RE: Documenting the user interface

Subject: RE: Documenting the user interface
From: "Kay Honaker" <khonaker -at- accela -dot- com>
To: "Janice Gelb" <janice -dot- gelb -at- sun -dot- com>, "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 07:45:03 -0700

The features in the software are all there to serve someone, otherwise, why are they there?
I have had multiple users submit "bugs" for buttons that are not described in the documentation. Just got another one yesterday.....

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+khonaker=accela -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+khonaker=accela -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com]On
Behalf Of Janice Gelb
Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 5:05 PM
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: Re: Documenting the user interface


Kay Honaker wrote:
> Try to be as task-oriented as possible. In other words, don't just go through each button or tab and tell what they do. Instead, describe a work flow that takes the user through the tasks for which she will use the software.
> On the other hand, you need to cover all the buttons and tabs and fields and functions. Otherwise, the user will wonder why they exist (with good reason).
>

Not sure I agree that "users will wonder" why things exist in
the user interface. I think most users buy a product to
accomplish some task and with very few exceptions, their
interest in the interface is solely related to how to use
it to accomplish that task. That's why I agree that you
don't need to describe every button, tab, field, etc. They
should only be described in the tasks in which they are
used to accomplish something.

-- Janice

***********************************************************
Janice Gelb | The only connection Sun has with
janice -dot- gelb -at- sun -dot- com | this message is the return address


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

WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help
format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content
delivery. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include single source authoring, team authoring,
Web-based technology, and PDF output. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as khonaker -at- accela -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/khonaker%40accela.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.

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

WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help
format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content
delivery. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include single source authoring, team authoring,
Web-based technology, and PDF output. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

---
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 admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


Follow-Ups:

Previous by Author: RE: Documenting the user interface
Next by Author: RE: Documenting the user interface--unnecessary features?
Previous by Thread: Double messages? (was RE: Documenting the user interface)
Next by Thread: RE: Documenting the user interface


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


Sponsored Ads