibilities
Plan, develop, and write highly technical information (concept, task, and reference) that describes the functionality of our PowerAnalyzer and PowerCenter Connect products.
Maintain schedules for specific products and communicate documentation status to documentation manager.
Edit documentation for completeness, style, and accuracy to ensure it reflects Informatica's commitment to quality.
Mentor new writers.
Qualifications
- 3+ years technical writing experience (software).
- BA/BS (English, Journalism, Linguistics, History, Computer Science).
- Experience writing about a BI tool (Microstrategy, Business Objects, Cognos).
- Working knowledge of business analytics (BS in Business or similar work experience).
- Working knowledge of data warehousing, dimensional modeling and star schemas, web portals, web servers, application servers, and wireless protocols.
- Familiarity with databases, Java, SQL, ERP software, CRM software, and XML.
- Experience with FrameMaker, Web Works Publisher, DreamWeaver, or HTML.
- Excellent analytical and written communication skills.
- Excellent leadership and project management skills.
- Ability to quickly learn technical information.
- Ability to meet deadlines and help others meet them.
- Ability to multitask, prioritize, and develop schedules.
Write to me: Suman[at]techwritersindia[dot]com
Wednesday, 28 July 2004
How many times have you paused and reflected, ‘man, I know I am right, but the style guide does not agree…’?
For example, some style guides proscribe the use of the possessivepronoun noun (earlier I had written 'pronoun'. Thanks Guy for pointing it out.) and demand that you elaborate: IP address of the Server as against Server’s IP address . In certain contexts I prefer the latter; for it is shorter and I am sure it won’t confuse the users. But the style guide does not agree.
I think that a style guide is by no means sacrosanct. It is around to help us, and not to put us in dilemmas. So, if you strongly believe that certain rules of the guide are rigid do share your opinion. A style guide evolves. It needs inputs from all concerned for it to become comprehensive, robust, and current. Do we need styled guides at all? Yes sir, product documentation needs to be consistent in terms of tone, style, and grammar. So, we need style guides. Also, when there is a team of writers working on the various modules of the product, a style guide helps in making the documentation coherent and consistent.
You thoughts?
Some style guides...
The American Psychological Association (APA) Style
Columbia guide to online writing
Lynch Guide
Write to me: Suman[at]techwritersindia[dot]com
For example, some style guides proscribe the use of the possessive
I think that a style guide is by no means sacrosanct. It is around to help us, and not to put us in dilemmas. So, if you strongly believe that certain rules of the guide are rigid do share your opinion. A style guide evolves. It needs inputs from all concerned for it to become comprehensive, robust, and current. Do we need styled guides at all? Yes sir, product documentation needs to be consistent in terms of tone, style, and grammar. So, we need style guides. Also, when there is a team of writers working on the various modules of the product, a style guide helps in making the documentation coherent and consistent.
You thoughts?
Some style guides...
The American Psychological Association (APA) Style
Columbia guide to online writing
Lynch Guide
Write to me: Suman[at]techwritersindia[dot]com
Monday, 19 July 2004
Wipro Pune is looking Technical Writers with three plus years of relevant experience.
If you
Send your updated resumes to suman@sumankumar.com
Job location: Pune
Number of vacancies: four
Rush your resume now!
Write to me: Suman[at]techwritersindia[dot]com
If you
- have worked on creation of user manuals, installation guides, FAQs, and glossary
- Possess an incisive perspective of the technical writing process
- Are well versed in publishing tools like Framemaker, Dreamweaver, MS-Office, and Webworks
Send your updated resumes to suman@sumankumar.com
Job location: Pune
Number of vacancies: four
Rush your resume now!
Write to me: Suman[at]techwritersindia[dot]com
Friday, 9 July 2004
Spectramind the BPO arm of Wipro is looking for Under Graduates/Graduates with Knowledge in Operating Systems, Email Support, Trouble shooting in Connectivity Problem, Windows 2000, XP, 9X.Microsoft Internet Explorer, Networking Management, Working knowledge of Microsoft® Windows NT® Server and Windows 2000 Server, Working Knowledge of Exchange or comparable e-mail system TCPIP, Hands on in Switches, Routers & LAN / WAN, DOS and PC technology and applications.
Rush your resume to one of the following e-mail ids based on your location preference.
