Software Help Systems

Client: Pfizer (2004 – 2008)
Product: WebHelp & HTML Help
Software: Adobe Dreamweaver MX & RoboHelp 6

Pfizer is a pharmaceutical company. I was employed there as a contractor from 2004 through the end of 2008.

When Pfizer’s in-house dataming software RGate (Research Gateway) originally launched with a very minimul help system that consisted of a few web pages describing how to perform the most basic tasks using the softare (i.e. building and running a simple query, creating and saving lists of compound IDs, creating virtual compound structures, etc.). RGate was designed to help pharaceutical research chemists and biologists view, organize, analyze and share data stored in Pfizer’s massive global databases. The original help system proved to be inadequate. It also failed to serve users outside of the research community.

I used Dreamweaver to create the first iteration of the new system. This version was not searchable but contained tree navigation to enable users to find what they were looking for. This version contained all of the topics and training materials as the next generation of the system, which was created in RoboHelp. The next version was a searchable WebHelp system that contained a topics written from a task-oriented perspective. The new system served all audiences (not just the research community) using the software to access data. In addition to “how to” topics, the system also included Flash demonstrations of basic tasks, links to computer based training courses, and a library of quick reference cards, hands on activities scripts and slide decks that could be downloaded and used in training classes and team meetings. Descriptions of the user interface and definitions of each icon it contained were also included. All of these materials were written and produced by me.

Qqlink (2000-2001)
Product: Online Help
Software: Microsoft Word

At the time I wrote topics for Qqlink, this insurance company offered a suite of web based office tools for insurance professionals, similar to Google Docs. I was retained as a freelancer to write help topics to support these tools. The help topics focused on describing the user interface, as well as on how to perform basic tasks. I was retained simply to write the topics, not to design or build the help system.

Client: Hop The Shops
Product: Email Newsletters
Software: Microsoft Word

As a freelancer, I was hired to write email monthly newsletters to be sent to Hop The Shops subscribers, advertising the lastest sales and special offers from Hop The Shops member stores.