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Re: Gnaargh! Or, I Am Not Psychic

Subject: Re: Gnaargh! Or, I Am Not Psychic
From: "Nilesh Jahagirdar" <nilesh -dot- jahagirdar -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2006 20:00:33 +0530

We keep coming back to this topic every few weeks! I remember someone
saying, in August:
If engineers and managers don't go running for cover and diving under their
desks at the sight of the approaching tech writer, you're being too easy on
them.
I had showed this to my developer Boss, and he gad heartily agreed!

My fellow writer often resorted to mentioning her karate skills in order to
get information or reviews or to get changes done.

Today, am one of rare lucky tech writers. Recently we set up a patch release
process, whereby any engineer who wishes to make software changes to the
application must prepare and print out a form that clearly mentions what is
being changed, and why, and when.

And unless some five people (support manager, CTO, QA) sign this release
form, the change cannot be made. And I am one of the five people!! So
without my signature they cannot make any changes to the application.

Life has become much easier now, and I love those moments when a developer
comes asking for my signature!

So Sarah, these things are possible too. Just hang in there!



On 9/13/06, Mike Schmidt <mschmidt -at- weathercentral -dot- tv> wrote:


My favorite is when I send an early copy out to a select few for
proofing. One particular guy likes to mark everything up, but he'll
circle something and write "Wrong" next to it... but give me no clue as
to what might be "right."

This has gone on for years. I ask him to please give me a hint as to
what might be correct... but I have to practically threaten physical
harm before I can get the answers out of him. It's particularly
challenging if the original "wrong" text was submitted by someone else
(which happens a lot here), and I have no earthly idea what might be
right, wrong, opinion, etc.

He'll also mark EVERY occurrence of an opinion thing like "fig. 2" vs.
"Figure 2." Even if I choose to change it (rare), a global search will
take care of it. No need to empty a pen on 300+ instances of that style
issue.

I'm thinking garbage collection might be a less stressful alternative.
And it's got benefits: Working outside, lots of variety, all you can
eat... it's starting to look better and better.



-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+mschmidt=weathercentral -dot- tv -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+mschmidt=weathercentral -dot- tv -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com]
On Behalf Of arroxaneullman -at- aol -dot- com
Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 9:01 AM
To: Sarah -dot- Bouchier -at- exony -dot- com; techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Gnaargh! Or, I Am Not Psychic

Sarah -dot- Bouchier -at- exony -dot- com said "I've just discovered that, shortly after
both I and the client went through and checked my company's user manual
and online help against the product, the development team made some
major changes to the UI without telling the doc team."

I feel your pain.

Yesterday, I was doing the final edit for a manual that's long overdue
and I notice two similar screenshots have different elements. So, I take
a walk to our friendly developer and ask him which version of the GUI is
most up-to-date. What does he say? "Neither. I changed that entirely in
the last version." WHAT? Did I miss a memo or meeting?

What is so hard about ensuring the (only) Tech Writer has access to the
most recent version of the software?

Supposedly, now thate we're a part of Big Corporation, we're getting a
project manager and will use those mythical objects known as "roadmaps"
and "spec sheets."

In the meantime, and in answer to your question, I feel justified in
switching on the 'female dog' mode--when necessary. I'm not very good at
kicking folks in the butt, but I'm learning. It helps to have some new
programmers; the guys who've been here forever have attitude issues.

Good luck knocking heads together--or whatever method works for you.

:)
Arroxane


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--
But hang on, there's music and art and things to tell you about yet!
Arrrggghhh!
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References:
RE: Gnaargh! Or, I Am Not Psychic: From: Mike Schmidt

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