Key Concept Archive

Using Checklists to Increase Consistency and Productivity in Communications Tasks

Anyone writing, editing, or managing any type of communications for a living is feeling the crunch. There is less time to create and edit; more types and formats of content; more apps, software, and systems to learn. And we expect quality, accuracy, and consistency from ourselves because we take pride…

Cognition, Design, and Usability: An Primer for Technical Communicators

Nothing is inherently usable. Rather, usability is about cognition—or how our minds process sensory input. If technical communicators understand such factors, they can create materials that address them and develop more usable designs. In this session, the presenter overviews Cognitive factors affecting expectations of design and usability Methods for researching…

What training do I need to use Arbortext well?

Dear Liz I am starting to work with the PTC Arbortext Editor using SGML. I need to know if I can get training on the editor? What would it take to get the training to use it well? Would I need to buy the software? Please help! Wondering in Wichita…

Ki, Qi, Key: The Way of DITA Harmony With Keys and Key References

An introduction to DITA’s key and key reference facility: why, when, and how. If you have images, content references, variable text, or cross references in your DITA content you need keys. This presentation helps harness the energy of your content and return it to harmony. About the Visiting Dojo Master…

Arbortext 102: Best Practices for Creating Arbortext Styler Stylesheets

Learn the basics for creating APP-based, Arbortext Styler stylesheets from start to finish. Paperback. ISBN: 978-0-9976505-3-2  

Arbortext 101: Best Practices for Configuring, Authoring, Styling, and Publishing with Arbortext

Learn the basics for getting Arbortext configured correctly the first time. Discover the essential keys to setting up your environment. Paperback. ISBN: 978-0-9976505-1-8

Top 5 Arbortext Resources

#1: Arbortext 101 Get the book: Arbortext 101: Best Practices for Configuring, Authoring, Styling, and Publishing with Arbortext This book gives you everything you need to establish a good foundation with your Arbortext environment. It’s short and to the point. This is the first book under the Arbortext Monster Garage…

Techcomm and Arbortext Resources – We have a lot

We share. A lot. We derive an intense satisfaction when we are able to improve the capabilities of our customers as well as everyone in the communities we serve. Customers don’t just buy software or one-time services from us: They learn when they work with us. We want everyone to…

Arbortext 101

In the first Arbortext Monster Garage book and first ever commercially-available book about Arbortext, Arbortext 101: Best Practices for Configuring, Authoring, Styling, and Publishing with Arbortext, you’ll find advice from a long-time Arbortext user, developer, and well-known community member. Arbortext is very widely used by content creators to generate high-quality,…

Arbortext 102

In the second Arbortext Monster Garage book and first ever commercially-available book about Arbortext stylesheets, Arbortext 102: Best Practices for Creating Arbortext Styler Stylesheets, you’ll learn that the best part of the Arbortext product suite is that anyone can create complicated style for their publications without having to be a…