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Adobe Technical Communication Suite - Integration

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APIs and SDKs

Authoring and Publishing with XMetaL and DITA

Blogzilla: Why Blogs Are The Monster In The Business Closet

Building your Author-it Project

Challenges of Creating Documentation for Mobile Devices

Choosing the English That’s Right for You

Comparing DITA Support in XMetaL and FrameMaker

Content Convergence

Content Feedback Methods

Creating Quality Content with Open Source Tools

Creating Visual Training Using MadCap Mimic

Customizing HTML in Author-it

Do You See What I See?

Document Testing

Four Features That Matter When Choosing a HAT

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Getting Up-to-Speed on Eclipse User Assistance

Lean Instructional Design for Today’s Competitive Environment

Leveraging the DITA Community

Localization Makes Strange Bedfellows

MadCap Flare - An Introduction to Topic Based Authoring

MadCap Flare - Content Control and Publishing Techniques

MadCap Flare - Controlling Document Look and Feel with CSS

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Navigating the Vendor Maze

Paths to Success

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Principles of Web Operations Management

Producing Quality Documentation In An Agile Development Environment

Proving DITA Success in a Small Shop Environment

Quality Documentation Through Collaboration

Reaching Untapped Markets in the US

Read, Write, Remix

Reuse and Conditionality in Author-it (Full Day)

Should You Call It A Wiki, Or A Collaborative Work Space?

Social Media in Organizational Communication

Sustainable XML for Publishing Applications

The Changing Face of TechComm and the Society for Technical Communication

The Next Generation Home Digital Experience

The Right Tool for the Right Job for the Right Output for the Right Audience

The Shape of Information

Theory of Constraints and Project Management

Understanding Author-it Concepts

Using Adobe FrameMaker

[Case Study] EMC

[Case Study] How Suite It Is

Session Details

Creating Quality Content with Open Source Tools

Speaker: Scott Nesbitt
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM   Date: October 31
Track: Content Technologies
Experience level: All levels

When you think of authoring any kind of content, what tools come to mind? Probably software like FrameMaker, Microsoft Word, Author-IT, RoboHelp, and a few other tools that are considered standard. But have you consider the Open Source alternative?

Many people equate Open Source with Linux. But here’s definitely a lot more to it than Linux. In fact, users of Open Source software can take advantage of a number of content authoring tools which give writers—technical or otherwise—the ability to create and publish professional content.

In this presentation, Scott Nesbitt will highlight the strengths and drawbacks of Open Source tools. Scott will introduce some techniques for developing content the Open Source way, and give you a peek at how some vendors use Open Source tools for their documentation and collateral. You’ll also learn when and when not to go open.

This presentation will also look at a variety of Open Source tools for creating quality content, including:

• Word processors and wikis
• Help authoring tools
• Markup languages and how to publish with them
• Software for generating developer documentation
• Graphics and multimedia applications