For awhile there, it seemed like you couldn’t ask a tool related question without getting a barrage of anti-Microsoft Word responses.
Need help on a specific Word feature > GET RID OF WORD
Advice about changing toolsets > WHATEVER YOU DO DON’T USE WORD
Interview advice > MAKE SURE THEY’RE NOT USING WORD
It’s gotten better, but damn, it was rough for awhile.
Here’s the thing – I’ve used enough tools in my career to know this – none of them are perfect. Shoot, most of them aren’t even great. Every tool has its weaknesses. Every. Single. One.
So if I walk into a shop that’s using Word – like where I am now – I’m good.
In fact, Word is sort of my bitch. I’ve been using it since its first version (yea, I know, I just aged myself), and I can make it do all sort of crazy things. I’ve been carrying around a set of Macros and Keyboard Shortcuts that I use in every job. First thing I do is make great templates.
Are numbered headings still a PITA? Yes. Is content reuse still nearly impossible? Yes. But for 95% if our work, Word, well, works.
The only time I’m gonna start looking at other tools is when content reuse becomes impossible to manage in Word. Even then, most tools that handle reuse well cost thousands of dollars, and are dependent on being implemented correctly, which takes a tremendous amount of time and even more money (see my rant about CMS systems).
Now, if you tell me your documentation is in Excel (this happens more often than you think), then we’re gonna have a problem!