Technical Writing How to Write Software Documentation

Technical Writing How to Write Software Documentation

What you’ll learn

Learn what is required to start working on the software documentation for an app
Learn how to write documentation in GitHub Wiki using Markdown
Try out tools and infrastructure that helps you immediately get started writing your help content
Learn how to prepare, structure and develop information that help users use your software
Learn the basics of structured writing
Understand the importance of metadata and taxonomies to improve for your user assistance assets findability
Learn how to make graphics for your software documentation using Canva

Requirements

You will need a PC or a laptop where you can develop content assignments or install particular software we will be using on trial basis in the course of the training

Description

Is the ability to provide relevant information about using your software essential for your customers? Do you find yourself spending hours and hours trying to explain how to use the software? Or are you getting feedback from your clients that your documentation is hard to follow, inconsistent, or maybe even… confusing? If you answered with “Yes!” to any of these questions and are willing to invest the time and energy needed to go through this practical course, then this course is for you! CNBC cited this course in the article “The 20 hottest job skills companies are looking for right now”By the end of this course:You will be able to perform the needed steps and start writing documentation as a technical writer. You will be able to explain the process for preparing, organizing, and delivering software documentation for the users of software products.You will be able to create instructional images and graphics needed in your documentation using Canva. You learn and practice how to create software documentation in a GitHub wiki following the instructor’s templates for writing in Markdown.You will know how to perform user research using 2 Cards Sorting techniques in Mural. You will be able to identify the different aspects that make documentation a high-quality deliverable. Also:You will find out also which are the core principles for writing software documentation that really helps.You will have the chance to try out GitHub wiki editor for writing. You will learn about the importance of graphics and which tools you can use to create instructional graphics with ease.In the end, you will find out more about information architecture and its importance in software documentation. Ultimately, you will have the chance to create your own documentation project even if you have never worked as a technical writer before and have no experience. Over the course of the years, the core activities of technical writing professionals have constantly been evolving. We started as technical writers and focused solely on technical writing. We transformed into information developers who also consider the graphical aspects and design of the content.  Today, we need to bundle together writing skills, design and graphics, video creation, multimedia, metadata, and software development to meet the expectations of our users. All these assets put together can be described together as user assistance.JPDocu School of Technical Writing is a training company passionate about technical writing, software documentation, APIs documentation, information architecture, and DITA XML, and helping our students get started and quickly advance in their Technical Writer career. Our Technical Writing courses are taught as a part of the University courses on Technical Communications at several universities in Europe, as well as a part of the onboarding for new technical writers for many of the best software development companies. We shape the next generation of technical writers and information developers, by providing them with simple-to-follow and practical, hands-on experiences with technical writing.For several years now, JPDocu School of Technical Writing has been designing and delivering training for all who want to get started with technical writing. Our students soon get started working as:technical writers (information developers)information architectssoftware developers and get ahead in their career!The instructor, Jordan Stanchev, a User Assistance Development Architect has personally trained hundreds of people in the classroom, in online courses, in universities, and internally at a Fortune 100 company! Jordan says: “The goal for me has always been to deliver practical information, to make sure my students get ready for delivering real content right after the course is over!I am so proud of my students who come back to me and share how they have started their first job as technical writers or how they have advanced in their careers using what they have learned in my courses!That’s why I have started devoting my time to teaching technical writing skills, on top of my regular job as a User Assistance Development Architect.”Unlike other courses out there,  this course is practically oriented. It will help you develop your portfolio and the work samples you need to apply as a technical writer in a software development company. What will you learn?This course is designed for beginner technical writers, usually students in IT, and covers the following subjects:What is technical writing all about? What are the basics of technical writing? Which are the common terms you will hear and use in the IT technical writing world?How to write technical documentation using GitHub wiki? You will, later on, use this material for creating your portfolio that you will want to add to your CV when you apply for a technical writer job or promotion to a senior developer. What is information architecture from a technical writing point of view?By the end of this course, you will know how to get started writing your user guides, which best practices and rules to consider, and which tools to use for writing.Note that for better accessibility, the course comes with English and Spanish language captions.Besides:You will also find recorded webinars to give you the feeling you are in the university classroom together with other students doing the actual exercises of the course. You will have access to a closed community group, where you can learn together with other students in technical writing.You will have the chance to participate in live webinars with the instructor, to get guidance and answers to questions you may have.Downloadable materials in the sections to help you as you go through the content and practice what you have learned.What is NOT COVERED in this course?Learning technical writing as a beginner technical writer will take at least 2 semesters at the university and lots of writing practice. It is impossible to provide deep-dive information on all possible technical writing subjects in a 4-6 hours course. You will know the basics, though!This is not a course on writing using MS Word! We are not going to write books! We are not going to write unstructured documentation!Unlike what other courses on technical writing will tell you MS Word is the worst choice for writing technical documentation!  