Formats and tools
When a company decides to industrialize technical writing, the question of tools immediately arises. However, the true issue lies with the underlying formats rather than the tools themselves.
Many publishers have developed proprietary formats that only their software can modify, securing a captive market that is required to pay for regular product updates. For instance, a MS Word or FrameMaker file can only be modified using their respective tools. Choosing such a format may limit a company’s future options and prove costly: a license is needed for each user, whether they are a technical writer, occasional contributor, or translator.
A standard format leaves the choice of tool open
By focusing on formats, it is possible to implement scalable solutions. An open format such as OpenDocument or DITA XML (with only the latter being an industrial format for technical writing) is not tied to a specific tool. As a result, it can be modified and manipulated using a variety of software programs. Structured formats such as DocBook and DITA XML, linked to a standardized XSD schema, can be easily managed—from creation to publication—using a wide range of tools, from free text editors to proprietary graphic software suites.