Skip to content
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • World
  • Users
  • Groups
Skins
  • Light
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (No Skin)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Code Project
  1. Home
  2. The Lounge
  3. Writer's Block

Writer's Block

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved The Lounge
help
42 Posts 21 Posters 0 Views 1 Watching
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • B Brady Kelly

    I love writing, and often get quite carried away once I get started, but right now I can't get started. I need to deliver some documentation for a reporting application I've just delivered. It includes some KPI reports, KPI 'master' data, and daily figures (and their totals), with capture and edit screens for all data. I'm stuck on my opening line, and I think once I get past that, I'll be cruising nicely. Here is is, please attack it and leave me some pieces to collage a better one with: The Nkomati Production KPI Reporting application provides production KPI reports on demand, and on schedule, and also facilitates the maintenance and capture of static and daily data that these reports are built on.

    G Offline
    G Offline
    Gary Wheeler
    wrote on last edited by
    #7

    I start with an outline. Rephrasing your opening a bit:

    Overview

    The Nkomati Production KPI Reporting application helps maintain and report production KPI data. Static and daily data are captured. Reports may be printed on schedule or on demand.

    Data Captured

    Scheduled Reports

    On-Demand Reports

    Data Maintenance

    Software Zen: delete this;

    B 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • R Roger Wright

      That would certainly capture a reader's interest early on. This could set a new standard for writing manuals that might increase the chances of users actually reading them! :-D

      "A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"

      P Offline
      P Offline
      phannon86
      wrote on last edited by
      #8

      Purchase our software, now with free pr0nz!!! :laugh:

      He who makes a beast out of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.

      J 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • B Brady Kelly

        I love writing, and often get quite carried away once I get started, but right now I can't get started. I need to deliver some documentation for a reporting application I've just delivered. It includes some KPI reports, KPI 'master' data, and daily figures (and their totals), with capture and edit screens for all data. I'm stuck on my opening line, and I think once I get past that, I'll be cruising nicely. Here is is, please attack it and leave me some pieces to collage a better one with: The Nkomati Production KPI Reporting application provides production KPI reports on demand, and on schedule, and also facilitates the maintenance and capture of static and daily data that these reports are built on.

        M Offline
        M Offline
        Mark_Wallace
        wrote on last edited by
        #9

        1. Make notes of everything you want to say. 2. Burn the notes, and write what the reader needs to know, instead.

        I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

        0 B 2 Replies Last reply
        0
        • M Mark_Wallace

          1. Make notes of everything you want to say. 2. Burn the notes, and write what the reader needs to know, instead.

          I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

          0 Offline
          0 Offline
          0x3c0
          wrote on last edited by
          #10

          Mark Wallace wrote:

          write what the reader needs to know, instead

          "Luke, I am your father"

          OSDev :)

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • G Gary Wheeler

            I start with an outline. Rephrasing your opening a bit:

            Overview

            The Nkomati Production KPI Reporting application helps maintain and report production KPI data. Static and daily data are captured. Reports may be printed on schedule or on demand.

            Data Captured

            Scheduled Reports

            On-Demand Reports

            Data Maintenance

            Software Zen: delete this;

            B Offline
            B Offline
            Brady Kelly
            wrote on last edited by
            #11

            Cool, thanks. That's perfect to start with. However, a suitable compliment to static data still bothers me. Daily is very descriptice, but I'd like to find something more general than daily, but dynamic date seems to technical for financial users. Moving data?

            G 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • M Mark_Wallace

              1. Make notes of everything you want to say. 2. Burn the notes, and write what the reader needs to know, instead.

              I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

              B Offline
              B Offline
              Brady Kelly
              wrote on last edited by
              #12

              I like.

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • C Christian Graus

                How about 'I have an adult rated fantasy' ?

                Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.

                J Offline
                J Offline
                josda1000
                wrote on last edited by
                #13

                I like that one definitely lol

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • B Brady Kelly

                  Cool, thanks. That's perfect to start with. However, a suitable compliment to static data still bothers me. Daily is very descriptice, but I'd like to find something more general than daily, but dynamic date seems to technical for financial users. Moving data?

                  G Offline
                  G Offline
                  Gary Wheeler
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #14

                  I have a feeling the term 'static' is a little technical too. For users in the financial industry, would the terms 'fixed' (for static) and 'variable' (for daily or dynamic) work?

