Date: Fri, 8 Apr 1994 09:22:12 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Julie Lawyer -- Ext 1331 Subject: Re: 2/94 STC ARTICLE ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- On 11 Mar --Ira Kleinberg kleinberg@zodiac.rutgers.edu said: ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- I may have missed discussion of this on the list, but has anyone else seen the piece on "Indexes in Computer Documentation" in the February 1994 issue of the Society for Technical Communication's journal Technical Communication (p. 41, Sandra Oster)? Just the usual: not written by an indexer, no mention of ASI, the Chicago Manual was the only "real" indexing book mentioned in the reference list, the examples were stylistically horrifying, new terminology was invented to refer to old things, etc., etc. I knew there was a reason I didn't renew my membership! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- I wish you would write a letter to the editor of Technical Communication, describe specific errors, and offer to write a better article for them. I am a writer not an indexer so I would prefer that the criticism come from an expert. Some of us would appreciate the correction. I am not the author of the 2/94 article. Thanks, Juliel@mdli.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Apr 1994 09:22:42 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Julie Lawyer -- Ext 1331 Subject: Re: 2/94 STC ARTICLE ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Does anyone have suggestions or experience indexing an online help system? Any references you can suggest in addition to the one's posted in the FAQ on Fri, 18 Mar 1994 by Charlotte Skuster? Any suggestions for tools? The project plans are for a help system in Windows 3.1 with the usual search engine. Much of the information in the help system is procedural, however, there are concepts and terms that are defined in the helps. If you like, you can reply to me personally and I will compile the messages and post them to the list. Thanks, Juliel@mdli.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Apr 1994 09:28:02 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: luz marina quiroga Subject: organizing networked information ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- I am preparing the literature review for a dissertation proposal. I would appreciate references, suggestions or any discussion on two topics: "organization of networked information" "Indexing and classification of electronic resources" Luz Quiroga ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Apr 1994 16:05:39 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: "LTIETJEN@CUDNVR.DENVER.COLORADO.EDU" Subject: Re: organizing networked information ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- What an interesting and important topic! Of course I would suggest any books and articles about the INTERNET (there is a great article in the current DATABASE comparing the various guides to the INTERNET). Please keep us posted as to your progress and good luck. Linda Tietjen Auraria Library (303) 556-4298 IN%"LTIETJEN@CUDNVR.DENVER.COLORADO.EDU" ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Apr 1994 16:09:34 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Chuck Banks Subject: Re: 2/94 STC ARTICLE ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- For Ira Kleinberg, Julie Lawyer, et al: As a non-Indexer trying to acquire the knowledge and skills required for indexing, I agree with Julie, write a letter to the Editor of _Technical_Communication_. I have been tasked to provide indexes recently, fortunately we hired a contractor with indexing training and experience to help in the effort. Technical communicators need to be told and shown how to create accurate, usable indexes. I ask that anyone wishing to help us technical communicators to write an informative article for our national newsletter (it's published monthly, not quarterly like the journal), or, at least, for my STC chapter's newsletter (Our editor is on Internet at cats@talkdallas.com). As well as learning about general priciples of indexing, we need to know about ASI and indexing reference texts, all the shortcomings Ira Kleinberg found in the February '94 issue of the STC journal. STC has prepared a 5-year action plan for society development and activities. In the plan are a number of incentives for members of STC to contact other professional organizations, like ASI, and share information and resources. Sort of an 'ecuminical' communications effort. If ASI members ever wanted to affect STC's understanding and support of professional indexing, now is the time to do it. I recommend you contact your local STC chapter (I can provide Chapter President names) or the STC Headquarters (Annette Reilly is president. Address E-mail to stc@tmn.com and put Annette's name in the Subject line and the body of the message.) Best Regards! Chuck Banks -- __ ________ ______ |\\ | || // Chuck Banks | \\ | ||_______ || Senior Technical Writer | \\ | || || NEC America, Inc. | \\| \\______ \\______ E-Mail: chuck@asl.dl.nec.com America, Incorporated CompuServe: 72520,411 STC Mail: Cbanks@talkdallas.com ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 8 Apr 1994 16:10:06 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Lori Lathrop <76620.456@CompuServe.COM> Subject: Re: Indexing Online Help ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- In response to a question from Julie Lawyer (INTERNET:JULIEL@MDLI.COM): Julie -- I have indexed online help for IBM OS/2 applications using IBM's Information Presentation Facility (IPF), which had several shortcomings (such as a maximum of just two levels of index entries). I haven't indexed online documentation for Windows applications, but I know I've got some guidelines filed away somewhere; I'll try to find them and send them to you. BTW, you might want to look at William Horton's book on designing online documentation; it contains some excellent guidelines. Lori Lathrop ----------> INTERNET:76620.456@compuserve.com Lathrop Media Services P.O. Box 808 Georgetown, CO 80444 ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 11 Apr 1994 14:22:49 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Fred Rowley Subject: Re: Indexing Online