It cannot scale, and it is not flexible enough for software documentation! If you believe that technical writing is about writing books, please choose another course! This course is for people who want to work in the software industry, where writing a book and calling it “software documentation” is not perceived well!Technical writing is a skill and discipline that requires writing. Do not expect to become a technical writer by listening to a few lectures. You will have to write and communicate in this course. This is not a course for listening, but a listen and do it! type of course.This is not an English language course. We will not provide you with details on how to write in English. There are so many tools you can use for writing. In this course, we do not go into details on tools you can use for writing but directly suggest using only 1-2 of them to get you started. We do not cover API documentation in this course. API documentation is a type of software documentation that you still have to deliver, but at present, this course does not talk about that. Look at our dedicated ‘How to Write API Documentation” course about this subject.How much time will it take for you to go through this course?Short answer:Section 1: Getting Started with Technical Writing – 1 hour Section 2: Writing Software Documentation in GitHub using Markdown – 2+ hours Section 3: Graphics in Software Documentation – 40 minSection 4: Information Architecture Basics – 1+ hourSection 5: Quality in Software Documentation 40+ minBonus Section: Additional Webinars – 3+ hours Detailed answer with explanation:Section 1: Getting Started with Technical Writing (as a compliment to you, because you got to this part of our detailed course summary, this 1-hour long section comes for free – it’s a mini-course by itself! Even if you decide not to purchase the entire course – you should definitely check it out.)  We start with a quick and direct overview of the end-to-end documentation creation processes.Basically, when you go through the introduction section, you should get a basic understanding of what technical writing in software documentation is all about, as well as the main assets (deliverables for your customers) that you create using technical writing skills and techniques. This is the software documentation, images as well as instructional videos, and multimedia.It will take approximately 1-2 hours to go through this content and perform the exercises. Section 2:  Writing Software Documentation in GitHub using Markdown – 2+ hoursHow to get started writing in a Wiki on GitHub? This section explains the setup steps, and the markup language used in the wiki and gives you hints on Markdown language usage (that is not well-known or documented in the wiki!), such as:- how to create a table- how to create images on Wiki- how to create a Table of Content (TOC) for your longer pages- how to link a YouTube video with easeThis section touches upon a very important subject – how to provide documentation for a GitHub project. Jordan talks about one of the possible options, and we would dare to say – the most simple one, to provide documentation in GitHub.It will take approximately 2-4 hours to go through this content and perform the exercises. Section 3: Graphics in Software Documentation – 40 minHow important is the graphics creation skill for technical writers? I would say, A LOT! This section talks about the rules for creating graphics in software documentation. Also, I touch upon tools that make it easy to create graphics without having to become a graphic designer. Then we will do a hands-on exercise with Canva to prepare infographics to use in your documentation. It will take approximately 1-2 hours to go through this content and perform the exercises. Section 4: Information Architecture Basics – 1+ hourThen comes the next section – on information architecture and user research for technical writers. It opens the door for you to take a look at the basic knowledge that an information architect (think about it as a very experienced technical writer) needs to have to begin doing his or her job. This section provides you with step-by-step instructions on how to prepare and perform card sorting workshops with end-users using a virtual whiteboard, such as Mural. It will take approximately 1 hour to go through this content. Section 5: Quality in Software Documentation 40+ minIn 2021 we initiated research to define the meeting of quality in the documentation. Many participants joined and shared their feedback. After analyzing and aggregating the results, the research results are ready to be shared with JPDocu School of Technical Writing students!The research recap is shared in this bonus section, giving you answers to:What is quality when we speak about documentation?What are the characteristics high-quality documentation has?What is the specific meaning of each of the quality aspects that you must strive to achieve in documentation?How to develop practical ways to measure quality in your documentation and compare it against other documentation deliverables?This will help you not only to create some documentation but instead, to build high-quality documentation that trills your customers!Bonus Section: Additional Webinars – 3+ hours Here the really fun part begins. You will find several recordings of live seminars I do with JPDocu School of Technical Writing students. You can listen to these recorded sessions and participate as if you are really in the classroom together with me and the rest of the class. I think this can be a very cool experience. On top of that, we deep dive into subjects that were only briefly touched upon in the previous sections.Each recorded session takes 60-90 minutes, including the work on the exercises in each session. As part of the course here, I invite my students to participate in such live webinars, which you can see in our closed Facebook group. Here is what students say about this course:Karina Delcheva, Technical Writer”I find Jordan’s course perfectly structured (as you would expect of a specialist in the field) in a way that helps you grasp the concept of technical writing. It helped me quickly develop practical skills through exercises with easy-to-follow instructions and examples. The Facebook page of this course provided me with a supportive community and additional webinars held by the lecturer, which is a great asset for acquiring more diverse skills needed by a technical writer. Now I feel prepared to apply for my first technical writing job.”Grace Tan, Technical Writer”In my pursuit of moving to a technical communicator role, Jordan’s beginner course Technical Writing: How to Write Software Documentation has put me in the right direction. The course is well-structured, and the instructor has shown expertise in this field. It is great to be in touch with the standard and best practices in technical writing as well as the common tools that are used nowadays. I also had fun working on hands-on activities and getting myself familiar with different tools.”So, enroll now and see how easy and simple it is to deliver the ultimate help to your customers! P.S. This course has a 30-day full refund policy – no questions asked!

