MAFware Solutions
Technical Writing

MAFware Solutions offers these technical writing services:

  • User guides, reference guides, operator guides, configuration guides, installation guides, release notes
  • Hardware and software application documentation
  • Operating system and firmware documentation
  • White papers and technical briefs
  • Training guides
  • Document reorganizing, revamping with an eye toward improved usability
  • Technical editing and proofreading

Documentation Projects

The following describes past documentation projects, all successfully completed. Samples of many of the manuals are available upon request. A resume (MS Word doc) presents a concise summary of skills and experience.

Highlights since 2006:

  • BEI Networks, Sep. 2009-Apr, 2010 – Developed disaster recovery plans, and data security policies and procedures for Massachusetts community college IT Departments. (Sample Plan)
  • Measured Progress, Jan. 2010-Jan. 2010 – Created release notes, updating user, training, and quick reference guides for middle and high school student assessment software; updated product support intranet web pages.
  • Freelance Work: Web Design and Newsletters, Jan.-Sep. 2009 – Developing and maintaining web sites, and producing newsletters for several local non-profit clients.
  • Microwave Radio Communications, N. Billerica, MA, Jun. 2006-Jan. 2009 – Worked on numerous projects, many of which were on overlapping schedules.
    • Created a Central Receive System Operator's Guide, Overview Guide, Installation Guide, and Quick Reference Card for a GUI-based ENG system for monitoring remote live microwave broadcasts from a news studio.
    • Improved on quality of existing FrameMaker templates, including master pages, character and paragraph tags, tables, and variables. Published all manuals in PDF format.
    • Developed operator's guides and technical manuals for several products for broadcast and homeland security markets, including the DRS4000 Receiver and the IPRX Data De-encapulator.
    • Developed an antenna setup card, controller setup card, and an operator's guide for a military satellite terminal.
    • Developed a help system design (click Help link at top right of new window) for a new TCP/IP router that connects a broadcast studio to remote news vehicles via an extended LAN.
    • Used FrameMaker, Photoshop, Visio, Illustrator, Adobe Acrobat, and SnagIt extensively.

Highlights from 1998 to 2006:

The following projects were contract assignments with HP, Nashua, NH from 1999 to 2006.

  • HP Cluster Platform Upgrades – (client - HP, Nashua, NH) Upgraded the HP Cluster Platform Overview for HP Cluster Platforms (servers, network switches, high-speed interconnects) using MS Word and Arbortext Epic Editor. (late 2005-early 2006)
  • HP Knowledge Base – Assisted with web-based training and testing of AI tool for cataloging HP call center reports, using internal, web-based applications. (mid 2005)
  • HP VPN Tunneling Solution – Provided technical assistance to 80-100 contractors to migrate their PCs to the new, mandatory, VPN solution for tunneling into the HP intranet. (early 2005)

    HP provided a hard to follow, 50-page guide and many web pages of reference information. To simplify the process, the writer wrote and distributed two new guides to help the contractors implement the VPN solution: a seven-page user guide and a four-page troubleshooting guide. For several months after the project ended, other contractors and HP employees sought out copies of these guides.

  • HP Collaboration and Competency Network – Upgraded this HP technical web site to make it compliant with current HP web standards. Developed a Dreamweaver template. (late 2004)
  • HP StorageWorks Configuration Guide – Created a technical guide for configuring HP UNIX-based enterprise-class storage arrays with multiple terabytes (TB) of storage using 48 to 1,024 disks. Used Arbortext Adept (SGML-based editor). (mid-2004)
  • HP AlphaServer TS15 System Documentation – Created a set of guides for telco customers (formatted for 7x9-inch binding). Used MS Word. (early 2004)
    • Owner's Guide for self-maintenance customers (252 pages)
    • Service Guide for troubleshooting by Field Service, including procedures for field replaceable units (339 pages)
    • AlphaServer Rackmount Installation Guide for installing the system in a rack
    • StorageWorks Rackmount Installation Guide for installing a storage array in a rack
  • HP AlphaServer DS15 System Documentation – Completed the Owner's Guide and Service Guide for the HP AlphaServer DS15 system, using MS Word. (2003)
  • HP Hardware Training Courses, HP Programming Tools Web Site – Produced several web based courses for HP hardware components. Upgraded programming tools web site to latest corporate standards. Used Dreamweaver and FrontPage. (2002)
  • Compaq E-mail Solutions for ISPs – Developed solution guides and white papers for Internet Service Providers (early 1999-mid 2001, transitioned from employee to contractor). During this project, the writer successfully completed the following tasks:
    • Managed the development of technical business solution documents and white papers for commercial ISP and E-Commerce applications
    • Documented business solutions running on Windows, UNIX, and Linux platforms, using AlphaServer and ProLiant (Intel) servers
    • Tracked multiple schedules for several engineers
    • Created technical diagrams and illustrations
    • Designed and maintained an internal engineering web site for rapid delivery of completed documentation
    • Interfaced with editors at the corporate web site
    • Managed a second writer during peak work loads
  • DIGITAL UNIX Printing Software – Developed a system manager guide, user guide, reference guide, and release notes (late 1998- early 1999).

Highlights prior to 1998:

The following work was completed while a full-time employee at Digital Equipment Corp. during 1986-1998.

  • Performance Solution Guides, User Guides, Installation Guides, Training Guides, online help, release notes –
    Produced product manuals and online help for numerous software and hardware projects for VAX/VMS and DIGITAL UNIX platforms, then, after 1995, for the MS Windows platform.

    Positions prior to 1986 included Gould Electronics (programmable controllers), Applicon (CAD/CAM systems), Computervision (CAD/CAM systems), and GCA Corp. (photolithography imaging systems)

    Top

     
      Copyright © 2001-2010 by Michael Frascinella
    mfrascinella at comcast dot net
    Last updated May 13, 2010