A range of software tools have been reviewed by contributors under the categories listed below.
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Paper Based
Document development
Page layout
Graphics 
Diagramming
Web Development
Online Help
Online publication
Single source
Screen capture
Content/Knowledge Management
Editing
Process Mapping
Adobe FrameMaker
Description
Powerful online/paper-based publishing package. Well suited to large, complex documentation projects. Standard and SGML versions available for UNIX, Mac and Windows.
Strengths
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Easy to assemble complex (multi-file) documents ("books")
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Easy re-ordering of chapters/sections/parts
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Powerful frame feature for placing text and graphics
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Automatic update of tables of contents, indexes, master indexes
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Automatic update of numbering streams and cross references between documents
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Imports many graphic and text formats (including Word)
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Use of master pages to provide layout for document pages. Master pages provide a reliable method of ensuring that headers and footers work as required
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Ability to create hyperlinks in documents then export to other formats (including PDF and HTML)
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Integrated line-drawing tools
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Scientific equations
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Conditional text
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User-defined variables
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Ability to import styles, conditional text and other elements from other documents
Weaknesses
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"Dated" feel to user interface
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Significant knowledge required to create and format tables of contents
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No native macro language or automation features
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Single level of undo
Further Information
Adobe InDesign
Description
InDesign is the graphic design industry standard for publication layout.
Further Information
Corel WordPerfect
Description
Corel WordPerfect is the word processing component of WordPerfect Office 2000 in the same league as Microsoft Word 2000. It is rich in functionality and features, and powerful enough to handle typical word processing tasks and more besides. It provides good web publishing capabilities.
Strengths
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The Variables feature allows a variable or placeholder to be placed in multiple locations in a document. WordPerfect automatically fills in all instances of the variable with text specified by the user
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Built-in publishing to PDF, that supports hyperlinks and watermarks. Also the choice to save the PDF to document distribution, editing or the web. HTML publishing capabilities include cascading style sheets
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Ability to open and save Microsoft Word files. Also the ability to save as a wide range of file types. For example, text, Lotus, Excel, Word, Quattro, RTF
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Real-time previews of formatting options. Upon mouseover of each font, column, underline style, drop cap, QuickFont™, outline, bullet or numbering its actual look is previewed. Also works for cell fill patterns
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Reveal Codes lets you format documents easily and control features like underlining and bolding. If you have a problem, you can open the Reveal Codes window to see where the problem is and correct it from there
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It has SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) and XML (eXtensible Markup Language) functionality to create, edit, retrieve, validate and save documents. Both SGML and XML allow you to create your own Document Type Definition (DTD) or use existing DTDs to define a document architecture and markup
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Other features such as VBA Editor, Address book, Move the insertion point to its previous position and Autoscroll. Autoscroll lets you scroll without having to click on scroll buttons
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Quick fill of table cells. Quick split of table cells
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Good selection of drawing objects.
Weaknesses
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The default Save as window is too small with lots of horizontal scrolling to view folders. However, it can be resized and even maximised.
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Use of the term Grammatik for the spell checker range of tools.
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Clicking inside a table removes the Styles drop down box.
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After selecting the whole table you cannot scroll to another section of the document. It "bounces" back to the table.
Further Information
QuickSilver
Description
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Quicksilver (formerly Interleaf) is an electronic publishing package designed to create long, complex documents in a number of output formats including XML, HTML and PDF.
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Quicksilver features WYSIWYG word processing, automated layout, multiple links and cross-references, database support, data-driven graphics, multi-page tables, equation editing and colour image editing.
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Style sheets known as Catalogs can control the format and content of text and graphics through out an entire book or series of documents. Quicksilver has its own desktop with some unique features and is reasonably compatible with the current version of the Windows operating system--windows on Windows, if you like. It provides full integration to BroadVision Portal and allows a transition to XML authoring.
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Interleaf was acquired by BroadVision in April 2000.
