RE: Never lead with a graphic

["Leonard C. Porrello" <Leonard -dot- Porrello -at- SoleraTec -dot- com>]

I assume that my reader is using one of my applications and has come to
the user docs because he doesn't understand something or is otherwise
having problems. In other words, as he is reading my docs, he has the
GUI open on his monitor. Granted that, while I usually do have
introductory text, I ensure the graphic appears on the first screen of
the help (or page in a PDF) for the given section. This quickly lets the
reader know, "you are here". Explanatory text always comes after this.

I can't imagine any reason why you wouldn't want a screenshot on the
first page of a help section. Why not ask your boss his rationale? Or,
maybe you can tell him that you don't understand and ask him to provide
some samples.

Leonard

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- c
om] On Behalf Of Rebecca Hopkins
Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 11:14 AM
To: Tech Whirlers
Subject: RE: Never lead with a graphic

Leonard,

Yes, the graphic is preceded by a heading, as is the explanatory text.
-----
Rebecca


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Leonard C. Porrello" <Leonard -dot- Porrello -at- SoleraTec -dot- com>
> Can we assume that the graphic has a header or some other type of
> identifier that lets the reader know what he's looking at?
> 
> Leonard
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
>
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- c
> om] On Behalf Of Rebecca Hopkins
> Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 11:07 AM
> To: Tech Whirlers
> Subject: Never lead with a graphic
> 
> Folks,
> 
> My new boss tells me that I should never begin a section with a
graphic;
> the explanation of the graphic must precede the graphic.
> 
> This makes no sense to me....
> 
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