XLIFF…Where For Art Thou?

April 21, 2009 Blog 3 Comments

By Scott Bass, President, Advanced Language Translation I am not sure what happened between 2001 and 2009. It could be that with a growing business and family, I just lost focus. But, I distinctly recall hearing about a new and exciting standard called XML Localization Interchange File Format (XLIFF) sometime around the end of 2001 or the start of 2002… Well nearly seven years later, the details escape me as to how I became familiar with the XLIFF. Working in the translation and localization industry, the standard is of direct …

Results of the 2009 Technical Writers Training Needs Survey

April 13, 2009 Blog 9 Comments

The results are in. Despite the economic challenges facing the global marketplace today, technical communication professionals are in need of training. The problem is finding the money for the classes (and more often than not, the travel), as well as finding and the right class (see below), at the right (low) price, in the right (nearby) location, from the right (trusted) provider. Based on the responses of more than 500 technical communications professionals who answered The Content Wrangler Technical Communication Training Needs Survey, the top five hot training topics for …

Book Review: “Managing Writers: A Real World Guide to Managing Technical Documentation”

April 13, 2009 Blog No Comments

In this review of “Managing Writers: A Real World Guide to Managing Technical Documentation” (Richard L. Hamilton, XML Press, 2009), Emma Hamer writes, “This unassuming little book (238 pages, plus templates and index) is a MUST-READ for new and existing managers of technical communication teams. For the price, $24.95, it is a steal; an absolute treasure-trove of valuable information. Trust me; you will go back to it again and again. And it will make you a better and more effective manager.” Read the review. Then, buy the book.