Strengths
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Create and publish lengthy, complex documents in multiple output formats (including HTML, PDF and Postscript)
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Automate and streamline the process of creating and publishing complex documents to the web
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Automate publishing of personalized content to BroadVision Portal
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Personalisation based on qualifiers, categories and attributes established in the portal environment
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Used by industry leaders such as Bausch & Lomb, Boeing, Ford Motor Company, Lufthansa, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter and the U.S. Postal Service
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Extend authoring environment to the web without re-tagging or reformatting the information
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Assemble publications from a variety of text, graphic and database sources including Microsoft Word, Excel, AutoCad, Oracle, WordPerfect and FrameMaker
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Includes a complete XML authoring environment
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Reusable content and cascading changes, attribute tagging and conditional views, and automatic TOCs and indices
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Streamlines publishing to BroadVision portal environment with automatic multi-file publishing, intra and inter-file links, and by leveraging qualifiers, categories and attributes in the portal
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Own desktop
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Strong unix background
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Multiple language support
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Style sheets affect whole document
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Consistent attributes across whole document
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Relatively easy to use.
Weaknesses
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Own desktop
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Supporting documentation can be vague at times.
Further Information
Microsoft Word
Industry-standard word-processing package.
Strengths
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Tidy and workable user interface
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Relatively easy to learn and use
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Excellent WYSIWYG capabilities (printer output is almost always identical to screen display)
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Ability to save files to HTML and numerous other formats
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Styles can be created and applied easily to give consistent formatting
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Hides many of the complexities of document formatting from the user
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Excellent integration and consistency with other Microsoft products
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Integrated line-drawing tools
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Text manipulation capability for "enhanced" presentation (WordArt)
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Powerful macro language (VBA) and automation features
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Simple to import, position and scale graphics in a range of formats.
Weaknesses
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Style over-rides can be applied easily, causing potential formatting and consistency issues for beginner-level users
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Combination of headers/footers/section breaks sometimes results in page numbering and/or formatting problems
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Does not cater well for side-heads (labels in the left-hand margin)
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Automatic document heading numbering may not always operate as intended
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Not well suited to large or complex documents
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Automatic page shifts are not stable because they are printer- and "normal.dot" template dependent
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Internal HTML handling is of limited use
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No colour separation features.
Further Information
Adobe PageMaker
Description
Adobe PageMaker software is a page layout program. It is suitable for business, education, and small- and home-office professionals who want to create high-quality publications such as brochures and newsletters. It has templates, graphics, and intuitive design tools.
Not surprisingly it works with other Adobe applications so that you can use existing content. Its use ranges from simple one-page flyers to complex reports. You can build your own publications from scratch, or take advantage of hundreds of predesigned templates.
Strengths
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Easy to use and learn. Suitable for all levels of user
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Industry Standard - unlikely for a print shop to not have the software
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Reliable and stable when running on your computer. Handles larger files OK
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Can import many other file formats
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Quickly lay out publications by creating frames to hold text and graphics
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Apply master pages to apply different page designs within a single publication
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Use layers to set up a single file for multiple versions of a publication
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Type and format text directly in layout view, or edit using the built-in story editor
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Typeset your text professionally by using kerning and tracking
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Integrates well with other common software
Weaknesses
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Occasional problems reported with wrong symbol characters appearing in a Pagemaker printout
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Occasional problems reported with exporting to PDF or Distiller with PM 6.5 or 7 and/or Windows 2000/XP
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Some problems with freezing on Mac OS 9 or above
Further Information
QuarkXPress
Description
QuarkXPress is widely-used electronic publishing software. It provides the tools required to create, design, and deliver high-impact publications in both print and electronic media. It offers a suite of publishing features for:
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Layout and design
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Printing and output
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Text processing
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Colour management
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Web page design
Strengths
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Stable
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Logical in its presentation
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Good for long documents such as books
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Building an index is easier in the latest version
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You can lock your chapters or books to become read only
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Quark lets you open documents as different books and work with them as separate files
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Good at managing colours for output
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Sophisticated typography controls, precise layout functions, and built-in drawing tools
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Offers support for layers, tables, Web documents, and XML data
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It has had very few upgrades in its life
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Exported Web documents conform to open standards and can be opened and edited in standard web tools
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If you want to move a print document to a web document, it is only a matter of some cut and paste and a few slight adjustments.
Weaknesses
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A serious drawback is that QuarkXPress treats Web and print documents as mutually exclusive workflows
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Its XML functions are difficult to learn
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Beginning to show its age. E.g. the single Undo level is archaic
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Its type composition engine still gives you exact control over tracking and kerning, but it's not as sophisticated as others
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It cannot directly generate PDF files or import native Photoshop files
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The scattered XML functions are data extraction tools and not WYSIWYG
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It cannot access the specialised glyphs (such as ligatures or true fractions) offered by OpenType fonts
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Its interface is reported to be not as user-friendly as other tools.