Overview

Section 1: Introduction (New)

Lecture 1 Introduction

Section 2: Introduction to Software Documentation (New)

Lecture 2 What is Technical Writing?

Lecture 3 Technical Communications

Lecture 4 Technical Writing as a Skill

Lecture 5 The Job of the Technical Writer

Lecture 6 Common Types of Documentation

Lecture 7 Functional Documentation

Lecture 8 Example – Functional Documentation

Lecture 9 Strategy for Writing Functional Documentation

Lecture 10 Exercise: Write Functional Documentation

Lecture 11 Task Oriented Documentation

Lecture 12 Strategy for Writing Task Oriented Documentation

Lecture 13 Exercise: Write Task Oriented Documentation

Lecture 14 Documentation Process Flow – Summary

Section 3: Writing Software Documentation Using Markdown in GitHub Wiki

Lecture 15 Learn to Write Software Documentation Using Markdown in GitHub Wiki

Lecture 16 Technical Writers in the Software Development World

Lecture 17 Technical Writing Deliverables in the Software Development World

Lecture 18 What is GitHub?

Lecture 19 Why GitHub?

Lecture 20 Documentation in GitHub

Lecture 21 Markup Language

Lecture 22 Instructor Examples

Lecture 23 Exercises in This Course Section

Lecture 24 Create a New Repository in GitHub

Lecture 25 Demo: Creating a New Wiki Page and Basic Formatting

Lecture 26 Create a Table in GitHub

Lecture 27 Uploading Files and Images

Lecture 28 Create a Mail Link

Lecture 29 Create Table of Contents (TOC) in Wiki

Lecture 30 Create a Link to YouTube Video

Lecture 31 Demo

Lecture 32 Structured Writing in GitHub Wiki Environment

Lecture 33 What will you learn?

Lecture 34 Why do we Need Structure in Writing?

Lecture 35 Organize Content

Lecture 36 Consistent UX

Lecture 37 Intuitive Experience

Lecture 38 Completeness of Documentation

Lecture 39 Targeting Content

Lecture 40 Projects Coordination

Lecture 41 Efficiency

Lecture 42 Structured Writing – Definition

Lecture 43 Common Information Types

Lecture 44 DITA XML Standard

Lecture 45 How to Structure in an Unstructured Writing Environment?

