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What is a Component Content Management System?
A Component Content Management System (CCMS) is a system that lets you manage conte…
4 Things DITA XML Can Actually Do [And Why They’re Awesome]
Concepts are nice, but capabilities are nicer. It’s time to look at what DITA XML actually does that makes it live up to the hype.
Recent Posts
![Technology Isn’t Waiting For You [So Stay Ahead of It]](https://2yt5vq2mdtho1qnl21tfd3zx-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/pakata-goh-Ovb-MejXjOg-unsplash-400x250.jpg)
Technology Isn’t Waiting For You [So Stay Ahead of It]
Adapting to digital progress isn’t an option anymore, it’s a necessity. Tough love. Something we all need once in a while, especially when it shakes up comforts that have long since settled into sleepy complacency. Businesses know this, too. McKinsey surveyed...
![[VIDEO] How to Filter Content for Different Audiences in easyDITA](https://2yt5vq2mdtho1qnl21tfd3zx-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/raychan-sfD-G1Aej2w-unsplash-400x250.jpg)
[VIDEO] How to Filter Content for Different Audiences in easyDITA
High-quality content serves different audiences effectively. Audience filtering makes sure you’re not leaving anyone out without the hassle of duplicating your content. When you want to tailor your content to the needs of particular audiences and to...
Markdown for Beginners: When Is It Most Appropriate?
The glass slipper that fits when it’s perfect and doesn’t when it’s forced. Markdown is huge right now. It’s not new, but it has experienced a meteoric rise in popularity recently. Founded by John Gruber and Aaron Swartz in 2004, Markdown is a text-to-HTML...
![[VIDEO] What is Structured Content? [And How to Get Started]](https://2yt5vq2mdtho1qnl21tfd3zx-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/What-is-structured-content-cover-400x250.png)
[VIDEO] What is Structured Content? [And How to Get Started]
Structured content is content that follows a set of predefined rules. These rules are also called a standard and they provide a consistent framework for the content so that systems and applications can interact with that content. In one sense, structured...
Why Wikis Don’t Work for Product Information
Wikis can be wonderful tools for collaboration, but they falter with the growth of your product content. Wikis: why do people still use them? As with all tools, there’s a list of pros and cons. In this article, we’ll explore those pros, cons, the in-betweens,...
What Is the Best Standard for Technical Documentation?
Which technical documentation standard is the "best?" This question is loaded with proverbial hills that technical writers will gladly die on. But you should think of it less like an entrenched battle and more like a quest to find what works for you and your...
3 Reasons Word Processors Fall Short for Documentation
When it comes to getting words onto (digital) paper, word processors like Microsoft Word and Google Docs have been the longstanding choice for many writers. But being first can sometimes have its drawbacks No tool is the best for all uses. Especially if you value...
Should I Use an Open Standard for My Documentation?
There are a bunch of standards out there. Which should you use? Let’s chat about standards before getting into what you should and shouldn’t use. Standards. They’re really just a collection of rules. Think of the rules that apply to soccer, traffic, or food safety....
![[VIDEO] How To Create PowerPoint Slides From DITA Topics in easyDITA](https://2yt5vq2mdtho1qnl21tfd3zx-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/neonbrand-gYf49RB7bvE-unsplash-400x250.jpg)
[VIDEO] How To Create PowerPoint Slides From DITA Topics in easyDITA
We’ve done MS Word to DITA, so why stop there? We do presentations, too. Build content in DITA and convert it to PowerPoint, fast. We’ve talked about Single Source of Truth and multi-channel publishing a fair bit, but we haven’t conversed about one ubiquitous...
Using Structured Content to Manage Complex Global Medical Device Content: Webinar
Using Structured Content to Manage Complex Global Medical Device Content Medical device content has no room for error. Ensuring that quality takes content organization beyond reproach. Join Scott Abel, The Content Wrangler, Ann Rockley, CEO for The Rockley Group, and...
![3 Content Problems for Technical Writers [with Solutions]](https://2yt5vq2mdtho1qnl21tfd3zx-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/jeshoots-com-2vD8lIhdnw-unsplash-400x250.jpg)
3 Content Problems for Technical Writers [with Solutions]
I asked technical writers about problems they have with the content development process and, if I didn’t know better, I’d say they copied each others’ answers. Everyone needs to vent some frustration once in a while. Even the content industry -- the whole goal...
![[VIDEO] How to Convert Your Word Docs to DITA](https://2yt5vq2mdtho1qnl21tfd3zx-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/johny-vino-R54V69BN0MI-unsplash-400x250.jpg)
[VIDEO] How to Convert Your Word Docs to DITA
Your documentation is in Microsoft Word and you want it in DITA. Great choice, but what do you do? Sit back and relax, we’ve got you covered. Documentation has long been written in MS Word. It is, after all, one of the most widely used modern word processing...
How to Write a Good DITA Task Topic
The DITA task topic was made for a reason, let’s make sure you’re writing your tasks with the best practices in mind. What Is a DITA Task Topic? A task topic is a DITA content component built for clear, concise, step-by-step instructions. I like food, and...
The DITA Task Topic: Why You Should Use It
You wouldn’t write a novel to explain how to make coffee. You’d write it in a few easy steps. The DITA Task Topic Is for Completing Tasks Aptly named, the DITA task topic presents clear steps that guide someone toward completing a -- you guessed it -- task....
The Power of No: Content Creator Survival Tips: Webinar
The Power of No: Content Creator Survival Tips You'll burn yourself out by saying yes to everything. Let's explore the power, balance, and importance of no. Join Scott Abel, The Content Wrangler, and Tracy Baker, Structured Content Consultant & DITA Industry...
![An Entertaining History of Translation Tech [And Then Some]](https://2yt5vq2mdtho1qnl21tfd3zx-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/etienne-girardet-9jfpVAhGC1g-unsplash-400x250.jpg)
An Entertaining History of Translation Tech [And Then Some]
Translation technology has come a long way since hand-copying things word-by-word. How we got from there to here is an adventure, to say the least. It’s easy to take translation for granted. However, it wasn’t always as easy as popping your sentence into Google...