Further Information
Adobe Photoshop
Description
Industry-standard, professional level image editing program.
Strengths
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Industrial strength capabilities
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16-bit colour capabilities, image manipulation tools and workflow capabilities
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Improved file browser
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.RAW image converter
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Shadow/highlight and photo filters tools
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Good colour management features
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Histogram updates in real time
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Adjust almost any aspect of a raw, tiff or jpeg file
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Ability to tag files and to see EXIF data
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Ability to apply RAW conversion settings to multiple photographs before opening
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Match colour feature.
Weaknesses
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A big learning curve for newer users
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The initial price of the software is high
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Limited upgrade for non-photographers.
Further Information
Corel Draw
Description
Suite of Windows and vector-based software for individuals and businesses for:
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Illustration
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Page layout
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Digital imaging
Strengths
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Installs easily
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Won CNET’s Editors’ Choice and named by CNET as "The Best All-Purpose Graphics Suite" of 2004
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Full range of creation tools, innovative effects, and high-quality output features
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Easy-to-use and affordable
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Variety of import and export filters
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Bitmap export filters
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Color management
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Interactive transparency
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Allows you to "spray" images along a path
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Very customisable menus and buttons
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Superior PDF (portable document format) export
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Very nice user interface and design management
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Excels in the categories of special effects and import/export
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Suited for universal exchange of file formats
Weaknesses
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Slow when the menu bar or the icons are being changed in the options menu
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Sometimes suffers a complete crash just after a file has been loaded
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The only way to draw continuous lines is the Bézier method
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Shifts unselected objects by just moving the cursor over it with pressed mouse button
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Doesn't save the last used global and page-specific settings
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Not recommended to run it in parallel to other applications except for the Windows Explorer
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Interface can be buggy at times
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Heavy memory usage
Further Information
Corel Paint Shop Pro X
Description
Windows-based bitmap graphics editor for digital camera buffs and home and small-office users. Originally produced by Jasc Software, bought by Corel in 2004, useful for:
General image editing Strengths
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Very affordable
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Good documentation
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Built-in Learning Centre
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Smart Photo Fix analyzes your photo and makes suggested corrections
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Faster startup time, the ability to work faster on large photos, and near-instant undo and redo
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Makeover Tools
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16-bit editing, the ability to work with raw files, save out to CMYK
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Color management and screen calibrations options
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One-click Red-eye removal
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Includes: Photo Album 6 - Standard Edition, two hours of video tutorials, complete Raw workflow package
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Over 500 different Special Effects ad new Picture Tubes
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Object Remover makes it easy to remove unwanted or difficult to clone portions of images and fills
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One-Step Purple Fringe Fix removes the purple glow surrounding the edges of people and objects
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High Pass Filter
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Black and White Conversion and Black and White Infrared Conversion filters
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One-Step Noise Fix removes digital camera noise or excess graininess
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Layers Palette provides thumbnail views of each image layer, making it easier to use and understand
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History palette, which tracks the actions you perform on the active image
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Mixer palette, which emulates the color-mixing mechanics of a real brush and palette
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Automatic Color Balance filter has a slider to adjust for lighting temperature
Weaknesses
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Scripts are difficult to edit
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No CMYK support
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No panorama-stitching function
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Flash Fill and Backlighting filters
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Complicated menu system
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Heavy memory usage
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Not great for absolute beginners
Further Information
Ulead PhotoImpact
Description
Image-editing suite suitable for home and small-office for:
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Digital camera touch-ups
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Web graphics
Strengths
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Basic mode offers users new to digital photography a streamlined interface for most common tasks
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Advanced mode offers a complete set of high-end tools
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Includes: Photo Explorer, GIF Animator, COOL 360, PhotoImpact Album, 10-chapter video tutorial
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Ease of use and very affordable
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Web graphics
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Arrange your pictures by resolution
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Create images from scratch
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Smart Lasso: An enhanced selection tool that automatically finds an object’s best edges
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Object Extraction Wizard: For more precise selection of complex objects against low-contrast backgrounds
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Match Background Color: Seamlessly blend composited objects into any background
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Mask Mode: Create custom mask selections that you can easily apply and resize
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17 new painting and artistic effects such as Engraving, Impressionist, Stippling, Decoupage, Oil Paint, Halftone
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Object-based Approach: has objects that can interact in a natural way on the same three-dimensional plane
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Reduce Noise filter
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Remove Red Eye tool
Weaknesses
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User interface possibly a bit difficult
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When resizing an image it can be difficult to remember where the action is located
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Some actions can be hard to find and so time is spent searching
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Not great for absolute beginners
Further Information
FlowCharter
Description
iGrafx FlowCharter is a visualisation and modelling tool for processes, diagram networks, software, organization charts, and more.
