The June 11, 2011 Saturday Workshop

Topic:

XMetaL/DITA Fundamentals

This workshop provides six hours of instruction, emphasizing practical, hands-on activities that illustrate XMetaL/DITA fundamentals. Along the way, the instructor will share his own experience in adopting DITA, demonstrate best practices, and point out how to avoid common pitfalls. The course will introduce you to the types of DITA topics and the basics of XMetaL. Through hands on exercises you will:

Write and edit concept, task, and reference topics
Create and update a DITA map
Reuse and link content using XMetaL

Just Systems will provide trial versions of XMetaL for all course participants.

Bring a Windows laptop! In order to participate in the hands-on exercises, each participant must bring a Windows-based laptop computer. More exact system specifications are provided in the software download instructions.

You will be asked to download and install xMetaL prior to the workshop. A link and directions will be provided after you register. If you are registering on or after Wednesday, June 8, please contact Linda Urban (programs@stc-berkeley.org) to make sure you receive the download instructions.

If you have questions about system requirements or setup, please contact Linda Urban (programs@stc-berkeley.org).

This workship is limited to 22 participants.

Workshop presenter:

David Trousdale

David Trousdale is currently a Senior Content and Learning Consultant with Lasselle-Ramsay. Prior to this, he worked for 10 years at Cisco Systems as a manager of technical publications. At Cisco Systems, he initiated and led two major XML projects: one that resulted in the first complete documentation set to be published using Cisco's propriety DTD, and the other that is currently migrating Cisco's carrier-class network operating system documentation to DITA. He received his B.A. from San Francisco State University and Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University. After several years of college teaching, he shifted to technical writing and training in Silicon Valley at various data communications and telecommunications startups and eventually was hired by Cisco Systems.

David Trousdale

For over 20 years, Lasselle-Ramsay has helped clients connect with their customers, employees, and partners through content and learning. Over the past 10 years, a growing practice area has been use of structured content, XML, and DITA to help meet faster release cycles, lower the cost of translation, and support the delivery of content in multiple formats. One of the key elements in the successful adoption of this new approach to developing content is the role of authors. Lasselle-Ramsay offers workshops and training to help authors develop the knowledge and skills they need to effectively incorporate using DITA into their daily work life.

Our thanks to Lasselle-Ramsay, who is underwriting part of the cost of this workshop so that we can keep the costs low.

Times:

9:30 a.m. Workshop begins
12:30 to 1:30 Lunch break (on your own)
4:30 p.m. Workshop ends

Location:

Hotel Shattuck Plaza, 2086 Allston Way, Berkeley, California 94704

This downtown-Berkeley hotel has recently been rennovated, and is right by the downtown Berkeley BART station. There are plenty of restaurants nearby for lunch.

Chapter Workshop Fees

Registrations will be limited to 22.

STC members and students	$130
All others	$180

Cancellation Policy: If we cancel this workshop for any reason, we will promptly refund all registration fees in full. If you decide to cancel your participation before June 1, we will refund your registration fee in full. If you cancel on or after June 1, we may limit your refund to the extent necessary to ensure the financial success of the workshop.

Chapter Program Ideas?

If you have a suggestion for a meeting or workshop topic you'd like to see the Berkeley STC chapter offer, or if you'd like to be a presenter, send an email to Linda Urban, our VP for Programs.

Please email web-page corrections or web-page comments to:

(internet@stc-berkeley.org)

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