The RoboColum(n)

RoboHelp v Flare comparison: The UI

18 June 2013 Applications & HATS

This is the second in a series of posts covering my evaluation of Adobe RoboHelp 10 against Madcap Flare 9. For a list of all of the posts, see my introductory post entitled, “RoboHelp v Flare comparison: The process“.

I have used Adobe RoboHelp versions back to version 9. No not the version 9 before version 10 but the one before version 2000! If this doesn’t make sense, read my post on the different RoboHelp versions. It explains all, even if it leaves you wondering what the various product owners were thinking. In the years I’ve used it, I’ve become used to RoboHelp’s UI. Arguably the only major changes made in the last few releases has been the:

Ability to customise your pods in different workspaces.

WebHelp single source layout redesign.

Other than that, new functionality has just been bolted on neatly to the existing UI. As the RoboHelp UI adopts a non-ribbon look, the myriad of menu items can look old fashioned. All of this criticism should be taken with a pinch of salt though, as this is arguably largely cosmetic. If it does the job, why complain?

UA Europe Conference Day 2: Mixing desks, not so FAQs and Poppadums

17 June 2013 Conferences

The final day of conferences are a strange affair. The bleary eyes at the first morning session tell their own story of the night before. The atmosphere is subdued and getting participation is difficult. Attendances is also down as people check out of rooms, sleep in or just pace themselves. The second day of the UA Europe conference was no different, but those that missed the first morning sessions missed out.

UA Europe Conference Day 1: Wifi, the unsocial web and bribery

13 June 2013 Conferences

The UA Europe Conference kicked out properly today with an announcement about the free wifi offered to delegates. The trouble with it was that it just seemed to work in the public areas of the hotel. As we were all packed into a first floor conference suite, it just didn’t connect. So if you were wondering why there had been a complete absence of tweets, that is why. What is weird is that at a conference where the buzzwords include “technology”, “mobile” and “online” the organizers seem incapable of including a wifi connection that allows us to engage with our audiences. OK. Rant over.

Adobe Day UK: Discussion, laughs and disagreement

12 June 2013 Adobe, Conferences

And we’re off. The UA Europe Conference kicked off with a free thought leadership event organized by Adobe for the waifs and strays of the Technical Communication industry heading to Manchester for the real event and at a loss for something to do This product agnostic afternoon packed in a lot of content from a mixed bag of speakers from as far away as the US, Australia and Israel.

UA Europe Conference 2013: The RoboColum(n) essentials

11 June 2013 Conferences

This Thursday and Friday is the UA Europe 2013 Conference in Manchester, UK. It promises to be another fun packed, information filled couple of days with the leading lights of the user assistance industry presenting and attending. Here is my personal preference of the sessions I’ll be attending. If you are presenting and aren’t listed, it is not too late to get me to change my mind! We can discuss it over a beer. If you are just attending the conference, do come up and say “Hello”. For those who can’t attend, I’ll be tweeting using the #uaeurope hash tag.