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Document Planning Checklist

Before starting a large documentation project, plan ahead so that all areas related to the final delivery are covered, such as costs, production, resources, dissemination, and archiving.

If you overlook this step your project's success could be undermined by failing to anticipate these items. For example:

Did you remember that Mary in Production Dept. is on holiday the day before release?
Have you got sign-off for printing?
How will you deliver the hardcopy reports?

Tech Doc Checklist

None of these have to do with the main writing tasks, but are essential for the project's overall success, especially if it ties in with other parallel deliverables.

The following checklist offers some areas to consider before starting your project.

Questions		Notes
What are the document's objectives?
Who is the target audience?
What previous work was done for them?
What are the proposed start and finish dates?
Who signs-off the final document?
Who will be in the Writing Team? (note any possible schedule conflicts)
What type of publication will be produced?		Publication type(s): Technical report Procedures Presentation White Papers System Admin Guide User Guide Other
What file formats are required? For example: HTML, Word, On-line Help
What documents will the client supply? Company style guide Company corporate guidelines
What software will be used? (Are new licenses required?)
Will different authors share files?
Will the document be published online?
How often will the document be updated?
What is the proposed release process?
How will it be archived?
What graphics will be used?
Who will supply or design the graphics?
Paper publications	How will the document be distributed? (e.g. available by request)
	What are the duplication costs? (e.g. considerations such as special bindings, color copying costs)
Online publications	What security is required? What are the costs to do this?
	What are the website related costs?