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.
Subject:When in doubt (was Variations on a task) From:"walden miller" <wmiller -at- vidiom -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 13 Apr 2000 10:05:57 -0600
> re: ... how do y'all deal with documenting several different ways of
> accomplishing the same task?
When in doubt, I think about writing a style manual for other writers (an
audience I belong to and have immediate access to). Try it. Describe how
to create a pdf in Frame (there are at least two ways). Describe how to set
up a book file (again two or three ways). Test it on a new writer or two.
What do they like? There's your personal answer and you have some training
materials to boot.
Of course, user testing always provides a multitude of answers. Choose one
and be consistent in all manuals.
From the soapbox,
Walden Miller
Manager, Technical Documentation
Vidiom Systems