If I was a new technical writer trying to get started on a budget, I'd likely take the free tools route. Free authoring tools have come a long way, and in most cases are robust enough to compete with proprietary tools. These tools would allow a new writer to produce a full set of documents and learn the production process without spending a dime.
Here's what I'd install...
Task: Word processing
Tool: Open Office
Open Office contains a full office suite, including the excellent Open Office Writer. Writer is packed full of useful features and looks and feels much like Microsoft Word. It can convert your documents to PDF without Acrobat. Also, Open Office uses XML as its native file format, making future portability a breeze.
Task: PDF creation
Tool: PDF Creator (affiliate link)
PDF Creator is a robust and inexpensive alternative that allows you to create Adobe compatible PDFs from many kinds of documents.
Task: Help development
Tool: Microsoft HTML Help Workshop
The Help Workshop compiler allows you to import HTML files and build a fully functional HTML Help system. It has tools for creating a Table of Contents and Index, and robust help for guiding you through the process. You can save any RoboHelp vs Flare worries for later, when your budget isn't so tight.
Task: XML editing
Tool: Cooktop XML
Cooktop is an "under the hood" editor, not the WYSIWYG variety. However, it has robust editing features, syntax highlighting, and allows you to specify an XSLT file for transformations.
Task: HTML editing.
Tool: Nvu
Nvu offers tabbed editing, WYSIWYG view, FTP and publishing tools, and other robust features to compete with the big guys. If also boasts full support for XML, JavaScript, and CSS. What else could you want from a free HTML editor?
Task: Graphics editing
Tool: SerifPlus 4.0
This free version of SerifPlus supports numerous file formats, easy-to-use wizards, and some really great drawing tools. And you can always upgrade to version X2 if you want to shell out some cash for the latest features.
That's it. Those are the free tools I'd use to learn the publishing process and create professional quality documents on a shoestring budget. Obviously you'll want to reconsider this toolset when your budget increases, but these free authoring tools will get the job done.
Are there any great freeware tools that you'd like to recommend?
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4 comments:
Re: nvu
> What else could you want from a free HTML editor?
A few less bugs... :-)
Actually, I've traded in nvu for Kompozer, which according to www.nvu.com "does fix some of the major annoyances. If you use NVU 1.0 and it works for you, stick with it. But if you run into problems, give KompoZer a try and see if it helps."
The nvu.com site forks to both products' sites.
You might also want to read this article:
http://www.linux.com/feature/54188
Thanks for the feedback! Yes, I believe Nvu is a relatively new product, so I'd expect some clunkiness now and then.
I remember when I had the same gripes about Open Office Writer. Version 1 had some major issues. When I installed Version 2 I was blown away by the progress they made. I can only hope for the same as Nvu matures. I'll have to check out Kompozer; sounds promising!
And thanks also to the person who posted the Linux article above. That's a great resource!
Thanks for the links. I had not heard of Cookop. I recommend GIMP for editing raster graphics, and Inkscape for editing vector graphics.
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