#paligo

A common challenge for technical writers is re-using existing content in different documents to avoid rewriting the same material. Often, different writers from different departments write documents about the same topic. This can present problems because the same task, procedure, product, etc., are written differently which may cause confusion. For example, a technical writer documents hows to save files to a cloud service while the creative arts department does the same.

What are topics? Topics are independent, stand-alone pieces of writing that can be placed in different documents and make sense. At the company I work for, any heading 1 or heading 2 section of a document is written as a separate topic. However, to get a better understanding, let’s look at an example.

Let’s imagine you work for an online book seller. You need to document the information on your website so that it can be repurposed for different audiences. (I’m using the Barnes & Noble site as a model). The textbook page has links for different subjects, for example, accounting, algebra, architecture, economics, education, literature, and visual arts. Each of these subjects are separate topics.

A school district is looking for a textbook vendor. You are working with marketing and sales to produce a multi-page PDF that lists the different categories of books that your company sells that the school district will find  useful. Instead of cutting and pasting, all you need to do is include the appropriate topics. You create a TOC that includes the necessary topics such as”

Mathematics

Algebra

Introduction to Algebra

Algebra I

Algebra II

Arithmetic

Fractions

Geometry

Introduction to Geometry

Geometry I

Geometry II

Each bullet is a separate topic. Topic-based tools such as Madcap Flare and Paligo make it easy for you to include topics in a table of contents. If you are using Microsoft Word or Libre Writer, you would insert files or documents.

Topic-based authoring takes a bit of time to get used to. Sometimes a topic I wrote consisted of one or two paragraphs and filled only 60% of the page. It looked too small to be a topic but logically it was. My other challenge was including parts of a document into another document. The title of the document was fine for its original purpose but would have been better with a bit of tweaking in the new document. In the new document, it served as an appendix. The title would have been better if it began with “Appendix: A” but that would have led to problems with its original purpose. The company and I are new to topic-based writing. This taught me to think about how we name documents.

Rule 1: Always post the rules.
 Rule 2: Answer the questions the person who tagged you asked and write 11 new ones.
 Rule 3: Tag 11 people and link them to the post. 
Rule 4: Actually tell them you tagged them.

Zhe Questionz’

1. Is there any colors that particularly bother your eyes so much it causes headaches, dizziness, anxiety or any uncomfortable/negative feelings?

Not that I know of.

2. Have you ever experienced laying down to go to bed and it being morning/afternoon/the next day after what just felt like you blinking?

yes

3. As an adult, have you ever been so taken by someone and that smile they give you, or how deep those eyes are that you just want to lay next to them, feel their warmth, smell their personal scent, but not engage in intercourse with them, like, ever(you may also share who that person is if you like)? 

Yes

4. What song currently makes you feel the most alive? (The word “alive” can mean something different from you than for me, so explain how it makes you feel “alive”)

Currently, The Reeling - Passion Pit

5. Do you have any mementos that make you feel unhappy but you can’t seem to let go of?

yes

6. How have you dealt with the person you love most, hurting you the most? (If you even have dealt with that, or even have/had someone like that in your life)

I don't really know how I've dealt with it

7. Is there anyone of the same sex in your life currently that you find breathtakingly beautiful? As in, you find it hard to look at them/hard to look away? 

Not really.

8. What movie has you so engrossed you feel like you are the only person in the room, or makes you feel like someone is there with you when there is not? 

I don't think a movie has made me feel like this

9. What color is your mother’s eyes? Are they the same as yours? Have you thought about the fact lately, that she was able to feel your first movements, and that you are now completely separated from her and are able to think on your own about such things?

Brown, yes, no I haven't thought about that.

10. How do you feel/what do you think about fetishes? Do you yourself have one? 

To each their own. The closest thing I have to a fetish is wanting to please the other person, though I've lately enjoyed being a lot more dominating.

11. What is your favorite sound and why? This does not include music.

Tiff's laugh, It always makes me happy.

12. How are you feeling today? I hope you are well. You are beautiful, and I hope you know that.

I'm feeling pretty good.

My questions

1. If you could have any living creature as a pet, what would it be?

2. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

3. Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo?

4. What's your favorite song right now?

5. What video game are you currently in the process of playing?

6. What are you currently procrastinating on?

7. Favorite sex position?

8. Favorite recreational drug?

9. What is one thing about yourself that you're currently working on making better?

10. What's the most amount of times you've had sex in one day?

11. Wild card, come up with your own question because I ran out of them.

Tagging: I don't have 11 so yeah...

Tiff

Celena

Steven

Najee

Jason

Mischief Managed Miri: Because Dave Strider says so I guess

Mischief Managed Miri: idk

Mischief Managed Miri: (Cecil would believe it)

Paligo: It's a government mandated cult.