RE: On-line vs. Print (WAS: Of myth and reality)

["Roy, Gary" <RoyG -at- hydroaire -dot- com>]

The key issue is ease of retrieval of the pertinent, readable and useable
segments of technical information. A good print manual will have the
necessary cross-references, indexes and illustrations to present the
information required by the user. This is also the case for a good online
document.
 
Aside from online advantages such as (1) hyperlinking (automatic), (2)
electronic file formats and (3) multimedia capabilities, I do not see why
the two forms of documentation should have different content requirements.
Print documentation also has many non-content related requirements such as
(1) indexing (page turning), (2) paper size/duplexing/foldouts, (3) types of
illustrations (assembly, schematic, screen, sequence). If the print document
and online document are first-rate, they should be more similar than
different.

This reminds me of the Capitalist (Free Market) vs. Communist (Command
Market) debate. In order to differentiate themselves and condemn the other
as system inadequate and archaic, the political goal was to differentiate
and demonize the other concept for ones own means. In the end, both systems
are more similar than different. Everyone eats, sleeps, raises children(?)
and dies. Can you speak freely in a free market system (not quite - Patriot
Act et. al.)? Are enterprise all state owned in a free market system (not
quite - replaced by large cap multinationals and CEO-oriented legislative
offices)? Is there corruption in a free market system (no comment)?

In both political systems, the socio-economic goal is a better way of life -
some prosper and some do not. In both documentation systems, the goal is to
produce useable and readable documentation - some are and some are not.

The main difference between print and online should not be related to
content requirements, rather portability and technology. A good print
document can be used to learn software applications and a good online help
system can be used as a diagnostic tool in heavy industries, and vice versa.
If a proper front-end analysis is performed, the user should not have and
superfluous information.

<humor>Greed is good.</humor>


Gary Roy
Crane Aerospace
3000 Winona Avenue
Burbank, California
USA 91510
Tel.: 818.526.2533
Fax: 818.842.6117
URL: www.craneaerospace.com

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