RE: Task-oriented manuals

["Hedley Finger (EPA)" <Hedley -dot- Finger -at- ericsson -dot- com -dot- au>]

I agree with Jane.  If the GUI is defined well, the reference material is
embedded in well-chosen widget labels ToolTips or WhatIs? type of
context-sensitive help.  Hitting F1 in a particular window or dialogue could
open an overview topic with links to task (i.e. procedure) documentation.

Hedley

	>>>>>
	Tara,

	Just some thoughts from the trenches: you might want to reverse
	yourself about 180 degrees on the reference material online. Users
	typically don't use online help (either .hlp or .htm format) to read
	reference material. If delivery is the problem, could you deliver
the
	reference guide as a pdf on a CD? Or from your website? That would
	allow the users to print it or to read it online....up to them. It
	would also reduce your weight and production effort.

	As for the books you mentioned, check out the John Wiley Publishers
	web site (http://www.wiley.com/
	). They publish the Technical Communication Library series and have
	some excellent offerings. I remember a couple by William Horton as
	well as some other well-known writers.

	Jane Bergen
	<<<<<

--
Regards,
Hedley Finger   Technical Writer

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