RE: Documentation Software

[Buck Calabro <mcalabro@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tuesday, April 21, 1998 2:58 PM, John Hall [SMTP:jhall@hillmgt.com] 
wrote:
> We are looking for software to document our systems & procedures.  Not
> necessarily our code but rather how things are done by our system
> operators and users.  This is going to be a project for one person to
> work on over the next year so we don't need anything too fancy.  Does
> anybody have any suggestions ?  PC or AS400 Based - it doesn't matter.

John,
I'm not sure there's any easy way to document your internal procedures
(e.g. backups run at 6.00pm, A/R runs after the last truck driver returns
from his run, etc.)  so I don't have any suggestions there.

We have several thoughts here on how best to package our documentation
to make it easier, etc.
1) Windows .hlp files stored on a common network server.  All Windows
    PC's can read a .hlp file.
2) Adobe .pdf files stored on a common network server.  Needs Acrobat
    to read, but so do many other packages, so you may well have it on
    the PC already.
3) HTML files stored on a common network server.  Needs a browser,
    but most PC's these days come bundled with one.

We are not considering storing documentation on the AS/400 because
AS/400 DASD is expensive and the search/compile tools are scarce/weak
when compared to what one can get on the PC.

If you really want to store your documentation on the /400, consider
UIM panels; they're quite similar to HTML and you can reach it from any
green screen via STRSCHIDX.  I have some help panels done this way
if you're interested in how they look...

Buck Calabro
Commsoft, Albany, NY
mailto:mcalabro@commsoft.net

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