By Erica Turner
November 13, 2015
Technical writers are professional writers who frequently utilize software programs on a persistent basis. They are often responsible for creating written texts such as technical and instructional manuals, operating instructions, journal articles, and other documents that arrange complex material into documents that can be easily understood by readers.
When creating these documents, technical writers often use software programs such as Adobe FrameMaker, Adobe InDesign, MadCap Flare, and SnagIt to complete various aspects of a project. Determining the best software for technical writers depends on the type of scope of work that writer is working on.
Technical writers can potentially work on multiple elements of a document, such as the content of a document and design of a complex document, simultaneously. Because of this, technical writers often work with more than just one software program at a time to complete the various tasks of a project.
These software programs offer a platform that enables design and text modifications to any technical documentation.
Adobe FrameMaker
Adobe FrameMaker is a document processor designed for writing and editing complex and large documentation.
This software is optimal for a technical writer because it’s a processor that is able to incorporate graphics and images with a large body of text. Adobe FrameMaker is known for being the standard for writing book-length like technical documentation. This program is ideal for creating consistency within technical documentation.
This program uses a frame system (pre-designed pages) where the user can apply design frames to each page. The user can implement design elements such as tables, graphs, or graphics that can be included in different frames. This program can perform some of the basic writing tasks such as creating character formats and paragraph formats.
Adobe FrameMaker also gives the option of using the “unstructured” version of the software program. This feature allows the user to construct paragraphs without any forced logical structure.
The versatility with structured and unstructured approaches makes this software program perfect for complex documents technical writers can utilize.
Adobe InDesign
Adobe InDesign is similar to FrameMaker, but is used for less complex tasks. Technical writers can use Adobe InDesign to produce documents such as posters, fliers, brochures, newsletters, and book layouts.
This program was originally debuted for designers who created and published print publications. The program has evolved to support long-document features.
Despite its many uses, Adobe InDesign is not as helpful when it comes to creating help systems. The program does allow the user to easily control the text by adding or deleting multiple pages of content. The program also includes a great typographic composition ability that is used to create various types of layouts.
Styling the printed output of a document is straightforward in Adobe InDesign. This program works well for developing text and graphics together.
MadCap Flare
MadCap Flare is used to produce technical documentations, specifically documents such as online help, software documentation, policy and procedure manuals, and user guides. This software program can also develop help files that use hyperlinks to jump in between pages.
The program can create multiple files that may be joined with hyperlinks that can be used on the internet or be used as a glossary or index for any project. MadCap Flare is successful in single sourcing to other formats such as print and mobile. Flare offers complete customization to the user when designing the web help and print output of a document.
If a technical writer works for a company that mainly uses online documentations and online help, MadCap Flare would be the right choice for them.
One specific benefit of MadCap Flare is its open architecture. The program stores all of its content and project files as XML which makes all projects transparent and easily accessible.
SnagIt
SnagIt is a screen-capture software that a technical writer can use to capture images, design specs, different parts of a web page, or parts of a PC’s graphic user interface to assist in explaining or referring to specific items within a document.
Words tend to be abstract and less specific in description to readers when trying to learn a new software. These screen shots can help target a specific point on how to accomplish a certain task.
The screen shot images help present the information in visual form to the reader, and tends to make the learning experience easier. Some technical writers make use of screen captures in their online documentation as a part of the knowledge base for customers and employees.
SnagIt offers some of the following options: capturing images from a scrolling window and converting them to a pdf; capturing objects precisely within certain frames; and capturing the entire length of a website. All in all, screenshots help users navigate documents to any specific help section of any program.
