Re: Hovery-type Help

Subject: Re: Hovery-type Help
From: rbilbao -at- us -dot- amadeus -dot- net
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 8 Nov 2002 14:45:53 -0500


In the past, we've used both methods to add interactivity to boring HTML
learning pieces. The hover things were link pop-ups made to look like tooltips.
They stay on as long as your mouse is over the link. Those were well-liked and
are still on board. The "What's This" kind of thing though is hated by everyone.
I'm still not quite sure why. :o)

Personally, I find tooltips a very big help when learning a new product. After
I'm comfortable with a product, a tooltip still comes in handy once in awhile,
usually when it's a button I don't use often (or one of those funny button
pictures that don't mean anything to anyone except the developer!)






I am writing a user guide for an online trading system. This time around,
they want some onscreen type help for some of the screens. We discussed a
"What's This" type of thing, where you have to click on something on the
screen (like a field name) to get a little pop-up window that describes what
you need to enter into the field. We also discussed just a hover-type help,
where the pop-up window appears if you hover the cursor over the field (no
clicking needed.) The hover seems to be the most favored.

However, as I think about this, will be it annoying for the user (who may
not want any explanation) to have windows popping up as they are trying to
work? The windows may only pop up for a short time...I'm also unclear as to
how long they stay, or how they close - does moving off the field close the
window? This is a new thing for me, and I haven't talked to developement yet
to see what is possible...There are going to be multiple instances on a
screen.

Does anyone out there have any experience with this type of help? Is it a
help or a hindrance? Any opinions are appreciated. Thanks.

WW





**********************************************************************
This email message and information contained in or attached to this message
may be privileged, confidential, and protected from disclosure and is intended
only for the person or entity to which it is addressed. If you are not the
intended recipient any retransmission, dissemination, printing or other use of,
or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information is strictly prohibited.
If you received this message in error, please immediately inform the sender by
reply e-mail and delete the message and any attachments. This footnote also
confirms that this email message has been swept by MIMEsweeper for the
presence of computer viruses. Thank you.
**********************************************************************



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Check out SnagIt - The Screen Capture Standard!
Download a free 30-day trial from http://www.techsmith.com/rdr/txt/twr
Find out what all the other tech writers, including Dan, already know!

Order RoboHelp X3 in November and receive $100 mail in rebate, FREE WebHelp
Merge Module and the new RoboPDF - add powerful PDF output functionality
to RoboHelp X3. Order online today at http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l

---
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.



Previous by Author: Re: STC Letter to the Editor
Next by Author: Seek JavaScript book input
Previous by Thread: RE: Hovery-type Help
Next by Thread: Animation of GIFs


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


Sponsored Ads