News
about quality
activities on instruction manuals and technical documentation.
Last revised: 26 September 2003:
Introduction of PRC AcosHelp - Context sensitive help with PDF-files:
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PRC introduces PRC AcosHelp - the new
easy to use context sensitive help system.
When planning software documentation one of the frequent
discussions are: "Are we going to make context sensitive help or not?" Very ofte the answer was
"No - we stick to printed manuals and PDF-files!" or "No - we stick to PDF-files!". This is
especially the case for specialized software to be sold in small volumes. Making and maintaining
the context sensitive help was too costly, and the the context sensitive help systems were so
complex that you need training. Depending on the system used, the technical communicator in charge
should also have knowledge to HTML, JavaScript, etc.
These frustrations led to the idea about making a context sensitive help system based on PDF-files.
There was only one problem. It is not possible (or very complex) to open a PDF-file on a specific
page inside the document. Then Peter Ring got an idea from another programming project. A few days
later a few tests had proved, that it was possible. The idea about making AcosHelp was born. The
concept was then developed: first for one PDF-file in one language, then for multiple PDF-files, then
for translations and finally for handling updates and updates of translations. At the same time
Peter Ring worked on documentation projects for clients, and these projects were used as test
cases. And on September, 25th 2003 - after almost 2 years of development work - PRC AcosHelp had passed
all the tests and was ready for distribution. In the meantime Peter Ring had tested the concept
on e.g., Forum 2003 in Milan and got a very positive response plus ideas for improvements.
PRC AcosHelp will work on any Windows-based PC (Windows 95, NT3 or later). It can work with any
.exe file, Microsoft Word macros, Microsoft Excel and other equivalent spreadsheets, and any
database GUI. The PDF-files may be placed on the PC of the user or even on the Internet.
At first PRC AcosHelp will only be sold on the Internet. PRC will then gradually expand the
organization with sales and training organizations in other countries, sales of hardbox copies, etc.
Click the PRC AcosHelp banner above for more information and a free test copy.
PQM 3.0
Planned Quality of
Manuals introduced on "FORUM 2000" in London 13-14 June 2000
PQM 3.0
Planned Quality of
Manuals is a new important PC Windows95+/NT3+ tool for all technical
communicators:
- Techwriter
beginners
- Highly experienced
professional technical communicators
- Technical
communication consultants & freelancers
- Professional
usability testers
- Schools
and universities teaching technical communication
who want
- to be more efficient.
- to be able to write user-friendly
manuals in a systematical way.
- a good tool for communicating
with management, product developers and clients about the concept and content
of a manual.
PQM 3.0 can be used together with
Information Mapping.
For further information, click
here
!