setting up technical documentation workflow from scratch : about DocZone

[de Rouck, Tom (Gent)]

Hi Wim, Jakobsen,

I just wanted to add a small hint: if you're really going to choose DocZone 
because of its integrated translation support, please think twice.
They're not ready yet... We are doing a translation job for the moment in that 
tool and a lot of programming work is still to be done (again, I only speak 
about the translation side).

regards,

Tom





--



Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:02:28 +0200

From: Wim Hooghwinkel - idtp w...@idtp.eu

To: framers@lists.frameusers.com

Cc: 'Studio Smalbro' stu...@smalbro.dk

Subject: setting up technical documentation workflow from scratch

Message-ID: 000f01cb692b$69849d40$3c8dd7...@eu

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi,

You're lucky to be able to set this up from scratch! Don't make the mistake to 
choose a tool before you have defined your goals and requirements. Also be 
careful for vendor lock in. Go for open standards and flexible solutions.

If you go for XML remember that there are many XML editing tools.

You should definitely take a look at the Adobe Technical Communication Suite

- this doesn't comprise a database but it has all the tools you need to create, 
review and manage technical docs.

If you want a database you probably end up with a structured approach based on 
DITA. FrameMaker and the Adobe TCS are fully capable of handling DITA topics 
from a database.

Further check out: Alfresco with Componize, Ixiasoft DITA CMS, DocZone (with 
integrated translation support), Author-IT, the MadCap Flare suite, 
HelpManual, the Danish based DITA Exchange solution on Sharepoint or in case 
you're not tight on budget SDL Trisoft. (just google for the URLs)

Some of these work with FrameMaker, some don't (out of the box) and these are 
not all DITA but in all cases DITA compliant if needed.

Want more help? Contact me off list!

HTH



Kind regards, vriendelijke groet,

Wim Hooghwinkel

iDTP - Technical Communication Consultant Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in 
FrameMaker tel. +31652036811 Skype wimhooghwinkel Twitter @idtp @NLDITA 
i...@idtp.eu www.idtp.euoutbind://8/www.idtp.eu 
www.nldita.nloutbind://8/www.nldita.nl FrameMaker support: framema...@idtp.eu

From: Studio Smalbro stu...@smalbro.dk

To: framers@lists.frameusers.com

Subject: setting up technical documentation workflow from scratch

Message-ID: 4cb16a8d.4050...@smalbro.dk

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I am about to author a small report on setting up a technical documentation 
workflow from scratch.

I need to devise a setup where a group of author can write tech docs, another 
group maintain and translate the docs and publish them as pdf.

It is vital that the process can be thought within a technogy which allows for 
later integration with publishing to web as well.

I have taken a look at Woodwings serverbased solution which uses InDesign as 
publishing frontend, but I would like to see whether I can accomplish the same 
using FrameMaker. I suppose I must look for a kind of database drive solution 
where the authors write into a database.

I have taken a look on a couple of database publishing solutions:

Patternstream, Sabern, FrameMaker Server but some of these solutions looks 
strangely dated when one merely looks at their websites. Sabern uses product 
images from FrameMaker 5.5. Patternstream recommends in FrameMaker 8 in a news 
release dated 2007. Adobes documentation for FrameMaker Server seems to be non 
existent - even a tutorial links to some very quaint and useless course on a 
server not even belonging to Adobe.

My question is: Am I looking in the wrong places? Can somebody reccommend 
products which will help me streamline the process?

regards

Jakobsen


mailto:tom.dero...@sgs.com

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setting up technical documentation workflow from scratch : about DocZone

[de Rouck, Tom (Gent)]

Hi Wim, Jakobsen,

I just wanted to add a small hint: if you're really going to choose DocZone 
because of its integrated translation support, please think twice.
They're not ready yet... We are doing a translation job for the moment in that 
tool and a lot of programming work is still to be done (again, I only speak 
about the translation side).

regards,

Tom





--



Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:02:28 +0200

From: "Wim Hooghwinkel - idtp" 

To: 

Cc: 'Studio Smalbro' 

Subject: setting up technical documentation workflow from scratch

Message-ID: <000f01cb692b$69849d40$3c8dd7c0$@eu>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hi,

You're lucky to be able to set this up from scratch! Don't make the mistake to 
choose a tool before you have defined your goals and requirements. Also be 
careful for vendor lock in. Go for open standards and flexible solutions.

If you go for XML remember that there are many XML editing tools.

You should definitely take a look at the Adobe Technical Communication Suite

- this doesn't comprise a database but it has all the tools you need to create, 
review and manage technical docs.

If you want a database you probably end up with a structured approach based on 
DITA. FrameMaker and the Adobe TCS are fully capable of handling DITA topics 
from a database.

Further check out: Alfresco with Componize, Ixiasoft DITA CMS, DocZone (with 
integrated translation support), Author-IT, the MadCap Flare suite, 
Help, the Danish based DITA Exchange solution on Sharepoint or in case 
you're not tight on budget SDL Trisoft. (just google for the URLs)

Some of these work with FrameMaker, some don't (out of the box) and these are 
not all DITA but in all cases DITA compliant if needed.

Want more help? Contact me off list!

HTH



Kind regards, vriendelijke groet,

Wim Hooghwinkel

iDTP - Technical Communication Consultant Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in 
FrameMaker tel. +31652036811 Skype wimhooghwinkel Twitter @idtp @NLDITA info at 
idtp.eu www.idtp.eu 
www.nldita.nl FrameMaker support: framemaker at 
idtp.eu

From: Studio Smalbro 

To: framers at lists.frameusers.com

Subject: setting up technical documentation workflow from scratch

Message-ID: <4CB16A8D.4050405 at smalbro.dk>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I am about to author a small report on setting up a technical documentation 
workflow from scratch.

I need to devise a setup where a group of author can write tech docs, another 
group maintain and translate the docs and publish them as pdf.

It is vital that the process can be thought within a technogy which allows for 
later integration with publishing to web as well.

I have taken a look at Woodwings serverbased solution which uses InDesign as 
publishing frontend, but I would like to see whether I can accomplish the same 
using FrameMaker. I suppose I must look for a kind of database drive solution 
where the authors write into a database.

I have taken a look on a couple of database publishing solutions:

Patternstream, Sabern, FrameMaker Server but some of these solutions looks 
strangely dated when one merely looks at their websites. Sabern uses product 
images from FrameMaker 5.5. Patternstream recommends in FrameMaker 8 in a news 
release dated 2007. Adobes documentation for FrameMaker Server seems to be non 
existent - even a tutorial links to some very quaint and useless course on a 
server not even belonging to Adobe.

My question is: Am I looking in the wrong places? Can somebody reccommend 
products which will help me streamline the process?

regards

Jakobsen




Information in this email and any attachments is confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual(s) to whom it is addressed
or otherwise directed. Please note that any views or opinions presented
in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of the Company.
Finally, the recipient should check this email and any attachments for
the presence of viruses. The Company accepts no liability for any damage
caused by any virus transmitted by this email.
All SGS services are rendered in accordance with the applicable SGS
conditions of service available on request and accessible at
http://www.sgs.com/terms_and_conditions.htm