New Mumbai - wsmcareersbelapur@wipro.com
Chennai - wsmcareerschennai@wipro.com
Delhi - wsmcareersdelhi@wipro.com
Powai - wsmcareerspowai@wipro.com
Pune - wsmcareerspune@wipro.com
Please refer my name (Sumankumar.R) and e-mail id [kumar.suman (at) wipro (dot) com]in your e-mail
Rush your resume to one of the following e-mail ids based on your location preference.
Rush your resumes to one of the following e-mail ids
New Mumbai - wsmcareersbelapur@wipro.com
Chennai - wsmcareerschennai@wipro.com
Delhi - wsmcareersdelhi@wipro.com
Powai - wsmcareerspowai@wipro.com
Pune - wsmcareerspune@wipro.com
Please refer my name (Sumankumar.R) and e-mail id [kumar.suman (at) wipro (dot) com]in your e-mail
Thursday, 8 July 2004
This morning my wife woke me up from my dreams of swimming with the Dolphins in Mauritius and hollered, 'get the gas stove working man!'. Groggy eyed, I went to the kitchen and unpacked the stove. The burners kept falling off and there were no instructions on the stove or the packaging about how to fit the burners and the knobs. That was the easiest part, you can bring your eyebrows down.
So, I pulled the new gas cylinder that weighed a ton. I had to fix a regulator to the cylinder. A closer look revealed a seal on the mouth of the cylinder. I glanced at my wife who was watching my progress. 'Pull the seal off honey!', she purred, as if it was something even Bush would have figured out. I mumbled an incoherent retort and started pulling the strong wire that bound the cylinder and the seal. I pulled hard. No luck, the damn thing wont budge. I squatted and peered on the walls of the cylinder to find some information that would help me. Nope! No such luck. So, I pulled harder. And the wire cut my left-thumb. My left palm was all crimson. I was incensed. What kind of a manufacturer would ship some thing like a cooking gas cylinder without an installation manual? Bharat gas. Ah!
I squatted again and this I noticed an arrow mark on the seal. Out of curiosity I pulled the wire parallel to the ground (I was pulling it 'up' earlier) and the seal slipped off the cylinder's mouth. Neat! But hey, you know, I would have liked it better if some one had stuck a sticker or probably given a single-page manual on how to install the regulator. If you thought my troubles are over. Think again.
Overjoyed with the seal coming off the cylinder I pounced on the regulator and -you guessed it right - blinked. I rolled it around to find some directon, some snippet that could get me started. My wife started admiring the ceiling, suppressing her laughter. But dude that I am, I was least offended. I took the regulator and started jamming it on to the mouth of the cylinder. Nope. Things are never that easy. I tried everything from banging the regulator's head to dropping it off from a height on to the mouth of the cylinder. Nothing worked. It would just not sit and settle down in the mouth. Frustrated I was pulling up the regulator, and I discovered the slide lock around the regulator. Slide up the lock, sit the damn thing on the mouth, and let go! The regulator squatted firm on the mouth, like a drunk on a barstool. Simple, yes, but... Yeah, yeah if only some one has written it some where.
Now, if you thought my troubles were over. Think thrice. The cylinder supplies the stove with the gas using a reinforced rubber and steel hose. I had to fix the pipe on to the tiny nozzles of the stove and the regulator. And I managed to do it using sheer force. And lost more blood from the cut on my thumb. It is absolutely impossible for a housewife to do it.
As my wife made coffee on our new stove, I was thinking: We technical writers are an important link between products and users. We guide and direct a product's use. A rocket engineer might design a rocket, but who tells the astronauts how to use the loo or the inter-galactic phone in the darn rocket? You. So, my technical writing friend, the world would be a miserable place without writers like us. Don't go on that cloud number nine yet. Relax. Come down here and listen to daddy: Please remember this poor guy that cut his hand while pulling off the seal from the gas cylinder. If you had had written that small note ('Pull gently, parallel to the ground.') he wouldn't have a cut his thumb today. Remember a product's use overrides the product itself. No use. No product. No user. No use. Follow this and you will be able to afford those cruise trips, and yes, Dolphin watching in Mauritius.
