How do you help clients install software?

Subject: How do you help clients install software?
From: John Cornellier <jcornellier -at- abingdon -dot- oilfield -dot- slb -dot- com>
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 10:15:27 +0000

Hi all,

We are reviewing the documents we include to help deploy a software product. Ignoring such post-installation aids as user manuals, reference guides, bug trackers, training, and support, I wish to focus on:

- release notes / readme
- installation guide (could be broken in two: quick start + admin & config. guide)
- anything else e.g. install wizards, CD blurbs, download instructions, etc.

I'm trying to reach a consensus among various interested parties - tech writers, testing, marketing, support, deployment engineers (the guys who burn the CDs and check the target operating environments).

There is not much agreement on what these docs are actually supposed to do. E.g. some people think that the release notes are a kind of quasi-marketing brochure which trumpet the new features, and are used by prospective clients to decide whether to upgrade. Others (including me) think the release notes should be a "warts and all" late-breaking document including known bugs and workarounds.

So I'd be grateful for any pointers to some kind of working definition of the components of deployment support documents, or any random thoughts on the subject.

Thanks
John
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Now Shipping -- WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word! Easily create online
Help. And online anything else. Redesigned interface with a new
project-based workflow. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Doc-To-Help includes a one-click RoboHelp project converter. It's that easy. Watch the demo at http://www.componentone.com/TECHWRL/DocToHelp2005

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- infoinfocus -dot- com -dot-
To unsubscribe send a blank email to techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40infoinfocus.com

To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -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.


Follow-Ups:

Previous by Author: Re: Examples of good tech writing?
Next by Author: Re: Scoping a DocumentationProject??
Previous by Thread: Re: Good XML list for n00bs?
Next by Thread: How do you help clients install software?


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


Sponsored Ads