3di Information Solutions

22/10/2026

Is your product information scattered across too many places? When documentation lives in multiple systems, it's difficult to know what's accurate, what's outdated, and where to look first.

In her blog, our Lead Consultant, Rachel Potts, explains why this happens and shares practical advice on creating a trusted single source of truth for your documentation.

Read the full article to learn how better organisation can make information easier to find and easier to trust

In this article we look at five practical steps you can take to overcome information siloing.

20/10/2026

We’ve explored technical writing throughout history before, but this time we’re going further back, to the Wars of the Three Kingdoms (or English Civil War) in the mid-17th century.

We explore how historical events, combined with advances in technology, helped drive a boom in what could be considered proto-technical writing.

We look at contemporary examples and how technical information was communicated during this fascinating period, and what modern technical writers can learn from it.

Read the full article here:

Here, we’ll discuss what made the English Civil War a catalyst for technical writing, and what lessons technical writers can learn from these 400-year-old documents.

16/10/2026

In this week’s , we watch ‘Roofman’, where Channing Tatum’s character finds himself hiding out in a Toys “R” Us. Faced with a small but significant obstacle — CCTV — he does what many fictional characters rarely do.

He finds and reads the manual. He figures out how to disable the system and move around undetected.

It’s a simple reminder that even in less-than-standard use cases, well-written documentation does exactly what it’s meant to do: help people understand systems and use them effectively.

How far would you go to change who you are? is coming only...

15/10/2026

Localizing a Flare project can be more involved than expected.

What works perfectly in English doesn’t always translate cleanly into other languages. Text expands, layouts shift, variables behave differently, and suddenly things are not quite where you left them.

In this blog, we cover common challenges and how to handle them more effectively.

Read more here:

In this article, we look at some issues that can occur when managing localization projects in MadCap Flare and Lingo, and how you can avoid them.

13/10/2026

Today, we’re highlighting the real value of using plain English in technical documentation, particularly when content needs to be translated into multiple languages.

Research shows that ‘clearer documents that use fewer words are easier for human translators to understand and less costly for computer-assisted translation tools’ (with translation typically costing around 20 cents per word).

There’s also the design challenge: translations into languages such as Arabic or German can take up as much as 125% more space, adding extra time and expense to page layout and production.

At 3di, we specialise in helping clients simplify complex content. By applying plain language principles, we create documentation that:
• Reduces translation costs
• Simplifies layout and formatting, even for space-demanding languages
• Improves usability for all audiences, regardless of language or background

Clear, concise source content doesn’t just make communication better; it also makes localisation workflows more efficient and cost-effective.
Resource:

09/10/2026

This week’s takes a look at the Cold War thriller ‘K-19: The Widowmaker’. Loosely based on true events, the film follows the crew of the K-19 submarine as disaster strikes and its nuclear reactor begins to fail.

After a coolant pump failure, the technicians do what every technical author hopes people will do in an emergency: reach for the emergency procedures. Throughout the film, the submariners regularly rely on schematics, technical manuals, and other documentation to help diagnose problems and mitigate the unfolding disaster onboard the K-19.

For its fairly realistic portrayal of using technical documentation under extreme circumstances, we’re giving ‘K-19: The Widowmaker’ 8/10.

K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) Movie Script | SS

08/10/2026

Have you ever sent off some work to be peer reviewed, only to receive feedback that was unclear, unhelpful, or just confusing?

Fortunately, you aren’t alone. And in this article, one of our technical authors shares her expert advice on how to deliver feedback that’s clear, practical, and genuinely useful. She also outlines simple steps you can apply in your very next peer review.

Read the full article: https://hubs.ly/Q04x6D1s0

06/10/2026

Moving your technical documentation to a new authoring tool can feel daunting, but it's also an opportunity to improve your documentation, streamline your processes, and modernise the tools you use.

In this article, we share four essential steps for a successful content migration project. You'll learn how to evaluate your existing documentation, plan a smooth migration, and review and validate your migrated content. A well-planned migration isn’t just about moving your content; it's about setting up your teams for long-term success.

Read the full article here at

In this article, we share some top tips on how to successfully complete a content migration project. Read more here.

02/10/2026

This week’s takes a look at ‘Hidden Figures’, the inspiring film based on the true story of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson: three brilliant mathematicians who worked as ‘human computers’ for NASA during the Space Race.

When NASA announces it will switch to IBM computers using Fortran, Dorothy Vaughan recognises that she needs to learn how to programme them. Unfortunately, because of the racial segregation of the time, she is unable to attend the available courses.

However, she gets a copy of Fortran’s technical manual, studies it herself, and then uses what she has learned to teach the entire computing pool how to programme the new computers. It’s a great real-life example of just how powerful a well-written technical manual and a determined mind are.

For its depiction of technical documentation and the important role it can play in people's lives, we’re giving Hidden Figures a 10/10.

"Fortran is a new and exciting language... — Watch this Hidden Figures (2016) scene on Clip.Cafe.

01/10/2026

Keeping documentation up to date shouldn't depend on one person.

When technical writers aren't available, product teams are often expected to update documentation themselves, but the process isn't always straightforward.

In her blog, our Lead Consultant, Rachel Potts, shares practical advice on making documentation easier for non-specialists to maintain, without sacrificing quality.

Read the full article to learn how to build a more sustainable documentation process

In this article, we'll discuss how to outsource docs to professionals, whilst still keeping control over your content.