                  Software Zen: delete this;

                  B 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • B Brady Kelly

                    I love writing, and often get quite carried away once I get started, but right now I can't get started. I need to deliver some documentation for a reporting application I've just delivered. It includes some KPI reports, KPI 'master' data, and daily figures (and their totals), with capture and edit screens for all data. I'm stuck on my opening line, and I think once I get past that, I'll be cruising nicely. Here is is, please attack it and leave me some pieces to collage a better one with: The Nkomati Production KPI Reporting application provides production KPI reports on demand, and on schedule, and also facilitates the maintenance and capture of static and daily data that these reports are built on.

                    realJSOPR Offline
                    realJSOPR Offline
                    realJSOP
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #15

                    She breathed heavily, grunting in delight as he... You can take it from this point...

                    .45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly
                    -----
                    "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                    -----
                    "The staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - J. Jystad, 2001

                    G C 2 Replies Last reply
                    0
                    • P phannon86

                      Purchase our software, now with free pr0nz!!! :laugh:

                      He who makes a beast out of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.

                      J Offline
                      J Offline
                      josda1000
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #16

                      Billy Mays here! We've got a new product, full with pron!!! lol

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • B Brady Kelly

                        I love writing, and often get quite carried away once I get started, but right now I can't get started. I need to deliver some documentation for a reporting application I've just delivered. It includes some KPI reports, KPI 'master' data, and daily figures (and their totals), with capture and edit screens for all data. I'm stuck on my opening line, and I think once I get past that, I'll be cruising nicely. Here is is, please attack it and leave me some pieces to collage a better one with: The Nkomati Production KPI Reporting application provides production KPI reports on demand, and on schedule, and also facilitates the maintenance and capture of static and daily data that these reports are built on.

                        M Offline
                        M Offline
                        Media2r
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #17

                        It would seem your faith in the Lounge as a place of serious response was sorely misplaced. ;P //L

                        C 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • B Brady Kelly

                          I love writing, and often get quite carried away once I get started, but right now I can't get started. I need to deliver some documentation for a reporting application I've just delivered. It includes some KPI reports, KPI 'master' data, and daily figures (and their totals), with capture and edit screens for all data. I'm stuck on my opening line, and I think once I get past that, I'll be cruising nicely. Here is is, please attack it and leave me some pieces to collage a better one with: The Nkomati Production KPI Reporting application provides production KPI reports on demand, and on schedule, and also facilitates the maintenance and capture of static and daily data that these reports are built on.

                          L Offline
                          L Offline
                          Lost User
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #18

                          Good morning, Mr. Phelps... :-D

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • realJSOPR realJSOP

                            She breathed heavily, grunting in delight as he... You can take it from this point...

                            .45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly
                            -----
                            "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                            -----
                            "The staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - J. Jystad, 2001

                            G Offline
                            G Offline
                            Gary Wheeler
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #19

                            A chick who grunts doesn't inspire me. Now, She breathed heavily, moaning in delight as he...

                            Software Zen: delete this;

                            D 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • G Gary Wheeler

                              A chick who grunts doesn't inspire me. Now, She breathed heavily, moaning in delight as he...

                              Software Zen: delete this;

                              D Offline
                              D Offline
                              Douglas Troy
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #20

                              Gary Wheeler wrote:

                              She breathed heavily, moaning in delight as he...

                              slowly took his long cable and plugged it into her Ethernet port. She gasped at the sight of his obvious technical prowess, while he ... Geekrotica


                              :..::. Douglas H. Troy ::..
                              Bad Astronomy |VCF|wxWidgets|WTL

                              modified on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 11:39 AM

                              G 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • realJSOPR realJSOP

                                She breathed heavily, grunting in delight as he... You can take it from this point...

                                .45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly
                                -----
                                "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                                -----
                                "The staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - J. Jystad, 2001

                                C Offline
                                C Offline
                                Christian Graus
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #21

                                John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

                                grunting in delight

                                Grunting is what livestock do.

                                Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.

                                realJSOPR 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • M Media2r

                                  It would seem your faith in the Lounge as a place of serious response was sorely misplaced. ;P //L

                                  C Offline
                                  C Offline
                                  Christian Graus
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #22

                                  Yes, but is anyone surprised ?

