an e-book for advanced Word users increases productivity and reduces frustration
During my years as a technical writer, I have used several software tools to create documentation:
All of these have their strengths and weaknesses, but overall I have come to rely most on Microsoft Word. Why? Because there isn't anything I can't do with it. And Word's built-in macro language (Visual Basic for Applications) gives it power that goes far beyond its competitors.
Over the years, I have written all sorts of technical (and not so technical) documents. During that time, I have learned not only what Word is capable of, but also how Word does what it does. Technical writers using Word generally do the same things: books, proposals, white papers, and booklets. Just as generally, these same writers seem to stumble over similar problem areas: lengthy documents (usually books), graphics, protected forms, and merges.
I often helped colleagues, struggling with Word, by providing personal and written instructions. Later, I decided to compile those tidbits of advice into a book. The result was The Elements of Word, an electronic book intended for people like technical writers and Word "power users" who need to wring out every drop of capability Word has to offer. The book also contains tips on configuring Word's environment and creating simple macros. It's amazing to me just how much time can be saved by making features quicker to access, but what's more amazing is that few people know how to change Word's environment or to create custom toolbars with custom macros.
I intentionally created separate files for each chapter of the book so that the book itself became a demonstration of how books (of any length) could be created with Word. The book-building steps are thoroughly discussed within the book. When a copy of the book is ordered, the buyer receives a CD containing the book as a PDF file, the book's "source" files as separate Word docs, as well as other files containing sample macros and toolbars. I know of no other Word book that not only contains detailed book-building steps, but is also itself an example of what it describes.
I initially wrote the book for Word 97 and Word 2000, since they are very similar. Later, I wrote a second edition for Word 2002 and 2003. I recently finished a third edition specifically for Word 2007. The books have been purchased by people around the world. Several of the people who bought the book, and took the time to write to me about it afterward, have nothing but praise for it. I regard that as a success.
And I haven't stopped there. I have written more than 2 dozen articles for my "Word Smith" & "Tool Tips" columns for the Blue Pencil (newsletter of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication). The column's subjects vary from Word, to RoboHelp, to Microsoft Access databases, and other tools used by technical writers.