Pop Quiz

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Pop Quiz

• You want to refer generically to a program that
  manages electronic mailing lists. You choose
• ListServ
• Listserv
• listserv
• listserve
• listserver

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The E-Newsletter

• The Technically Write Way

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Technically Write

• Newsletter of the Lone Star chapter (STC)
• Now in its 20th volume
• Exclusively online since 2001
• Saves production
• More real-time
• Accepts late-breaking news
• Simple to produce (for the initiated)

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Doug Dow, Managing Editor

• 1996 Produced three proof-of-concept HTML
  editions (Sept.-Nov.) called Technically Wired
• Used Hot Dog HTML editor. Manually managed links.
• Discontinued when effort proved too time consuming

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Technically Wired, 1996
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Doug Dow, Managing Editor

• 1996 1998 Learned principles of good online
  document design through IPIC (Internet
  Professional Interest Committee) and other
  sources
• 2001 Tasked by LSC executive council to take
  Technically Write online or else
• Found Author-IT software at Chicago STC convention

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Author-IT

• Single-sourcing with Content Management
• Object-oriented
• Inputs
• Word
• FrameMaker
• Text (ASCII, e-mail)
• Outputs
• HTML
• Word
• Many others

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Author-IT Advantages

• Quickly produces professional-looking output
• Manages all links automatically
• No tinkering with HTML
• Affordable 200 for stand-alone license
• Reusable objects, including topics, links,
  graphics

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Author-IT Objects

• Kinds of objects managed by Author-IT
• Topic (text)
• File (graphics, OLE objects such as movies,
  PowerPoints, spreadsheets, etc.)
• Link (urls)
• Table of Contents (TOC panel)
• Book (containers to hold the above)
• Others not used in TW (glossary, title page,
  index, macro)

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Author-IT Libraries

• All projects stored in libraries
• ADL AIT data library, a Microsoft JET database
• Object templates can be restricted
• Shared objects folder for frequently reused
  objects

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Author-IT Interface

• Drag n drop

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Author-IT Output

• Default output (HTML)

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Author-IT Output

• Most templates, paragraph styles, fonts, colors,
  etc. have not been modified.
• Exceptions include
• Background color
• Contents icons
• Contents panel tabs (removed)

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Author-IT Output

• Almost out-of-the-box

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Technically Write Tweaks

• Added objects for L and R placement of GIFs and
  JPGs
• Used Whats This help template object for
  pop-up bios
• Added Jump to New Window template object for
  navigating to external content

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Author-IT Enables TW

• To be timely, and on time
• Changes can be made at the last second
  sometimes beyond!
• To be lively and link-filled
• Links, as separate objects, are reusable
• Inter-zine links created automatically
• To be colorful and comprehensive
• Graphics are easy to create and manage

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Author-IT Enables TW
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Author-IT Enables TW

• To take full advantage of Web technology
• Feb. 03 publish Debbie Wiles PowerPoint
  presentation on her trip to China
• Summer 02 publish AVI movies of Kathryn Poes
  Coronation
• Frequently publish photo-rich albums of Lone Star
  STC events

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Author-IT Enables TW

• To fulfill its mission
• to report to the chapter membership the
  activities of the STC and the Lone Star Chapter
  through words, pictures, and other Web-enabled
  media
• to present timely and informative information
• to be the collective memory of the Lone Star
  Chapter

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Things that Make TW Work

• Limited scrolling (JN)
• Text in small chunks (JN)
• Author bios (JN)
• E-mail links need to be explicit
• Constant current directory on server
• Background color off white
• Navigation several methods, including Contents
  frame

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The Technically Write Way

• Demo
• Questions