Whether you're evaluating a plugin, planning a migration, or wondering if your architecture needs an overhaul, these are the questions we hear most.

Getting Started​

Will the plugins work with my version of MadCap Flare?

All ImprovementSoft plugins support MadCap Flare 2020 and later on Windows.

Do you offer free trials?

Yes. AI Helper, Mad Quality, Markdown, and Style Stack include a free 14-day trial. Kaizen Plugin is completely free, no trial needed.

Where do I start if I need several plugins?

Start with Kaizen: it's free and gives you immediate productivity wins. Then add the plugin matching your biggest pain point. Compare all plugins to find the right fit.

Plugins​

Can I run the plugins entirely locally, with no cloud round-tripping?

Yes. All plugins run locally inside Flare: no hosted repository, no external processing, and your content never leaves your machine. The only routine outbound traffic is license validation over an encrypted connection. See the Security Overview for details.

Can I install the free Kaizen Plugin without IT procurement approval?

In most organizations, yes, because there is nothing to procure. Kaizen is free, has no subscription, and the installer is code-signed for locked-down environments. Download it and you're running in about two minutes.

Can I get 40+ Flare utilities for free?

Yes. The Kaizen Plugin bundles 40+ utilities (topic splitting, batch tag replacement, quick PDF exports, Excel imports, XML validation) and is free forever. No email, no catch.

Can I split a 50-section topic by H2 in a single click?

Yes. Kaizen's topic splitting breaks a long document into properly structured individual topics at H1, H2, H3, or H4 level, in one click.

Can I enforce style guide compliance automatically, instead of in review?

Yes. Mad Quality scans entire projects against the Microsoft Manual of Style or your own spreadsheet-defined rules and links every finding to the rule it broke. $199/year per seat, 14-day trial.

Can I bridge docs-as-code (Markdown) with structured Flare authoring?

Yes. The Markdown Plugin imports Markdown as properly structured Flare topics and exports back to clean Markdown for Git workflows, so developers contribute in Markdown while you publish from Flare.

Can I import Markdown from a Git repo straight into Flare topics?

Yes. The Markdown Plugin imports an entire Markdown folder structure as structured topics, auto-generates the TOC, and rewrites local links into cross-references. Teams migrating large repos typically finish the import in one session.

Can I apply multiple CSS classes to one element in Flare, like in normal HTML?

Yes. Style Stack unlocks standard CSS composition in Flare: layer two, three, or more classes on any element, with autocomplete. $19.95, one-time.

Licensing & Downloads​

I've lost my plugin license key. How can I retrieve it?

• If you paid with a credit card, go to https://app.gumroad.com/license-key-lookup, enter your email address, and you'll get an email with the license key.
• If you paid via invoice, email me at mattias@improvementsoft.com and I'll send you the key.

Where can I download the plugin installers?

• Mad Quality Plugin
• Markdown Plugin
• Kaizen Plugin
• AI Helper Plugin

Can I get monthly billing instead of an annual commitment?

Yes, for AI Helper ($8.99/month) and Mad Quality ($19/month). Style Stack is a one-time $19.95 purchase, and Kaizen is free. See pricing at a glance.

Migration, Architecture & Automation​

Can you audit my existing Flare project without rewriting it from scratch?

Yes. An architecture audit maps what is load-bearing and what is fragile, then fixes the fragile parts with targeted restructuring. Most projects need surgery, not a rebuild.

Can you migrate 5,000 pages from Confluence into Flare without losing structure?

Yes. Confluence is one of 40+ source formats we migrate, across 500,000+ pages to date. Every migration starts with a content audit so structure is preserved, or improved, on the way in.

What does a migration look like?

Every migration starts with a content audit, followed by a scoped plan. We treat migration as an architectural upgrade, not a copy of the old mess. Learn more about content migration.

Can I get a second opinion on whether to keep, migrate, or rebuild?

Yes. Start with the free diagnosis: five minutes, no email. The follow-up review gives you a concrete keep, refactor, or rebuild recommendation, whether or not we ever work together.

Can you automate the Flare build pipeline so writers stop babysitting it?

Yes. Automation engineering builds plugins, CLI tools, and pipelines that plug into your CI/CD and content workflows. Typical engagements start at $5,000.

Costs & Measurement​

Can I see the real cost per topic: writing, waiting, and engineering combined?

Yes. The Documentation Cost Calculator computes cost per topic, per release, and per year from your own numbers, including waiting time and engineering hours. Five minutes, no email.

Can you give me a hard number on how much duplicated content I'm paying to translate?

Yes. The Content Duplication Audit finds the near-duplicates Translation Memory can't match and prices what they cost per language. Most teams discover 20-40% of the translation budget goes to content that could be reused.

Can you reduce my per-language translation cost by raising reuse?

Yes. Localization optimization quantifies your TM leverage, restructures content to maximize reuse, and automates the handoff. Most teams see ROI in the next translation cycle.

Can I track per-writer productivity to find the real bottlenecks?

Yes, though the data usually points away from individual writers: waiting time and review cycles dominate the cost. A Documentation Economics Assessment measures where the hours actually go, step by step, so you fix the real bottleneck.

Working With Us​

Can we do this ourselves?

You can, if your team has the capacity and structural expertise. Most teams don't, because their writers are fully loaded producing content. We bring specialized experience across dozens of Flare projects so the work happens faster and with fewer false starts.

How long until we see ROI?

Plugin users see results immediately after installation. Service engagements typically show reduced maintenance effort within the first month as structural bottlenecks are removed.

What does a typical engagement cost?

Typical engagements start at $5,000, depending on scope and complexity. Book a free 30-minute call to get a concrete estimate. No commitment required.

Can you work with our existing writers, not replace them?

Yes. Every engagement ends with a handoff: your writers keep running the project and we stay reachable. The goal is writers writing, not dependence on a consultant.

Can the engineering be done by the engineer I talk to, not handed to juniors?

Yes. The person on the first call is the person in your repo at week four. No juniors, no offshoring.

Can you produce real deliverables instead of PowerPoint?

Yes. Deliverables are working artifacts: restructured projects, plugins, pipelines, and reports with file-level findings. No slide decks.

Can you scope a small first engagement before committing to a big one?

Yes. Every engagement starts with a scoped diagnosis or pilot, not a big commitment.

Can you sign an NDA before I share project details?

Yes. NDA first: it's signed before you share anything sensitive.

Can I work with someone who has done this exact thing for Microsoft, Philips, Unity, and Tetra Pak?

Yes. Mattias has done this work for documentation teams at Microsoft, Philips, Unity, Tetra Pak, SimCorp, and Milestone Systems. Read the stories.