Member News

Thanks to free tickets provided by Scott Abel, The Content Wrangler, Elaine was able to attend Documentation and Training (DocTrain) East. She submitted two reports on the event.

Funny that sunglasses were the first item on my “to pack” list as I prepared to drive the 371 miles from Macedon, NY to Burlington, Massachusetts. It rained for about 360 of those miles! Headed to DocTrain East in Burlington, MA, from Oct 29 – Nov 1, 2008, I was looking forward to mingling with others in my field and learning about the latest technology.

In addition to two days of promising seminars, I had the opportunity to receive hands-on training for the software that I use daily at my job. A platinum sponsor, Author-it provided two full days of workshops as well as demonstrations of new features and a peek at functionality on the horizon.

Day 1 included 6 hours of Author-it training by an Kendra Carter, an engaging professional trainer who has been with Author-it since its inception in 2001. We were a varied group, consisting of users, prospective buyers who were evaluating content management systems, to a reseller, and a publisher who translated documentation using Author-it for global markets.

Meanwhile, other conference attendees had their choice of MadCap Flare presentations, Adobe FrameMaker training, and a session on publishing with Xmetal and DITA, just to name a few.

Day 2 began early with keynote speaker, Albert Chu. Chu is VP of Marketing & Alliances for Access™, the “world’s leading provider of software solutions for mobile and for beyond the PC.” He displayed several graphs that illustrated how the Japanese, and a number of developing countries, use their cell phones very differently than we do in this country. They access the internet via mobile devices more than twice as often as we do. He gave us a view into what may soon become the norm for global cell phone users – not just making calls and accessing the internet, but watching TV, paying for purchases, and zipping through the highway tollboths with a flash of our phones. (Can you say 3G and 4G?)

Random thought from keynote on advancing technology: You now have another reason to take care of yourself and live a long life! Every minute 13 hours of YouTube video are uploaded. To watch all of the video already posted will take you 412 years!

Tuesday evening was spent in the vendor ballroom where a bar was set up and tasty hors d’oeuvres were passed while folks and vendors mingled. I met a number of STC members from the midwest and we exchanged stories and challenges of our chapters. Their membership is so spread out that they have held program meetings online – and yearly they strive to find a locale for their conference that is within an hour’s drive for everyone.

The remainder of day two and day three offered a plethora of seminar choices. Out of 39 possible sessions, I noted that seven had DITA in the title. No wait, there were eight; one session left “DITA” out of the title and description. Ok, I know what DITA stands for (Darwin Information Typing Architecture) – and that it’s open source, and appeals to publishers who want XML-based solutions. Don’t know too much more about it, nor do I think that it’s the answer for everyone’s documentation needs. I shall stop here, lest I take on the label of “DITA hater,” as one fellow from the audience did. He expressed to the presenter that he’s “heard a lot about it over the last five years, but doesn’t know anyone who is using it.” Hmm, I see a need for a more detailed presentation, such as a detailed use case.

The common thread among the sessions was content reuse and its value in effecting consistency in outputs. If departments can share a content management system, the user manual’s procedure will be the same as the training material will be the same as the customer support department’s reference material. “When architected well, this happens seamlessly.”

To learn about “Content Convergence: Trends in the Creation, Production, and Maintenance of Technical Content,” I attended a presentation by Rahel Anne Bailie. She provided a real-life example of what can go wrong if you don’t reuse content. A US company produced a wasp spray that had varying instructions for use – depending if you were looking at the paper instructions or the can itself. Sure enough someone followed the incorrect instructions and was injured. The fact that the directions available to consumers was inconsistent fueled the lawsuit. Maybe it’s better to be consistent – even if you’re incorrectly consistent!

Rahel demonstrated a great example of content convergence in the web site called “Tripit.” Here you can have your travel information collected by simply sending them your confirming emails (for flights, hotel reservations, car rentals) to produce a personalized itinerary. Connect it to your Facebook or LinkedIn account and find out if your best friend Sally Ann may be in Vegas when you are!

A seminar of note for me was led by Char James-Tanney. Char owns a web site that provides assistance to anyone wanting to compare help authoring tools. She invites vendors to provide information on their software, which is then available for a customized comparison that the user configures from her site. Check it out if you’re so inclined. HAT-Matrix.com

To brush up on method of testing technical documentation I met Roy Jacobsen who presented “Document Testing: The Missing Step in Creating Effective Documents.” How many of us are so pressured to get documentation out the door that we don’t test it the way that it should be? He discussed the value in testing as well as four methods: prototype, focus group, usability and control studies testing.