Write to me: Suman[at]techwritersindia[dot]com
So, I pulled the new gas cylinder that weighed a ton. I had to fix a regulator to the cylinder. A closer look revealed a seal on the mouth of the cylinder. I glanced at my wife who was watching my progress. 'Pull the seal off honey!', she purred, as if it was something even Bush would have figured out. I mumbled an incoherent retort and started pulling the strong wire that bound the cylinder and the seal. I pulled hard. No luck, the damn thing wont budge. I squatted and peered on the walls of the cylinder to find some information that would help me. Nope! No such luck. So, I pulled harder. And the wire cut my left-thumb. My left palm was all crimson. I was incensed. What kind of a manufacturer would ship some thing like a cooking gas cylinder without an installation manual? Bharat gas. Ah!
I squatted again and this I noticed an arrow mark on the seal. Out of curiosity I pulled the wire parallel to the ground (I was pulling it 'up' earlier) and the seal slipped off the cylinder's mouth. Neat! But hey, you know, I would have liked it better if some one had stuck a sticker or probably given a single-page manual on how to install the regulator. If you thought my troubles are over. Think again.
Overjoyed with the seal coming off the cylinder I pounced on the regulator and -you guessed it right - blinked. I rolled it around to find some directon, some snippet that could get me started. My wife started admiring the ceiling, suppressing her laughter. But dude that I am, I was least offended. I took the regulator and started jamming it on to the mouth of the cylinder. Nope. Things are never that easy. I tried everything from banging the regulator's head to dropping it off from a height on to the mouth of the cylinder. Nothing worked. It would just not sit and settle down in the mouth. Frustrated I was pulling up the regulator, and I discovered the slide lock around the regulator. Slide up the lock, sit the damn thing on the mouth, and let go! The regulator squatted firm on the mouth, like a drunk on a barstool. Simple, yes, but... Yeah, yeah if only some one has written it some where.
Now, if you thought my troubles were over. Think thrice. The cylinder supplies the stove with the gas using a reinforced rubber and steel hose. I had to fix the pipe on to the tiny nozzles of the stove and the regulator. And I managed to do it using sheer force. And lost more blood from the cut on my thumb. It is absolutely impossible for a housewife to do it.
As my wife made coffee on our new stove, I was thinking: We technical writers are an important link between products and users. We guide and direct a product's use. A rocket engineer might design a rocket, but who tells the astronauts how to use the loo or the inter-galactic phone in the darn rocket? You. So, my technical writing friend, the world would be a miserable place without writers like us. Don't go on that cloud number nine yet. Relax. Come down here and listen to daddy: Please remember this poor guy that cut his hand while pulling off the seal from the gas cylinder. If you had had written that small note ('Pull gently, parallel to the ground.') he wouldn't have a cut his thumb today. Remember a product's use overrides the product itself. No use. No product. No user. No use. Follow this and you will be able to afford those cruise trips, and yes, Dolphin watching in Mauritius.
Write to me: Suman[at]techwritersindia[dot]com
Thursday, 17 June 2004
Conceptworld's Quick Notes Plus might appear like any other Sticky Notes Plus (QNP) program, but its context-sensitive notes feature is mind blowing: QNP is the closest to our paper sticky notes. What I mean is you can stick a paper note anywhere you want and that's what makes them useful. Say, your TV needs repair. You just stick on note on it saying 'Take me to the mechanic or call the mechanic' and every time you drown your lazy butt in the couch the note on the TV reminds you that you have to fix the TV. Paper Sticky Notes are naturally context-sensitive. Most Virtual Sticky Notes software are not. That's where QNP scores. And I think its context-sensitivity alone will make it a leader in its market. So, good luck QNP.
Other possible uses of context-sensitive notes by QNP:
I can go on but I know you got the drift. So why don't you
visit QNP's site and give it a spin? And hey QNP's priced version is only $24.95 and that my friend is a steal.
Write to me: Suman[at]techwritersindia[dot]com
Other possible uses of context-sensitive notes by QNP:
- Stick a Note to your weblog: 'need to write about the Paris trip' and every time you open your weblog the note would remind you that you got to make a post about your trip. This is cool or what?
- Stick a note to any document (finished, unfinished)
- Stick a note to Winamp! (download reminder?)
- Stick a note to your e-mail program (Outlook or Notes or Eudora). Though most e-mail programs have notes in built; the notes are not prominent... QNP notes appear when you open the e-mail program... and appear prominent.
- Stick notes to your Yahoo Messenger 'remind John about the party'!
