TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Some of our support staff asked me for a PDF. We had been using and distributing them since forever. I said we weren't doing them anymore. The shocked silence I heard is slowly fading into reluctant acceptance.
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Paul Hanson
Sent: Friday, January 20, 2017 9:08 AM
To: 'techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com' <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Subject: RE: Documentation behind a login
I went through this when there was a shift from PDF to Confluence. Our manager had declared pretty much the same thing about PDFs so we ditched them and worked for months haggling over how to present our documentation in Confluence. When we showed it to the first customer, the first thing they said was "We need access to the source code" and the second thing they said was "Where's the PDF of the entire site?" No amount of logic persuaded them so, yes, we started distributing a PDF of the entire Confluence site.
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+x2bvshew=southernco -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+x2bvshew=southernco -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Cardimon, Craig
Sent: Friday, January 20, 2017 7:49 AM
To: 'Helen Mullally' <helen -dot- mullally -at- alfresco -dot- com>; 'techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com' <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Subject: RE: Documentation behind a login
Upper management fears our software could be reverse engineered using the documentation if those docs were made freely available online.
Hence, documentation here is slowly moving online, behind a login, as I rewrite it.
The good news is we're leaving PDF behind.
~Craig
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Helen Mullally
Sent: Friday, January 20, 2017 6:58 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Documentation behind a login
Hi all
I'm interested to know what people think about putting documentation behind a login screen, for example to offer extra documentation for paying customers.
I wonder what views you have about about giving all documentation freely available online. Do you see the restricted access to some documentation as a business opportunity or an annoyance/hinderance to the wider readership and prospects?
I don't know whether there is a yes or no answer to this but it is more about the principle.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Helen
-----
Helen Mullally
Manager, User Assistance team
Skype: helen.mullally
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Visit TechWhirl for the latest on content technology, content strategy and content development | http://techwhirl.com
Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online magazine at http://techwhirl.com
Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives Information contained in this e-mail transmission is privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, do not read, distribute or reproduce this transmission (including any attachments). If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by telephone or email reply.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Visit TechWhirl for the latest on content technology, content strategy and content development | http://techwhirl.com
Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online magazine at http://techwhirl.com
Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives Information contained in this e-mail transmission is privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, do not read, distribute or reproduce this transmission (including any attachments). If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by telephone or email reply.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Visit TechWhirl for the latest on content technology, content strategy and content development | http://techwhirl.com
Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online magazine at http://techwhirl.com
Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Visit TechWhirl for the latest on content technology, content strategy and content development | http://techwhirl.com
Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online magazine at http://techwhirl.com
Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives
Information contained in this e-mail transmission is privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, do not read, distribute or reproduce this transmission (including any attachments). If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by telephone or email reply.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Visit TechWhirl for the latest on content technology, content strategy and content development | http://techwhirl.com