TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
RE: A Good Response to "No One Reads the Help Anyway"
Subject:RE: A Good Response to "No One Reads the Help Anyway" From:Yves JEAUROND <jingting -at- rogers -dot- com> To:Techwr-l <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:14:34 -0500 (EST)
One could add that Google's greatest disadvantage
in comparison to Help is that [good] Help tells you
where to start and when something is finished.
Google can go on and on and on and ...
Help is a tool for limiting information about a topic; Google expands
the scope of information. That's just the opposite of what a user needs
from documentation. Research is not what a user is doing.
In _About Face_, Al Cooper sums it up: "A user would rather be succesful than knowledgeable."
YJ
"McLauchlan, Kevin" <Kevin -dot- McLauchlan -at- safenet-inc -dot- com> a écrit :
On Behalf Of Bill Swallow argued:
> > http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/12/11/a-good-response-to-no-one-re
> > ads-the-help-anyway/
>
> I disagree with that on so many levels that I don't know where to
> start, but as far as getting people to understand via analogy, I guess
> it works. But, Google is not a giant Help file any more than a Help
> file is a mini Google. These two technologies have but two things in
> common: 1) hypertext, and 2) search.
I think they have a third thing in common:
3) content that people want/need
and a fourth:
4) content that most people don't need.
The information contained in this electronic mail transmission may be privileged and confidential, and therefore, protected from disclosure. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to this message and deleting it from your computer without copying or disclosing it.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as jingting -at- rogers -dot- com -dot-
Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more. http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList
True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com
---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-