QNP allows you to stick a note to a window. Any window that's open on your PC.
I can go on but I know you got the drift. So why don't you
visit QNP's site and give it a spin? And hey QNP's priced version is only $24.95 and that my friend is a steal.
Write to me: Suman[at]techwritersindia[dot]com
Tuesday, 15 June 2004
People I have added a 'Classifieds' program to this site. It is in beta. I am just testing it. Give it a spin at Job Ads and also see The Job Forum.
Tell me which one you like the best. If you have other ideas please let me know. Pass it on to your tech writer friends too.
Write to me: Suman[at]techwritersindia[dot]com
Tell me which one you like the best. If you have other ideas please let me know. Pass it on to your tech writer friends too.
Write to me: Suman[at]techwritersindia[dot]com
Tuesday, 8 June 2004
After a marathon long-distance courtship of four and a half years, Chitra and I are tying the knot. Be there to share the moment, wish us luck, and see us off as we take our first step towards a journey of a life time.
"When? Where? Whaat?" -> More information here. So all ye blogger friends: be there.
Write to me: suman 'at' techwritersindia 'dot' com
"When? Where? Whaat?" -> More information here. So all ye blogger friends: be there.
Write to me: suman 'at' techwritersindia 'dot' com
Thursday, 20 May 2004
Monday, 12 April 2004
WebWorks® Publisher is not a Help authoring tool in the traditional sense. It is, rather, a tool for converting documents created in Microsoft® Word (2000 or XP) or Adobe® FrameMaker® (5.5.6 or later) to any of 11 different online output formats, including 5 different flavors of online Help.
More on WritersUA (formerly WinWriters)
write to me: Suman[at]sumankumar[dot]com
More on WritersUA (formerly WinWriters)
write to me: Suman[at]sumankumar[dot]com
"Authors will develop content for "Longhorn" Help using an XML-based markup language called Microsoft Assistance Markup Language (MAML, pronounced "mammal"). Unlike HTML, this markup language is presentation-independent: topics and the elements they contain are defined semantically. For example, in HTML it's common practice to format menu options and other user interface elements with a bold tag. In MAML, you would instead apply the <ui> element to identify the purpose of the text. MAML consists of a number of distinct content types, each of which defines its own set of valid constituent elements. Examples of content types include conceptual, FAQ, glossary, procedural, troubleshooting, and tutorial." Read more: WritersUA - Microsoft "Longhorn" Help Highlights
write to me: Suman[at]sumankumar[dot]com
write to me: Suman[at]sumankumar[dot]com
I think this is a neat idea and is an excellent resource for aspirants and practising pros alike. Check it out.
http://members.iinet.net.au/~mbuckler/glossary1.shtml
write to me: Suman[at]sumankumar[dot]com
http://members.iinet.net.au/~mbuckler/glossary1.shtml
write to me: Suman[at]sumankumar[dot]com
Monday, 5 April 2004
Participative Help Design
I used a weblog script to create online help for -uh- using weblogs. I used a plugin to pull help topics as alphabetical links. The script has in-built search. So, there, I had an index and a search. And I left the 'Comments' feature alone. And guess what, I had users commenting on individual topics, which resulted in fine tuning the help and making it user-centered.
So, I conclude that user-feedback even after the documentation is released is invaluable and is much more relevant; users give feedback based on how they use the Help system. I'd say it is a nice way to fill gaps that you may have overseen during your project. I am talking from experience!
I used Nucleus: http://nucleuscms.org. People ask me why not MovableType; simple, it is not open-source like Nucleus. So, experiment with blogs and tell me if you can, how it helped you.
write to me: Suman@sumankumar.com
Friday, 2 April 2004
3rd STC Chennai Knowledge Sharing Session this sunday, April 4th.
This month's knowledge sharing session will be held this coming sunday, april 4th at Cognizant's office at 10:00 a.m. Please do spread the word around.
Day & Date : Sunday, April 4, 2004
Time : 10 to 11 a.m
Venue : Cognizant Technology Services (CTS), 3rd Floor, Conference Room, Whites Road, Royapettah.
Contact Person : Kiruba Shankar . phone : 52133619 (res) , 52150505 (off)
RSVP : kiruba @ kiruba.com
Door Charge : Rs.20 ( Snacks will be served )
We are planning to get a video camera along so we can record the presentations and discussions.
