Informing Users of Alternatives (was: How much do people need to be told ...?)

Subject: Informing Users of Alternatives (was: How much do people need to be told ...?)
From: Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2001 11:44:17 -0700

Hart, Geoff wrote:


In
fact, that might make an interesting thread all on its own: how do you alert
readers to alternative, more-efficient ways to do things? (If anyone takes
me up on this and starts a new thread, PLEASE change the subject/title of
the messages!)


My technique in the Linux manuals I mentioned was to give a command like this:

1. Open the File. Do one of the following:

- From the File menu, select Open.

- From the icon bar, select the Open icon.

- Press Ctrl + F on the keyboard.

Another possibility: Give the full range of choices for an action in a section on navigation, or the first time an action is mentioned in the chapter. Then, in subsequent procedures, give the simple instruction ("Open the file") followed by a cross-reference to the full list of possibilities.

I probably wouldn't use this second method when the audience was new users, however.

--
Bruce Byfield 604.421.7177 bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com

"Writing is an occupation in which you have to keep proving your talent to those who have none."
- Jules Renard


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

A landmark hotel, one of America's most beautiful cities, and three and a half days of immersion in the state of the art:
IPCC 01, Oct. 24-27 in Santa Fe. http://ieeepcs.org/2001/

+++ Miramo -- Database/XML publishing automation. See us at +++
+++ Seybold SFO, Sept. 25-27, in the Adobe Partners Pavilion +++
+++ More info: http://www.axialinfo.com http://www.miramo.com +++

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


Follow-Ups:

References:
How much do people need to be told in documentation? (take II): From: Hart, Geoff

Previous by Author: Re: How much do people need to be told in documentation?
Next by Author: Re: minimalist manuals
Previous by Thread: How much do people need to be told in documentation? (take II)
Next by Thread: RE: Informing Users of Alternatives (was: How much do people need to be told ...?)


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads