Shanghai Tech WriterTechnical Writing, Technology, Web2.0, Google, Shanghai, China

Today’s my one year anniversary working at National Instruments. I work in the China R&D center in Shanghai as a technical writer. My job is to write documentation for LabVIEW and LabVIEW add-ons.

My first few weeks at NI were spent in training. Never in my working years have I experienced such rigorous training. Everything I need to know about technical writing at NI was crammed into my head over the course of several weeks. Then I worked on a few projects, met a few developers, learned a few tools, worked on a few projects, wrote a few help topics, attended a few parties, ate lots of stuff, and one year later, I’m writing this article.

100 Things I’ve Learned, Accomplished, and Done

1. I started this blog about my life as a technical writer at NI Shanghai.
2. I learned HTML.
3. I learned the basics of CSS.
4. I learned XML.
5. I learned how to use Altova XMLSpy.
6. I attended a three-day LabVIEW Basics I course.
7. I learned how to use LabVIEW.
8. I learned how to use a bunch of LabVIEW tools we created for documentation tasks.
9. I created a tool in LabVIEW to automate the process of copying compiled help files from server to local computer.
10. I learned how to use Adobe FrameMaker.
11. I learned how to convert documents to PDF format.
12. I read through all our internal style guides — NI Style Guide, LabVIEW Style Guide, and LabVIEW documentation user guide.
13. I forgot everything I read.
14. I learned how to use Microsoft Access database to enter reference information about VIs, palettes, and dialog boxes.
15. I learned how to generate HTML from XML.
16. I learned how to use Perforce as source control.
17. I learned how to use FAR HTML.
18. I learned how to create and compile CHM help.
19. I learned how to use the Corrective Action Request (CAR) database system.
20. I fixed, filed, and validated over 300 CARs.
21. I installed, uninstalled, and reinstalled LabVIEW over 20 times.
22. I learned how to submit work requests to doc pro.
23. I learned the basics of digital signal processing (DSP).
24. I learned about digital filtering.
25. I wrote a tutorial for LabVIEW Digital Filter Design Toolkit.
26. I learned about the software development process.
27. I learned about a product’s life cycle.
28. I worked on a 1.0 project.
29. I wrote an entire documentation plan.
30. I wrote the entire documentation set for a 1.0 product.
31. I submitted three work requests to doc pro.
32. I wrote over 100 help topics.
33. I created a PDF print-only help.
34. I created 7 CHMs.
35. I created 2 readmes.
36. I submitted 8 deliverables to first review, final review, R&D signoff, and lead signoff. That’s 30+ reviews!
37. I received and entered over 1000 edits.
38. I started productivity forum to share tips and tricks.
39. I cheered when NI ranked again in Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For for the ninth consecutive years.
40. I coordinated and organized a company-wide carnival party.
41. I learned how to use Twiki.
42. I learned how to use Atlassian Confluence Wiki.
43. I coordinated the migration of our department’s internal website to Confluence Wiki.
44. I joined the Content Wrangler Community.
45. I migrated this blog from my personal domain to Shanghai Tech Writer.
46. I changed the theme for this blog three times.
47. I wrote over 200 articles for this blog.
48. I participated in a snowball fight.
49. I started a weekly Scrabble tournament.
50. I’m #1 on the Scrabble scoreboard.
51. I reviewed and published an article on NI Developer Zone.
52. I became the social dictator.
53. I organized 2 quarterly parties.
54. I put together a digital scavenger hunt.
55. I shared about my typical day as a technical writer at NI.
56. I attended 3 quarterly parties.
57. I attended end-of-the-year company party.
58. I was part of the infamous R&D skit at the annual party.
59. I attended NI China Ten Years anniversary at the Grand Hyatt.
60. I attended 4 quarterly update meetings.
61. I went to several department and team-building dinners.
62. I attended 15 group lunches.
63. I participated in 30 games of mafia.
64. I got killed 26 times.
65. I visited the snack table 100 times.
66. I baked 20 dozens of chocolate chip cookies for the department.
67. I received over 2000 emails.
68. I sent over 1000 emails.
69. I attended over 40 documentation team meetings.
70. I met with my manager one-on-one more than 40 times.
71. I worked closely with 8 subject matter experts (SMEs).
72. I attended 10 New Employee Orientation (NEO) training.
73. I gave one NEO training on “Best Email Practice.”
74. I gave a few English training to engineers.
75. I helped acquire new software (SnagIt) for the department.
76. I created and implemented a spec.
77. I reviewed over 20 specs.
78. I filled out the timecards 52 times.
79. I worked over 2000 hours.
80. I cleaned out my cubicle twice.
81. I updated the biweekly status reports 25 times.
82. I updated my project schedule over 20 times.
83. I received over 3000 RMB ($450) in meal subsidies.
84. I received 3 NI shirts, 1 NI hat, and 1 NI flag.
85. I biked to work over 200 times, a total of over 1000 kilometers (625 miles)!
86. I saved over 2200 RMB ($300 USD) in taxis/gas.
87. I printed out too many pages of specs, documentation, reviews, and garbage.
88. I helped save papers/trees by printing double-sided two pages per side. That’s FOUR pages per piece of paper!
89. I participated in NI Green Day. I wore all green.
90. I attended a book club at work.
91. I collaborated with a few technical writers in Austin.
92. I wrote two articles for our internal newsletter.
93. I got featured in ISTC Blog News.
94. I got invited to attend LavaCon Advanced Technical Communication conference in Hawaii.
95. I used up 2 notebooks.
96. I switched from IE, to Firefox, to Maxthon, to Maxthon 2, to Firefox 3, to Chrome.
97. I submitted 2 proposals for NI-TC, our annual internal tech comm conference.
98. I visited NIC, the company headquarters in Austin.
99. I met with Austin technical writers face-to-face.
100. I presented a topic on “Learning Styles and Technical Writing” at NI-TC.

What a list! There are many more to add to the list but I’m stopping here. It has been a great year. I love my job as a technical writer, and I love working at NI.