Janet Underwood

Trial versions of software you can download

Everytime you read job descriptions, employers are demanding that you know a different application to be considered for a job with them. Face it -- you could spend a fortune if you had to buy all of the applications that technical writers use, and once you bought them, there's no guarantee that you'll even need to know how to use them to get a job.

A good alternative is to download trial versions of the software technical writers often use and gain some familiarity with it during the trial version. That way, you can legitimately tell future employers, "Yes, I'm familiar with X application."

Here's a list of software that technical writers often use with links to download trial versions. If you want me to add other software, please let me know!

Adobe FrameMaker 10
Considered to be the “gold standard” for writing technical documentation, FrameMaker, while not as widely used as Microsoft Word, is a good application to review. Click the Try button to download the trial version.

Adobe InDesign CS5
While some call FrameMaker "Microsoft Word on steroids," Adobe InDesign is considered to be a  pumped-up Pagemaker. It offers a different approach to high-end desktop publishing for technical writers. Click “Tryl” to download the trial version.

Adobe Acrobat X
As more documentation is put online, many companies want technical writers to be able to use Adobe Acrobat with proficiency. Click “Free Trial” to download the trial version.

Adobe Dreamweaver CS5
Many employers are expecting technical writers to have the ability to develop Web sites, and Dreamweaver often is the software they want to use. Click “Try” at the bottom of the page to download the trial version.

Adobe Robohelp 9
This is the most well-known Help authoring application on the market. Click “Try” to download the trial version.

QuarkXpress 8
In some areas, this is the application of choice for developing technical documentation. It’s a powerful application, and some say Adobe developed InDesign specifically to compete against it. Until recently, they offered a generous trial period for their software. I can't find anywhere on their website now that indicates they offer trial versions, so I suggest that you contact them directly to find out if you can download a trial version of the software.

Microsoft Office Visio Professional 2010
Visio helps you draw network diagrams and several other kinds of diagrams that are often used in technical documents. You won’t be able to miss the Download Now buttons on this site so you can have a 60-day trial of the software.

 

Before you download the trial version of FrameMaker 10... 

be sure to purchase Mastering the Basics (and more) of Adobe FrameMaker 10. Using this book to guide you through the ins and outs of FrameMaker during the trial period will give you a solid understanding of how to use FrameMaker. Master FrameMaker more quickly by ordering the book. Click the button below to go to my estore page.