This month's knowledge sharing session will be held this coming sunday, april 4th at Cognizant's office at 10:00 a.m. Please do spread the word around.
Day & Date : Sunday, April 4, 2004
Time : 10 to 11 a.m
Venue : Cognizant Technology Services (CTS), 3rd Floor, Conference Room, Whites Road, Royapettah.
Contact Person : Kiruba Shankar . phone : 52133619 (res) , 52150505 (off)
RSVP : kiruba @ kiruba.com
Door Charge : Rs.20 ( Snacks will be served )
We are planning to get a video camera along so we can record the presentations and discussions.
Tuesday, 16 March 2004
Localization and Internationalization
Internationalization: Writing in a neutral, simple language so that the document can be translated to other languages without much trouble. There are standards for it like the The European Association of Aerospace Industries (AECMA) Simplified English. The AECMA Simplified English (SE) dictionary is defined in the AECMA standard PSC-85-16598 developed by the aerospace industry.
Localization: The actual process of translation.
At least, that's what I have understood.
Now you know why you have to keep it simple when you write that manual, don't you?
Important note: Robohelp gives a lot of trouble in translations. That's what I have heard at least.
write to me: Suman@sumankumar.com
Monday, 8 March 2004
Tuesday, 24 February 2004
Next STC Chennai Meeting On March 7 : This will be the second knowledge sharing session. The first meeting was a wonderful success and we hope the second one will be even better. Take a note of the details..
Day & Date : Sunday, March 7, 2004
Time : 10 to 11 a.m
Venue : Cognizant Technology Services (CTS), 3rd Floor, Conference Room, Whites Road, Royapettah.
Contact Person : Kiruba Shankar . phone : 52133619 (res)
RSVP : kiruba @ kiruba.com
The theme of the meet is "Bring a tech writing friend".
Day & Date : Sunday, March 7, 2004
Time : 10 to 11 a.m
Venue : Cognizant Technology Services (CTS), 3rd Floor, Conference Room, Whites Road, Royapettah.
Contact Person : Kiruba Shankar . phone : 52133619 (res)
RSVP : kiruba @ kiruba.com
The theme of the meet is "Bring a tech writing friend".
Tuesday, 27 January 2004
I am engaged
I got engaged to Chitra on 25 Jan 2004. I was busy traveling and making arrangements. The other news is that I have published my first novel; visit http://sunnu.blogspot.com to read 10 free chapters. If you like what you read go right ahead and buy the novel at http://cafeshops.com/sunnu.
I will resume posting on this blog tomorrow; let me find a nice topic. Thanks people.
write to me: Suman@sumankumar.com
Friday, 16 January 2004
Chennai Tech Writers Mixer on Jan 25 : Calling all Tech Writers in Chennai for an informal Mixer on Jan 25th. It's a great opportunity to network with our fellow tech writers from different companies in Chennai.
The Mixer aims to be a nice watering hole for chennai tech writers to meet up and share their experiences and knowledge in an informal atmosphere.
Here are the things to remember.
Day & Date : Sunday, Jan 25th 2004.
Time : 4:30 p.m
Venue : Amethyst cafe. ( It's a really cool place to hang out )
Bill : We just go dutch on the snacks and drinks.
Directions : Take the lane next to Hotel Saravana Bhavan on Peter's Road, Royapettah. Go down the lane for about 100 meters and you'll find Amethyst on the right.
Contact : You can mail Kiruba Shankar at Kiruba @ Kiruba.com or call his residence at 52133619 after 7:00 p.m
Please do spread the work to your tech writing friends in Chennai. Thanks in advance.
The Mixer aims to be a nice watering hole for chennai tech writers to meet up and share their experiences and knowledge in an informal atmosphere.
Here are the things to remember.
Day & Date : Sunday, Jan 25th 2004.
Time : 4:30 p.m
Venue : Amethyst cafe. ( It's a really cool place to hang out )
Bill : We just go dutch on the snacks and drinks.
Directions : Take the lane next to Hotel Saravana Bhavan on Peter's Road, Royapettah. Go down the lane for about 100 meters and you'll find Amethyst on the right.
Contact : You can mail Kiruba Shankar at Kiruba @ Kiruba.com or call his residence at 52133619 after 7:00 p.m
Please do spread the work to your tech writing friends in Chennai. Thanks in advance.
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