Professional Information
This page provides a bit of background information about my employment history; it also contains links to some writing samples and my resume.
Technical writer (6/07 to present) Ricoh Production Print Solutions (RPPS), Boulder, CO
At RPPS I write user documentation for a large-scale print workflow software product. InfoPrint ProcessDirector (IPPD) manages print jobs on, for example, the IP 4100 printer, which prints up to 300 linear feet of continuous-forms paper per minute. IPPD manages data-intensive print jobs from data file to envelope inserter; it runs on a web server and has a browser-based user interface. I create documentation source files in DITA XML format using the ArborText editor; then I build the product help system as multiple Eclipse plugins (base product plus add-on features), as well as PDFs for installation and configuration. For UI field help, I edit HTML-formatted properties files in the (Java) source code. I use Visio to create diagrams; here is an example of one I created for a mail presort verification feature:
The development team follows a Scrum-based Agile process and uses Rally software. To manage user story details, designs, and other internal information, we use a Confluence wiki.
I’m also responsible for managing the content on our corporate InfoCenter (website) at http://www.infoprint.com/infocenter. This site contains help system content and PDFs for most of our products; the InfoCenter system infrastructure consists of Eclipse with a Jetty web server plugin. I upload files to the AIX server using WinSCP, edit Eclipse configuration files and HTML/XML files, use PuTTY to do basic server administration tasks, and troubleshoot problems when needed.
Technical Writer (9/06 to 6/07) Sybase, Inc., Boulder, CO
I wrote user documentation for the Sybase Data Federation product, using XMetaL and DITA XML. Part of this project involved converting content from its original FrameMaker format (from the Avaki product) into the Sybase DITA structure. I completed an introductory course on SQL and a seminar on Globalization while in this position.
Technical Writer (10/04 to 9/06) BEA Systems, Inc., Boulder, CO
I wrote user documentation for the WebLogic Portal product. WebLogic Portal is part of the WebLogic Workshop platform, providing an integrated set of Eclipse IDE-based tools for Java programmers to create robust websites; a web-based toolset is also provided for administering portals that are in production (“live”). I worked on the portal and portlet development guides, tutorials, and a database administration guide. The audience was primarily Java developers. I used FrameMaker to develop single-sourced PDF documents and Eclipse plugin help. I used DreamWeaver to produce HTML-based help for the web-based portal administration tools. While at BEA, I completed an introductory Java programming certificate course and a Transition to Leadership seminar. About a year after I left BEA, it was acquired by Oracle.
Technical Writer (11/03 to 10/04) Connexn Technologies, Inc., Westminster, CO
I wrote user documentation for this telecommunication company’s revenue assurance products. Their publications included a system administration guide and a reference for API/scripting for application developers. One month after I left Connexn, it was acquired by Azure Solutions.
Technical Writer (12/02 to 11/03) Xaffire Inc., Superior, CO
I planned, designed, and wrote all documentation for two network performance monitoring products. Primarily I worked on the xFire product, which allowed users to monitor the performance of applications (for example, Apache, WebLogic, MySQL) and system resources such as SNMP; users could also record transactions (HTTP requests/routing) on the Internet. I used RoboHelp to create single-source documentation including online help and user guides, and I created Flash video tutorials using RoboDemo (now Captivate). After I left Xaffire, it was acquired by Quest Software.
Here are a few examples of Flash demos I created. Unfortunately the rendering is very low quality. (There’s no audio except for mouse clicks.)
Set up a URL trace route recording
Set up a Java Pet Store transaction recording
See my PDF resume for more job history and education information.
And now for some fun! Here’s my resume expressed as a word cloud (from tagul.com).