Help ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- April 10, 1994 A number of software tools are available to assist when writing Windows Help routines. I listed some below but can't vouch for all of them. The Windows help indexes themselves are automatically compiled after preparing a suitably formatted text file in a word processor such as Microsoft Word or Lotus Ami-Pro for Windows. Both support the required RTF (Rich Text Format) files, but there are others as well. In the help text, index descriptors and Table of Contents headings are marked with pre-specified type faces. Index entries also act as hypermedia links, allowing branching to different help frames. Different index categories can be included like numbers, dates, names, etc. Graphics, artwork, photos, charts, sound and video clips can also easily be incorporated. A major drudgery preparing help routines is formatting the help document properly. You will want to frequently test for errors. This is a three-step process. 1. Edit the help text document in a word processor, 2. Compile the document using the Windows Help compiler (see below), producing a .HLP file, 3. Test the compiled document in your application to see if everything works properly. Naturally, the bigger the Help document, the more need there is for testing, but its possible to do segments then unite everything later. As convoluted as the process seems, it's possible to do some very impressive work with Windows Help. Microsoft Multimedia Viewer Publishing ToolKit has all the compilation tools (not the word-processor) you'll need to produce final Windows help routines complete with text and audio-visual. Since it's written primarily for programmers, it may be too technical for many. Recently third-party products for creating Windows help programs have appeared which may be easier to use. I listed two below of which Windows Help Magician appears to have the most needed features including an RTF editor for preparing help documents. Microsoft Multimedia Viewer Publishing Toolkit $297.00 at Programmer's Connection (1-800 336 1166) Windows Help Magician 2.5 Software Interphase Inc. 82 Cucumber Hill Road Suite 201 Foster Hill, RI 02825 Voice 401 397-2340 Fax 401 397-6814 $163.00 at Programmer's Connection (1-800 336 1166) RoboHelp 2.0 Blue Sky Software $439.00 at Programmer's Paradise (1-800 445-7899) * The Microsoft Windows Help Compiler is required and included with many programming languages, not limited to, but also accompanying some of the programs above. Many recent C, C++, Pascal and Visual Basic languages also include the necessary help compilers--HC30.EXE and HC31.EXE for Windows 3.0 and 3.1 respectively. Fred Rowley ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 11 Apr 1994 14:23:19 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Paula Presley Subject: Re: Printer recommendations In-Reply-To: In reply to your message of FRI 08 APR 1994 09:48:40 CST ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- I have been given (Yes, given!) a Gateway 2000 computer by my brother, with 2 HD, 2 floppy drives, a tape backup, and a fax modem! He says I need to purchase my own printer. I've see ads for ink-jets for around $250 to $300. Has anybody had experience with these? Do they print any font that you may have, or only certain ones? (This is not a high priority.) What are their good features, their bad features? Would I be better off with a laser printer? What brands? A friend tells me that Canon makes the engines for Hewlett-Packard printers, so I might as well get a Canon. I'm confused and need advice--and haven't had time to go to the library to read PC Magazine, etc. Paula Presley Assoc. Editor, The Thomas Jefferson University Press Copy Editor, The Sixteenth Century Journal Northeast Missouri State University McClain Hall 111L Kirksville, MO 63501 (816) 785-4525 FAX (816) 785-4181 Bitnet: AD15@NEMOMUS Internet: AD15%NEMOMUS@Academic.NEMOState.EDU ========================================================================= Date: Mon, 11 Apr 1994 14:23:40 ECT Reply-To: Indexer's Discussion Group Sender: Indexer's Discussion Group From: Jack Shaw Subject: Re: 2/94 STC ARTICLE -- Viewpoint ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- On 8 Apr 94, Ira Kleinberg wrote: ********* the piece on "Indexes in Computer Documentation" in the February 1994 issue of the Society for Technical Communication's journal Technical Communication (p. 41, Sandra Oster)? Just the usual: not written by an indexer, no mention of ASI, the Chicago Manual was the only "real" indexing book mentioned in the reference list, the examples were stylistically horrifying, new terminology was invented to refer to old things, etc., etc. I knew there was a reason I didn't renew my membership! ********* Not being in the U.S., I'm neither a member of STC nor have I any connection to the article to which Mr. Kleinberg refers, nor to Ms. Oster (who, I assume from Mr. Kleinberg's message, is the author). But sach an aside on Mr. Kleinberg's part is difficult to view as anything other than unconstructive, if not downright condescending and snide. As a technical writer/editor/manager in and around the field for more than 25 years, I nonetheless make no claim on propriety. But I feel obligated to refute the manner of Mr. Kleinberg's unconstructive criticism. He as a professional indexer should recognize his responsibility for a bearing reflecting that status -- to wit, to offer pointed and constructive criticism of a journal article as befits both the energy and endeavour the author invests, and the courtesy the author is due. A professional journal and its contents make no claim to be "the last word" in any field. Rather, it offers studied viewpoints in a disciplined manner. If Mr. Kleinberg finds Ms. Oster's article below the tenor of what he feels is the state of the art within the context of the article, he would be well served to offer that critique in a less oblique manner. And in an arena such as the TECHWR-L list, which I'm sure Mr. Kleinberg knows of. There, he will I'm sure find himself received in a manner befitting his bearing and tone. Respectfully offered... Jack Shaw jsh@software-ag.de Darmstadt, Germany =========================================================================