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.
Subject:Re: Styles for User Guides From:Sharon Burton-Hardin <sharonburton -at- EMAIL -dot- MSN -dot- COM> Date:Sun, 4 Apr 1999 10:29:54 -0700
As a starting point for a new template, no, I don't see the problem,
necessarily. But the problem I do see is using the same template because the
new client doesn't have the time/money to spend on a new one.
This is an interesting discussion. I wonder if there are any attorneys out
there who would like to chime in about intellectual property.
sharon
Sharon Burton-Hardin
President of the Inland Empire chapter of the STC
www.iestc.org
Anthrobytes Consulting
Home of RoboNEWS(tm), the unofficial RoboHELP newsletter
www.anthrobytes.com
Check out www.WinHelp.net!
See www.sharonburton.com!
-----Original Message-----
From: Sean Wheller <Sean -at- MAIL -dot- MEDIAONEIT -dot- NET>
To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU <TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU>
Date: Sunday, 04 April, 1999 10:23 AM
Subject: Re: Styles for User Guides
|I don't see any problem with using existing templates as a starting
|point for future projects.
|
|In most cases the development of a template to a customers taste
|requires input from more than one person in the organization. If you are
|lucky you only have to deal with one person, but at most you have to
|deal with five or six people. Accommodating everyone's preferences can
|take a great deal of time, which in turn relates to cost.
|
|I find that most well established companies have, thankfully, already
|defined styles and personalities of there own. While the startup
|customers are just in a hurry to get the documentation in the box.
|Especially if they have a new product and are already on tight or
|backlogged development schedules. These customers are focused on the
|content and not the "lip gloss". They want a cost effective solution and
|could not be bothered, for the time being, with additional nuisances.
|
|NO I am not saying that "lip gloss" is not important. I am just saying
|that sometimes you have to be practical. So if you have a good template
|and the customer does not mind using it with a little modification - go
|for it. Providing the original templates are not patented or protected
|by law. If the template is protected and you decide to use it without
|change, then I can understand there may be a problem. Once modified, I
|find it hard to believe that any patent or law will stand in court.
|
|
|Sean Wheller
|sean -at- mail -dot- mediaoneit -dot- net
|
|
|From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000==
|
|