                                  Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.

                                  B 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • B Brady Kelly

                                    I love writing, and often get quite carried away once I get started, but right now I can't get started. I need to deliver some documentation for a reporting application I've just delivered. It includes some KPI reports, KPI 'master' data, and daily figures (and their totals), with capture and edit screens for all data. I'm stuck on my opening line, and I think once I get past that, I'll be cruising nicely. Here is is, please attack it and leave me some pieces to collage a better one with: The Nkomati Production KPI Reporting application provides production KPI reports on demand, and on schedule, and also facilitates the maintenance and capture of static and daily data that these reports are built on.

                                    I Offline
                                    I Offline
                                    Ian Shlasko
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #23

                                    Ok, since most of the standard jokes have been covered, I'll chime in with some serious advice. I'm more comfortable writing fiction than documentation, but some of the same techniques apply. A sentence has to accomplish two things: Provide the necessary information, and sound good. If you feel silly reading it aloud, or are mentally saying "Blah blah blah" as you read part of it, then it needs work.

                                    Brady Kelly wrote:

                                    The Nkomati Production KPI Reporting application provides production KPI reports

                                    Need a synonym there... Sure, it makes sense, but it sounds like "The input entry field is for input entry." I don't know what KPI stands for, but just partially-expanding that acronym might improve the sound of it. Anyway, here's my shot at it... The Nkomati Production KPI Reporting application is a data processing tool that provides both scheduled and on-demand reports, while also facilitating the maintenance and capture of the underlying data. Same facts, rearranged a bit, with less repetition. The "static and daily" part might be better in a subsequent sentence or paragraph.

                                    Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in? Developer, Author (Guardians of Xen)

                                    C B 2 Replies Last reply
                                    0
                                    • I Ian Shlasko

                                      Ok, since most of the standard jokes have been covered, I'll chime in with some serious advice. I'm more comfortable writing fiction than documentation, but some of the same techniques apply. A sentence has to accomplish two things: Provide the necessary information, and sound good. If you feel silly reading it aloud, or are mentally saying "Blah blah blah" as you read part of it, then it needs work.

                                      Brady Kelly wrote:

                                      The Nkomati Production KPI Reporting application provides production KPI reports

                                      Need a synonym there... Sure, it makes sense, but it sounds like "The input entry field is for input entry." I don't know what KPI stands for, but just partially-expanding that acronym might improve the sound of it. Anyway, here's my shot at it... The Nkomati Production KPI Reporting application is a data processing tool that provides both scheduled and on-demand reports, while also facilitating the maintenance and capture of the underlying data. Same facts, rearranged a bit, with less repetition. The "static and daily" part might be better in a subsequent sentence or paragraph.

                                      Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in? Developer, Author (Guardians of Xen)

                                      C Offline
                                      C Offline
                                      Christian Graus
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #24

                                      Ian Shlasko wrote:

                                      I don't know what KPI stands for

                                      Key Performance Indicators. I envy you for not knowing that.

                                      Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.

                                      I 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • C Christian Graus

                                        John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

                                        grunting in delight

                                        Grunting is what livestock do.

                                        Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.

                                        realJSOPR Offline
                                        realJSOPR Offline
                                        realJSOP
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #25

                                        If she's grunting, she's visiting her animal side. Yummy...

                                        .45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly
                                        -----
                                        "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                                        -----
                                        "The staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - J. Jystad, 2001

                                        G 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • G Gary Wheeler

                                          I have a feeling the term 'static' is a little technical too. For users in the financial industry, would the terms 'fixed' (for static) and 'variable' (for daily or dynamic) work?

                                          Software Zen: delete this;

                                          B Offline
                                          B Offline
                                          Brady Kelly
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #26

                                          Probably. They aren't old enough to be stuck on using the term Master Files. :~

                                          1 Reply Last reply
                                          0
                                          Reply
                                          • Reply as topic
                                          Log in to reply
                                          • Oldest to Newest
                                          • Newest to Oldest
                                          • Most Votes


                                          • Login

                                          • Don't have an account? Register

                                          • Login or register to search.
                                          • First post
                                            Last post
                                          0
                                          • Categories
                                          • Recent
                                          • Tags
                                          • Popular
                                          • World
                                          • Users
                                          • Groups