Strengths
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Numerous diagram types
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Context-sensitive interface
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Wide range of output options
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Includes templates, wizards to guide through tasks
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Automatic arrow insertion
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Ability to attach notes
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Data import/export
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Integrated diagramming
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Simulation and analysis
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"What If" scenarios for simulations
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Resource schedule and cost analysis
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Animated simulation trace capability
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User-defined tabular or graphical reports
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Flexible internal or external linking
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Searchable JavaTM web output
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Compatible with Microsoft® Office, Microsoft Visual Basic® for Applications, and OLE
Weaknesses
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Possibly more difficult for the average user to learn
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Possibly doesn't allow for floor plans, circuit diagrams, technical drawings, or maps
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The advanced features may be unnecessary for the average business user
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Support may be a little problematic
Further Information
Microsoft Visio
Description
General purpose business diagramming program ideally suited to developing complex flow charts, process diagrams and network diagrams. Available in several compatible versions: Standard, Professional, Technical and Enterprise. Each version uses the same diagramming interface but provides different templates and stencils for creating a wide variety of diagrams.
Strengths
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Relatively simple to learn and use
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Utilises "templates" that allow predefined page layouts, scales and other formatting features to be saved and used as the basis for new diagrams. New templates can be created if required
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Utilises "stencils". Each stencil contains a number of drawing objects used in a specific type of diagram such as process boxes, flow chart symbols and building elements (walls, doors, windows etc.). New stencils and new drawing objects can be created if required. A template can be saved with one or more stencils built in.
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Powerful connectors between drawing objects. The connectors remain attached to objects as they are moved around, making it relatively painless to update diagrams
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Good (and no doubt, improving) integration with Microsoft Office products (Visio Corporation was acquired by Microsoft at the start of 2000)
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Excellent "Save as HTML" feature with built-in hyperlink capabilities
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Ability to create custom forms for recording information about drawing objects. Reports can then be produced to list selected information
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Supports macros and Visual Basic (VBA) automation
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Each diagram page has a "foreground" and a "background". The background can be shared between several diagram pages to provide standard features such as headers/footers, background colour etc.
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Named layers can be created on a diagram. Drawing objects can then be allocated to specific layers. This provides the ability to print, hide or edit objects on one or many layers - useful for building services or any diagram where one type of information is of interest at a time
Further Information
HTML Transit
Description
Capable HTML conversion tool.
Further Information
Adobe Dreamweaver
Description
Industrial strength web development tool.
Further Information
Microsoft Expression Web
Description
Website development tool – replacement for Microsoft FrontPage.
Further Information
WordToWeb
Description
Further Information
Doc-To-Help
Description
A tool for producing online help from Word documents.
Further Information
Madcap Flare
Description
XML-based software for producing HTMLHelp, WinHelp, WebHelp and printed documentation.
Further Information
Adobe RoboHelp
Description
Software for producing HTMLHelp, WinHelp, WebHelp and printed documentation.
Further Information
Adobe Acrobat
Description
Acrobat is commonly referred to as "electronic paper" as it creates a facsimile copy of the original document for browsing on screen. Acrobat consists of a publishing tool that converts documents to the Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) and a reader for browsing the converted documents. The Acrobat reader is available free from the Adobe website. The Acrobat suite also includes Catalog which allows collections of PDF files to be searched word by word. Almost any document or diagram can be converted to PDF.
Microsoft Word '97 and PowerPoint files can be converted to PDF with a utility program called PDFMaker (part of the Acrobat suite). PDFMaker converts any hyperlinks in the original documents to operational hyperlinks in the PDF file. It also sets up Word Tables of Contents with links to the pages they reference. Other Adobe products such as FrameMaker provide a direct conversion path to PDF with additional functionality such as hyperlinked indexes.
