Help systems are something that I've had a lot to do with over the past 20 years. The way we produce online user help has changed significantly over that time, from the good old days of coded RTF files through HTML help and onto some of the shiny high-tech help generators that are now available. Nowadays, of course, user help is likely as not produced through a single-source solution such as a DITA-based documentation system. And the one constant through all that time has been change, and keeping up with the changes. So I am very much looking forward to attending the European Help Conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, in September 2007.

Passolo has been bought out: For some years now, Passolo has been a leading localisation tool, widely used, trusted and respected by localization professionals. We have used Passolo at SalfTrans for five or six years now, and found it an excellent tool. The developers have always been helpful and responsive, giving world-class technical support and customer service. Today, SDL announced that they have bought Passolo. I guess the challenge now will be to see how SDL can integrate it with their existing suite of translation memory tools (Trados, and SDLX) whilst maintaining the same high degree of customer service that the Passolo user base have come to love and expect. According to the Hemscott web site, the takeover deal is valued at 2 million euros, with 1 million euros paid cash and the balance in shares. And to Achim, Florian and their team - congratulations!

Technical communication conferences are always fun. Ours is a fast-moving industry, and attending conferences is a good way to keep our skillsets current and up to date. My friend Alan Houser (a leading DITA guru, FrameMaker trainer, and XML workflow consultant) has recently posted a blog listing details of the various technical documentation conferences, which provides a first-hand wonderful overview of upcoming technical documentation conferences. And if you get a chance to see Alan Houser presenting at a conference, jump at the chance. Alan's listing focuses primarily on the USA, so it doesn't list events like DITA Europe, but it has given me fresh insight into forthcoming conferences in the USA. Being a bit of a geek, LavaCon in New Orleans and the FrameMaker Chautauqua in North Carolina are especially tempting for me!

The Microsoft Translation Glossaries have been updated again, so MSDN subscribers should check for new versions on the MSDN web site. I am especially pleased to see that the Portuguese glossary for Windows Vista has been included this time round. Again, my thanks to those people at Microsoft who have kept me updated on this - I apprecieate it, guys.