Office products should include tools to help manage acronym lists

[D-Perreault]

With such a significant military client base, Microsoft Office products
should include tools to assist with managing the very expansive acronym-based
"language" that is used extensively, and always evolving, in the United
States military (and the government as a whole). Most military documents are
drafted using MS Word. That being the case, it would be significantly
helpful if Word provided tools to aid in the compiling of an acronym list
appendix which is made available for reference at the end of such documents
(after being built manually). This could be done in much the same way that
Word 07 now handles Endnotes and Bibliographies. This tool could also aid in
ensuring that acronyms are only spelled out once - the first time each is
used in the document - as is the custom with military & government
professional/technical writing.

----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...591f07&dg=microsoft.public.word.docmanagement

 

[macropod]

So what's wrong with using end-notes?

Alternatively, surely an organisation with the budget of the US military could afford the cost (if justified) of creating an add-in
for Word to handle this task.

 

[grammatim]

Or an index?

So what's wrong with using end-notes?

Alternatively, surely an organisation with the budget of the US military could afford the cost (if justified) of creating an add-in
for Word to handle this task.

--
Cheers
macropod
[MVP - Microsoft Word]

With such a significant military client base, Microsoft Office products
should include tools to assist with managing the very expansive acronym-based
"language" that is used extensively, and always evolving, in the United
States military (and the government as a whole).  Most military documents are
drafted using MS Word.  That being the case, it would be significantly
helpful if Word provided tools to aid in the compiling of an acronym list
appendix which is made available for reference at the end of such documents
(after being built manually).  This could be done in much the same way that
Word 07 now handles Endnotes and Bibliographies.  This tool could also aid in
ensuring that acronyms are only spelled out once - the first time each is
used in the document - as is the custom with military & government
professional/technical writing.

----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the"I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, followthis
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx?mid=6452....-

 

[PamC via OfficeKB.com]

Well, while you are waiting for MS to come up with something, you could
evaluate AcroWizard. It builds a table of acronyms and their definitions,
can note whether an acronym is defined on first use, and can search the
internet (acronymfinder.com) for possible definitions—while building an
acronym database (http://www.anvillogic.com/products/AWClient.asp). There's
still work to be done when AcroWizard is through, but it does the the time-
consuming part for you. I've used it in a production setting only once, but
was pleased with the result. It did in a few minutes what would have taken 6
to 8 hours of manual (even macro assisted) collection and formatting.
Possible problem: It only works with Office 2003 and before.

Another product, intended for editors, gives such information as how often an
acronym is used (so the editor can decide whether to use it) and highlights
those already defined. I don't remember the name of the software but can
find it for you if you are interested.

Note that your recommendation is more likely to be seen by MS if you post it
through its knowledge base (or whatever it calls its help system these days.)
feedback or at an Office product developer site.

PamC