Open Source Tools for User Assistance
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The document discusses various open source tools for user assistance, including OpenOffice, Scribus, The GIMP, and Inkscape, highlighting their functionalities and comparisons to proprietary software. It emphasizes the benefits of open source software such as accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use, along with providing links to additional resources for users. The author, Mike McCallister, provides insights into the capabilities of each tool and the advantages of using open source solutions for content development.
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Open Source Tools for User Assistance
- 1. Exploring Open Source Tools for User Assistance Mike McCallister (ProTek Writing Services) [email_address]
- 2. Tool Demonstrations & Reviews What is open source software?
- 3. Definitions Open Source: http://opensource.org/docs/osd Focused on what developers offer.
- 4. Allow derivatives, free redistribution. Free Software: http://www.fsf.org/licensing/essays/free-sw.html "Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software."
- 5. Focused on what user can do. Freeware/Shareware "Free beer": Any software charging $0.
- 6. Beware of potential malware!
- 7. So What Are We Talking About? Content development tools OpenOffice.org: Words, presentations, etc.
- 8. Scribus: Desktop publishing, page layouts
- 9. TeX: Document processor, semi-structured text Graphics tools The GIMP: Raster graphics
- 11. OpenOffice.org 5 applications Writer word processor – similar to Word, WordPerfect
- 12. Draw vector graphics tool – similar to Illustrator, CorelDRAW
- 13. Impress presentation – similar to PowerPoint
- 14. Calc spreadsheet – similar to Excel
- 15. Base database – similar to Access ODF OASIS standard
- 16. AutoExport to PDF Some configuration possible
- 17. OOo Writer vs. FrameMaker vs. Word Writer FrameMaker Word Master documents Book files Master documents Conditional text Conditional text Limited conditional text support Direct PDF export Acrobat Distiller PDF plug-ins available. Cascading styles Structure available Cascading styles; Strong outline tool Simple list numbering Simple list numbering Field codes
- 18. OOo Writer Navigator Outline tool Configurable headings
- 19. Drag-n-drop Quick go-to Tables
- 20. Graphics
- 21. Hyperlinks Move it out of your way
- 22. OOo Writer/Web For HTML-based support
- 23. Cleaner code than Word
- 24. XML Forms Wizard
- 25. Simple controls in toolbar
- 26. Gallery provides backgrounds, bullets, and sounds
- 27. Preview in (default) browser
- 28. Scribus Page layout / Desktop publisher
- 29. Create text and graphics elsewhere, then import
- 30. Good for (short) manuals, quick reference guides, dynamic PDF
- 31. Export to print, PDF
- 32. Careful: Default templates in A4
- 33. Scribus
- 34. Created for UNIX CLI, LyX is the GUI
- 35. Fully separates presentation from text
- 36. WYSIWYM: What you see is what you mean
- 37. Exports to ODF, PDF, HTML
- 40. LyX
- 41. LyX Terminology Document Classes: Templates Article (default)
- 42. Book: Article with Chapters
- 43. Letter
- 44. Report
- 45. Weakness: No "user manual" class. No DITA or DocBook XML support. Environments: Styles Strictly enforced by document class
- 46. Open Source Graphics: The GIMP Open source Photoshop
- 47. Raster graphics (JPG, PNG)
- 48. Layers
- 49. Screenshots
- 50. Beginning to support CMYK color rendering through GEGL
- 51. GIMP vs. Photoshop GIMP Photoshop Layer styles Layers Scripts, not macros Macro recording tool Many useful plug-ins Massive developer community writing add-ons GimpShop available, but not current Uses different terminology GIMP is great if it’s your first editing tool, but Photoshop experts may not find their skills transferable
- 52. Open Source Graphics: Inkscape Open source Illustrator/CorelDRAW
- 54. Layers
- 55. Callouts & text boxes
- 56. Flowcharts
- 57. Built-in IM support client
- 58. What Are Scalable Vector Graphics? W3C Standard XML Attributes can be indexed and searched
- 59. Inkscape contains an XML editor No pixilation when you resize
- 61. Can animate with JavaScript Not yet in Inkscape
- 62. Text Boxes in Inkscape Create simple text box
- 63. Set font
- 64. Type
- 65. Add arrows as necessary
- 66. Why Use OSS for User Assistance? Accessible to everyone
- 67. Open standards
- 68. Price is right
- 69. Learning curve comparable from app to app
- 70. Portability
- 71. Resources OpenOffice.org: http://www.openoffice.org
- 72. OOo Doc Team: http://oooauthors.org
- 77. Other Resources TheOpenDisc: http://www.theopendisc.com
- 78. Wikipedia list of OSS packages: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_open_source_ software_packages
- 80. Dia flowchart tool: http://live.gnome.org/Dia/
- 81. Mike McCallister: http://www.michaelmccallister.com