RE: Another Newbie question about procedures

Subject: RE: Another Newbie question about procedures
From: "Bonnie Granat" <bgranat -at- granatedit -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 15:52:47 -0400


Sharon Burton wrote:

> The original poster identified the audience as experienced
> users. In that
> case, they know how to cancel out of something, unless the
> interface is
> really bad. In that case, you can say before the procedure:
> "Cancel at any
> time by clicking the Bob button."
>

I love it -- the Bob button!

Agreed. I may have been addressing the generic issue you raised (I
can't remember now, but what you say makes sense, so I think I was
referring to the "in general" case.)

> Most people only read the part of the manual that they need
> right now and
> don't read earlier stuff, <snip>

Agreed again. What *was* I thinking? Not enough coffee, maybe...

> But overall, given that the average interface has a Cancel
> button, for most
> audiences, you don't need to tell people how to back out,
because, in
> general, if they don't know what they Cancel button does, the
> knowledge gulf
> is too big for your manual to correct.
>

Except in the cases where "Cancel" does something more complex and
quirky, which I've seen occur, I'd agree again.


Bonnie Granat | www.GranatEdit.com
bgranat -at- granatedit -dot- com
Cambridge, Massachusetts, US



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

New from Quadralay Corporation: WebWorks ePublisher Pro!
Completely XML-based online publishing. Easily create 14 online formats, including 6 Help systems, in a streamlined project-based workflow. Word version ships in June, FrameMaker version ships in July. Sign up for a live, online demo! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

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



References:
RE: Another Newbie question about procedures: From: Sharon Burton

Previous by Author: RE: Another Newbie question about procedures
Next by Author: RE: Techwriter Justification
Previous by Thread: RE: Another Newbie question about procedures
Next by Thread: Re: Another Newbie question about procedures


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


Sponsored Ads