Strengths
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Very simple and fast to put existing documents online
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PDF files are smaller than equivalent Word documents
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Free Acrobat reader software from Adobe
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Hyperlinks in existing Word, PowerPoint and FrameMaker documents converted directly to PDF
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Printed PDF documents look almost identical to original documents
Weaknesses
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PDF is a proprietary format
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(Free) Acrobat reader is required to view PDF files
Further Information
AuthorIT
Description
New Zealand-based AuthorIT is a powerful, single-source authoring and content management tool. It allows you to create or import documentation content once, maintain it in a single location, and publish it to print, intranet, websites, Windows and cross-platform help systems, and other media at the touch of a button. AuthorIT provides a multi-user environment with full control of security, standards, versioning, document release, and integrated project management.
Product review
Follow
this link for a review of AuthorIT.
Further Information
Quadralay WebWorks Publisher
Description
Online publishing tool for use with Adobe FrameMaker.
Further Information
Hijaak
Description
Screen capture tool.
Further Information
SnagIt
Description
Screen capture tool.
Further Information
Alchemy Gold
Description
Further Information
Arbortext
Description
Further Information
Astoria Software
Description
Further Information
Documentum
Description
Further Information
Empolis
Description
Further Information
Broadvision
Description
Enterprise business application portals.
Further Information
Interwoven
Description
Enterprise content management.
Further Information
Microsoft SharePoint
Description
Document and content management portal software.
Further Information
Siberlogic
Description
Further Information
SilentOne
Description
New Zealand-based document and content management product.
Further Information
Trisoft InfoShare
Description
Further Information
Vasont Systems
Description
Further Information
Vignette
Description
Further Information
Xerox DocuShare
Description
Browser-based software for searching for and managing information.
Further Information
XyEnterprise
Description
Further Information
PerfectIT
Description
Editing software tool for Microsoft Word.
Further Information
StyleWriter
Description
StyleWriter is a program that helps people write in a clear, concise style. It searches for thousands of writing faults, including complex words, jargon and abstract words, wordy phrases, hidden verbs, passive verbs, clichés and long sentences. It then pops up advice showing you how to edit each sentence. It's just like having a professional editor highlight the writing problems in any document.
StyleWriter is a great tool for anyone who needs to communicate in written English. Whether it's a technical report, newspaper article, business letter, resume, job application or academic dissertation, StyleWriter edits your draft into clear, concise plain language.
Strengths
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Simple to install and use
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Free ten-session trial. Leave it running for an unlimited amount of editing
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The words under question are coloured according to the type of "error"
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Very good way to learn how to write more succinct English
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Points out how to avoid jargon, overused, vogue or weak words - good for the reader
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A very useful Help system. For example, a definitions Help that defines the various parts of English
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Very thorough - nothing seems to sneak through.
Weaknesses
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Doesn't recognise soft returns in Word
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Doesn't always recognise full-stops in Word, especially in bullet points
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The text needs more white space for better readability
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No Find function (that can be found)
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No active scrolling in the display window.
Further Information
Mavim Rules
Description
Mavim Rules is designed to meet an organisation's Business Process Communication (BPC) needs, including: (multi-)compliance, quality assurance, process management, BPM, Sarbanes-Oxley, ISO, service management, operations management, knowledge management and business analysis.
Further Information
XSOL
Description
A specialist tool for the documentation of organizational activity, business processes and procedures. It has a business framework and language. This provides a structured way to capture and enter business information, making it ideal for large business documentation projects. The framework ensures a certain level of integrity to any documentation change - enabling frequent alteration. The tool can also be used to create software applications.
Strengths
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Relatively simple to learn and use.
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Uses a structured approach, making it easy for people to provide information in a consistent manner and better understand what is expected of them.
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Uses a set of business objects to define a process, its constituent stages and tasks, along with decision points, parallel processing, flow connectors, and roles.
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Information can be entered either diagrammatically or using list entry - or both.
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Links drawing objects using connectors that remain attached to objects as they are moved around, making it easy to update diagrams.
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Processes can be filtered by role (users assigned to a business function area) and diagrams segmented by colour to identify object groupings.
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Extensive additional information can be added to the process flow diagram itself or to any defined business process object, including Word templates.
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Powerful publishing feature automatically creates documentation in a variety of formats (one page HTML, multi-page HTML, HTML Help, Word (portrait), Word (tabular), Excel), and can be filtered by role or process. Information is held as XML, enabling the documentation to be transformed into customized formats.
Weaknesses
The structured approach requires the user to learn a specific set of objects that represent components of organizational structure and activity.
Further Information