Lecture 46 Structured Writing in GitHub Wiki

Lecture 47 Instructor Examples

Lecture 48 Templates – Explained – Task and Concept

Lecture 49 Templates – Explained – Reference

Lecture 50 Demo

Lecture 51 Ideas for Organizing Your Own Portfolio

Lecture 52 Example work from students: Melody

Lecture 53 Example work from students: Alice

Lecture 54 Example work from students: Marina

Lecture 55 Example work from students: Emily

Lecture 56 Example work from students: Marta

Section 4: Graphics in Software Documentation (New)

Lecture 57 Before We Start…

Lecture 58 Graphics in Software Documentation

Lecture 59 When to Use Graphics?

Lecture 60 Types of Graphics in Software Documentation

Lecture 61 Tools for Creating Graphics

Lecture 62 Microsoft PowerPoint

Lecture 63 diagrams.net

Lecture 64 canva.com

Section 5: Information Architecture Basics (New)

Lecture 65 Information Architecture for Technical Writers

Lecture 66 What Will You Learn in This Section?

Lecture 67 What is Information Architecture?

Lecture 68 User Experience (UX) and Information Architecture in Technical Writing

Lecture 69 User Research and Analysis

Lecture 70 Knowing the User

Lecture 71 Deliverables and Delivery Channels

Lecture 72 Research

Lecture 73 Delivery

Lecture 74 Content Modeling

Lecture 75 Using the Data

Lecture 76 Using Cards Sorting in User Research

Lecture 77 What is Card Sorting?

Lecture 78 Benefits of the Card Sorting Technique

Lecture 79 Open Card Sorting

Lecture 80 How to Set it Up?

Lecture 81 Demo: Open Card Sorting Using Mural

Lecture 82 Instructor’s Second Example

Lecture 83 Closed Cards Sorting

Lecture 84 How to Set it up? Demo in Mural

Lecture 85 Instructor’s Example

Lecture 86 Mural as a Tool for Cards Sorting

Section 6: Quality in Software Documentation

Lecture 87 Defining the Meaning of Quality in Documentation

Lecture 88 What Will You Learn?

Lecture 89 A Definition of “Quality”

Lecture 90 What is “Quality” in Software Documentation?

Lecture 91 The Research

Lecture 92 The Results

Lecture 93 What Did People Answer?

Lecture 94 The Framework – Overview

Lecture 95 Helpful

Lecture 96 Comprehensive

Lecture 97 Searchable

Lecture 98 Visual

Lecture 99 Usable

Lecture 100 Reliable

Lecture 101 Grammatically Correct

Lecture 102 Translatable and Localization Friendly

Lecture 103 Accessible

Lecture 104 Using Appropriate Tone

Lecture 105 How to Use the Results from the Research?

Section 7: Bonus Lecture: Additional Materials

Lecture 106 How to Use a Style Guide in Technical Writing

Lecture 107 What is Style Guide?

Lecture 108 Why do we Needs Standards for Writing?

Lecture 109 Sample Style Guides

Lecture 110 3 Sample Style Guides

Lecture 111 Who Else Needs Rules for Writing?

Lecture 112 Results from Using a Style Guide

Lecture 113 Structure in Writing

Lecture 114 Conciseness

Lecture 115 Simplicity

Lecture 116 Precision

Lecture 117 Verb Choice: Can or May?

Lecture 118 Verb Choice: Must/Must not/Should/Shouldn’t/May

Lecture 119 Active Voice and Present Tense

Lecture 120 Terminology

Lecture 121 Consider in Addition

Lecture 122 Use Tools!

Lecture 123 UI Messages and Text on Screen

Lecture 124 Exercise

Lecture 125 Content Management Systems (CMS)

Lecture 126 Writing Standards and Guidelines

Lecture 127 Webinar Reply: Targeting Content for Users

Lecture 128 Webinar Reply: Targeting Content for Users – Part 2

Lecture 129 Webinar Replay: Basics of Structured Writing

Software developers who want to gain practical knowledge on how to offer help for the users of software products,Students who work on their software development projects and now struggle to create the documentation delivery for their app,If you pursue career as a technical writer, developer, architect, manager or product owner,Business analysts who want to know the basics of technical writing,Technical Writers and Information Developers

Course Information:

Udemy | English | 9h 39m | 4.26 GB
Created by: JPDocu School of Technical Writing

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