Ruth Sessions
Consulting Technical Writer

Sessions Technical Services
Technical Writing for Complex Products
68 Schaefer Circle/Hudson, NH 03051
Phone: (603) 886-7355           Cell: (603) 809-3054
ruthsessions03051@yahoo.com

More than 10 years experience as Technical Writer and Leader,
specializing in SDK programmer guides.
Software Development Certificate from Boston University.

Summary     Accomplishments     Experience     Education

    Programming Languages and Documentation Tools

    Summary:

            Most of my career have written task-oriented programmer guides for software developer toolkits/APIs/4GLs. Toolkits have integrated with a variety of languages, from C++ and C# to JavaScript to Visual Basic .NET.
            In addition to programmer and application developer guides, also write hardware and software installation guides, user and operator guides, admin guides, API reference guides, network configuration guides, user/reference HTML Help, and quick references. In addition, write cross-functional materials such as technical briefs, white papers and data sheets, sales training materials, marketing requirements, and functional specs.
            Products documented include speech recognition systems for medical and non-medical applications, security systems, workflow process management systems, semiconductor manufacturing systems, and commercial HVAC management systems.
            Alongside developing complex documentation sets, have led writer seminars on developing programmer documentation, developed training materials for toolkits, and managed/trained documentation writing and localization groups as well as engineering writers. Developed a glossy bi-monthly HVAC technical journal from scratch, then hired an applications engineer to take over the project. Published independent articles on HVAC theory.
            Program sample code in C/C++/C#, JavaScript, Visual Basic .NET, 4GLs, object model APIs, proprietary SDKs; develop templates and graphics, develop HTML manually as well as with tools. FrameMaker, IXGen, Acrobat/PDF, RoboHelp HTML, XML, Flare, SnagIt, Paint, PaintShopPro, Visio. SQLplus, SQL Server, Windows XP, Linux, Unix.

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    Accomplishments:

  • Developed first Nuance Speech Web Server Programmer Guide in 3 months, explaining how to develop clients that send speech recognition jobs to the server for batch processing. Developed code snippets in C#.
  • Taught myself JavaScript and developed code snippets/sample code summaries in the scripting language for 18-chapter PowerScribe SDK Programmer Guide (Nuance). Completed the guide for 3 years of product development in 6 months.
  • Developed best practices programmer guide for APIs used to interact with PowerScribe speech recognition and medical transcription software. Taught myself Visual Basic .NET and wrote illustrative sample code in the language (Nuance).
  • Developed multiple installation guides for anti-hacker network security appliance in one week to meet hardware platform changes (Sigma Security).
  • Rewrote system administration guide my first week at Brooks; received praise from Engineering.
  • Wrote Visual Basic service/application code samples that shipped with the product (Brooks).
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  • Developed task-oriented on-line Help to replace original "user guide" Help (really a reference guide) written by developer (Brooks).
  • Developed sample client/server manufacturing scenario to illustrate features of product (Brooks).
  • Revised and extensively tested 4GL demo application for manual (Brooks).
  • Wrote first Getting Started manual for client/server product comprised of 50 servers.
  • Documented all MES integration business rules shipped with the product (Brooks).
  • Established Doc Department (Andover) and selected FrameMaker publishing system.
  • Established Infinity Technical Journal, then hired an applications engineer to take over the project (Andover).
  • Hired, trained, and managed German and French translators (Andover).
  • Published independent articles on PID loop control theory.
  • Commendations: Technical Support Award for Most Improved Doc Set (Brooks), Engineering Employee of the Quarter (Andover).
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        More Details on Managerial Accomplishments

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    Consulting Experience:

2000-Present. Technical Writer, Consultant, and Business Manager
Sessions Technical Services/Hudson, NH 03051.
Plan, write, and produce technical documentation for various small company clients, including speech recognition software toolkit developers, security applicance developers, manufacturing product lifecycle management companies, and semiconductor manufacturing software developers. Assess documentation needs, write proposals, obtain agreements, and execute plans. Prepare/present training seminars and design small web sites and marketing materials. Clients include:


KGR Tech Services/Windham, NH 03087
Develop test and release procedure documents for embedded Global Positioning System software. Work closely with test and development engineers/managers using FNOS operating system, CANtech CAN networking and software test tools, and SiRFDemo and SiRFgraf software test tools. Also work with live vehicle test team at client company. Develop documents under tight deadline pressure.

Nuance Communications/Burlington, MA 01803.
Plan, write, and produce Programmer Guides, Installation Guides, and HTML Help files for Dragon SDK Client, PowerScribe APIs, and PowerScribe SDK speech recognition and automated medical transcription system toolkits.

Sigma Security/Chelmsford, MA 018243.
Plan, write, and produce user documentation and marketing materials for antihacker and security appliances. Also develop market requirements and work with engineering management to develop functional specs.

Infor (formerly Formation Systems)/Westboro, MA.
Develop training seminar on how to write programmer guides/present to team of writers at manufacturing product lifecycle management software company.

Brooks Automation, Inc./Chelmsford, MA 01824.
Plan, write, and produce training materials for semiconductor manufacturing software.

    Other Experience:

1995-2000. Principal Technical Writer/Documentation Leader.
Brooks Automation/Chelmsford, MA 01824.
Planned, wrote, and produced PDF files/WinHelp for Windows- and UNIX-based client/ server factory automation software, including finite state machine developer toolkit, object model, service development kit, server development toolkit, and 4GL programming language. Embedded documentation in the product. Developed schedules for multi-writer projects. Worked on three major products over five years.

1989-1995. Principal Technical Writer/Documentation Manager.
Andover Controls Corporation/Andover, MA 01810.
Established Doc Department within Engineering. Selected FrameMaker publishing system. Researched, planned, and wrote all initial documentation for Andover's line of networked, PC-based HVAC control, process control, and security systems. Updated and maintained that doc for six years.

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    Education:

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    Programming Languages and Documentation Tools:

  • FrameMaker/Acrobat PDF, Flare, RoboHelp
    FrameMaker on Windows XP and Sun Workstations. Developed HTML Help using both Flare and RoboHelp (Nuance, Brooks). Generated PDF files of all manuals (SigmaSecurity, Brooks, Nuance). Developed WinHelp using RoboHelp and raw RTF (Brooks).
  • HTML Help and Raw RTF WinHelp
    Hand coded HTML help embedded in product (SigmaSecurity). Completed courses in HTML at New Horizons.
  • XML
    Wrote chapter on structured reports that explained incorporating XML template. Completed course in XML at New Horizons.
  • JavaScript
    Developed code snippets to illustrate PowerScribe SDK toolkit at Nuance.
  • Visual Basic .NET
    Used Visual Basic .NET to develop application for Nuance Communications that illustrated working with PowerScribe API toolkit for medical transcription system. Code shipped as sample with API Programmer Guide.

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  • C and C++
    Wrote programs in C and C++, including a recursive descent parser and infix-postfix converter. Wrote code samples to illustrate library functions for Server Developer Toolkit at Brooks.
  • Tool Object Model
    Object model/ActiveX control with proprietary API for integrating equipment into semiconductor Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES). Used the API to write TOM service code in Visual Basic for STATIONworks at Brooks.
  • CELLman (4GL)
    Brooks's proprietary 4GL for programming semiconductor manufacturing systems. Revised demo program for Getting Started manual. Wrote sample code to illustrate using API reply parsing library of functions in task-oriented manual. Wrote FACTORYworks business rule for Equipment Monitoring.
  • Andover Controls Plain English (4GL)
    4GL programming language for HVAC control and security systems. Wrote examples for language reference/programmer's guides at Andover.

Contact Ruth Sessions