One track that I didn’t visit, but seemed to have been covered thoroughly, was Localization and Translation. These sessions covered topics about effectively reaching and communicating with foreign markets, as well as translating user documentation.

Visit for more details on these presentations.

All in all this was a very worthwhile conference for me, and the Marriott was a great venue. The food was excellent and the staff was very professional. Scott Able took a poll after the last session to see if everyone was happy with the Marriott. The answer was positive, so most likely DocTrain East will return to Burlington, MA in 2009! Thank you to The Content Wrangler, his helpful and gracious staff and all the sponsors and speakers for making this event so enjoyable!

DocTrain East is one of several conferences every year devoted to content management and technical communication.

Ben Woelk, Rochester Chapter member and co-Program Manager, has given good advice in his article in the University News section of the RIT web site. Read his article on safe online shopping for the holidays: “Watch out for Good Ol’ Scammer Claus” before you type your credit card number into that online form.

Have you published an article or letter to the editor? Started a blog? Changed jobs, gotten a promotion, or retired? Your Rochester Chapter friends want to know! Send details to Kat Nagel, Proof Sheet editor, or ask her for a temporary Proof Sheet login and write it up yourself.

“An Evening with Helen Thomas: Women’s History Month Featured Speaker”

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 6
Hubbell Auditorium
University of Rochester’s River Campus

ADMISSION: $3 for University undergraduates; $7 for the University Community; and $10 for the public. Tickets can be purchased at the Common Market in Wilson Commons and at the door.

Helen Thomas, the longtime White House Bureau Chief often referred to as “The First Lady of the Press,” was a pioneer for women journalists covered breaking news from the FBI to Capitol Hill. For 57 years, she also served as White House correspondent for United Press International and covered every president since John F. Kennedy.

Thomas is now a syndicated columnist for Hearst Newspapers and has written three books, including her latest, Thanks for the Memories, Mr. President: Wit and Wisdom from the Front Row at the White House .

The event is sponsored by the Campus Activities Board, UR Women’s Caucus, and Simon Association of Women MBA’s.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact the Common Connection at (585) 275-5911.

I recently joined the board of directors of Writers and Books. It is a very kewl organization! I was quite surprised to learn that W&B is one of the largest literary organizations in the country — right behind NYC and Washington, D.C.

The November 30th event (scroll down) is a major fundraiser for the (non-profit) organization to help support its programs and scholarships. Come join us if you can! There will be some great stuff at the silent auction — a good way to get a head start on holiday shopping and to support a good cause. Details/admission price below…

Or check out the catalog www.wab.org/ and take a course — it’s a great way to tap the OTHER side of your brain!

– Margie

P.S. One item up for bid at the silent auction is a registration for the Rochester STC Chapter Spectrum conference this spring!

——— Original Message —–
From: Lezli White
To: wab_e-word@wab.org
Sent: Friday, November 17, 2006 6:11 PM
Subject: Come to Writers & Books 25th Anniversary Celebration

Only 13 days left
to buy your tickets for our
25th Anniversary Celebration!

In celebration of our 25th anniversary,
Writers & Books is holding a fundraising raffle
for a new Toyota Prius and a Silent Auction
in conjunction with our SENSE of PLACE and literary awards

featuring John Berendt,
renowned author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Thursday, November 30, 2006
5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
at the Rochester Academy of Medicine, 1441 East Avenue
Admission is $25 for members and $30 for the public
Reservations may be made by calling 585.473.2590 ext 107
Proceeds from the event will benefit Writers & Books’ many literary programs, events, workshops and readings
presented to youth, adults and seniors throughout Rochester.

Win a 2006 Toyota Prius
60/51 mpg Mid-Size Gas-Electric Hybrid
Fully loaded MSRP:$30,000
IntelliChoice 2006 Best Overall Value of the Year
Only 1,000 tickets will be sold
Great Odds!
Tickets: $100
Visit www.wab.org for details
or call 585.473.2590 ext 107

Silent Auction
memorable excursions, pampering services, gourmet experiences,
culinary delights, and other treats
including:
*Philip Seymour Hoffman signed Poster
*Adirondack Weekend in beautiful home
*Overnight for two at Esperanza Mansion
and cruise (http://www.esperanzamansion.com).)
and more!