[Foss4g2009] better method for collaborative document editing

[Cameron Shorter]

-0 for collaborative editing using a wiki.

Wikis are a poor tool for tracking changes because you can't easily see 
what has changed, what it was before, or who changed it (Yes, you can do 
a history diff, but it is messy). Open Office is better, but doesn't do 
a good job with inserting comments. Much as I hate saying it, Word is 
the best tool I seen yet for this.

My preference is to use tracked changes in word, followed by tracked 
changes in Open Office.
(Note, the document authors, usually Tour Hosts, should be able to merge 
changes from multiple authors)

Bruce Bannerman wrote:
> +1
>
> I don't use MS Word as a rule (except at my old job), preferring Open
> Office. 
>
> I also don't have access to it now, and have no intention of buying a
> license.
>
> B
>
>
> On Wed, 2008-09-24 at 22:45 -0700, Dave Patton wrote:
>   
>> The current process that we are using for
>> making collaborative changes to documents
>> isn't working for me. Currently, once a
>> document(e.g. a flier) is created, it's
>> mailed to 'the list' as a Word document,
>> and people are invited to make comments
>> and changes, using Word's 'track changes'.
>> As has already been demonstrated, as soon
>> as someone forgets to use 'track changes',
>> or two people make changes to their copy
>> of the original, the system breaks down,
>> and requires people to re-review, and even
>> redo changes they already have made.
>>
>> I'd suggest that we switch to a method where
>> there is a "single source document" that is
>> used for any collaborative editing/review.
>>
>> My vote would be to use a wiki page, which will
>> be suitable for anything where we are 'just
>> reviewing text'. If there are also going to
>> be 'layout issues'(e.g. formatting, what images
>> to use, etc.) with the document, then address
>> them using commentary on a PDF version that is
>> mailed to the list, after the text is 'finalized'.
>>
>>     
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Foss4g2009 mailing list
>> Foss4g2009 at lists.osgeo.org
>> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/foss4g2009
>>     


-- 
Cameron Shorter
Geospatial Systems Architect
Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050
Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254

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