[stylist] Tech Writing: Ten StepsToMake AccessibleWord Documents For PDF Production

Tue Feb 25 14:03:21 UTC 2014

My husband says the ribbons are not difficult, you just need to adjust
to tabbing and accessing ribbons new way. I'm still using version 2003
most the time though because my new computer has had problems getting up
and running. Most short-cuts should work with newer versions of
Microsoft though.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ashley
Bramlett
Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2014 11:16 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] Tech Writing: Ten StepsToMake AccessibleWord
Documents For PDF Production

Donna,
I miss the menus too and so  do many people. Now, microsoft needs to
listen 
to customers and maybe they'll come back.
Great question. can we use the 2003 keystrokes in 2013 version?

-----Original Message----- 
From: Applebutter Hill
Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2014 2:32 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Tech Writing: Ten Steps ToMake AccessibleWord 
Documents For PDF Production

Jim,
I have a lot of respect for what you do and the tremendous potential of
the field of tech writing in general. A lot of things would be a lot
easier if tech writers had more of an interest in being clear. This
applies to nonsoftware stuff too. Instructions are notorious for being
impossible to follow. My opinion, for what it's worth, is that in
general people assume too much and don't take the time to backtrack and
start from the beginning.

As far as the different versions of Word ... My 2010 version & the 2007
version will tell you to "keep typing the key sequence for Word 2003" or
something to that effect. I had learned some of them -- like alt+t, o
for the options dialog and alt+t, w for Word count, but I never have
found a full list of them. I keep threatening to re install Word 2003
and just go through the menus and write them up.

I've gotten more comfortable with the ribbons, but I don't like them. I
guess I was just going to ask if the 2013 Word still gives you the
option to use those keystrokes. If they're still doing it, you could
include them and have everything covered. What I hate is when I run
across instructions that tell me to go to the advanced tab of something
I've never heard of and don't give me any clue where it is in the
ribbon. Donna

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Homme,
James
Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2014 12:22 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] Tech Writing: Ten Steps To Make AccessibleWord
Documents For PDF Production

Hi Donna,
You hinted at part of the problem. My audience may be blind people, or a
combination of all kinds of people, who have Word 2003, 2007, 2010, and
2013. Since it's an article, I debated about making little sidebars with
procedures for doing some things, and to strike a balance, I think I
will put in enough text to help my audience get to the right places, at
least enough to discover how to do some things.

And as a reader, personally, I really hate articles with short
descriptions and hyperlinks to who knows where, just to learn how to do
something. I'm OK with enough hand-holding to allow me to get through
learning something without breaking my concentration on the task at
hand. This kind of thing has more to do with usability than good
writing. Good writing in this field is a far cry from the kinds of
things we talk about on this list, and I'm OK with that. I don't intend
to do anything more, except here and there, other than try to make my
writing more clear. You should have seen my writing when I was a new
programmer. Oh boy.

Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Applebutter Hill
Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2014 10:04 AM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] Tech Writing: Ten Steps To Make AccessibleWord
Documents For PDF Production

Jim,
Do you mean adding more than "save" such as giving them the old Word
2003 keystroke alt+f,a, or do you mean just telling them to save it and
not assuming they are smart enough to know that? Donna

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Homme,
James
Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2014 7:06 AM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] Tech Writing: Ten Steps To Make AccessibleWord
Documents For PDF Production

Hi,
I struggled with how much to assume my audience already knows. My
manager suggested that I fill it out with short procedures on how to do
some of the things I mention, such as when I say to save a template
file, even if it is a sentence or two to point the reader in the right
direction. Does that sound reasonable?

Thanks.

Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Chris
Kuell
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 7:33 PM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] Tech Writing: Ten Steps To Make Accessible Word
Documents For PDF Production

Jim,

Although I'm not in any way an advanced (or even moderately advanced)
computer user (for instance, I've never even used, never mind made, a
template in word) your instructions seem logical and easy to follow to
me. My only editorial suggestion is to kill the comma after 'that' in:

c.       Save the document with a file name, that contains no spaces or
special characters.

chris

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://writers.nfb.org/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/james.homme%40highm
ark.
com

________________________________

This e-mail and any attachments to it are confidential and are intended
solely for use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender
immediately and then delete it. If you are not the intended recipient,
you must not keep, use, disclose, copy or distribute this e-mail without
the author's prior permission. The views expressed in this e-mail
message do not necessarily represent the views of Highmark, its
diversified business, or affiliates.

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://writers.nfb.org/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/applebutterhill%40g
mail
.com

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://writers.nfb.org/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/james.homme%40highm
ark.
com

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://writers.nfb.org/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/applebutterhill%40g
mail
.com

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://writers.nfb.org/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
stylist:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40earth
link.net 

_______________________________________________
Writers Division web site
http://writers.nfb.org/
stylist mailing list
stylist at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
stylist:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/bpollpeter%40hotmai
l.com