Re: Information Mapping vs. Usability Testing of Documentation

[MaggiRos <maggiros -at- yahoo -dot- com>]

I would *never* number alternate steps with sequential
numbers. That's asking for trouble, no matter what the
educational level of the reader.  The actions are
alternatives for the same step.

I use a modified version of Information Mapping (probably
much-modified, since it's been a long time since I was
first taught it). I don't have one in front of me at the
moment, but what I do in similar circumstances is something
like this:

1. From the front panel, press Cancel. 

2. <i>If the LCD says blah</i>, do this.
   -or-
   <i>If the LCD says blah</i>, do this.
 
The italics say there's something different going on here,
pay attention. It seems to work.

I can send you a real example, if you want. 

Maggie

--- HSC Italian <twins398 -at- hotmail -dot- com> wrote:
> 
> Hello List,
> 
> For those of you familiar with Information Mapping and
> documentation 
> usability; is Information Mapping a form of confirming
> that a document is 
> accurate/usable, or is it more how it is layed out and
> chunked?  The reason 
> I ask is that currently a co-worker is implementing some
> of the Information 
> Mapping techniques into our template.
> 
> The audience of our user guides have a  max education
> level of 6th grade. 
> One style in particular that is being rolled into the
> template that I have 
> concerns about usability is numbered sub- steps. For
> example:
> 
> 1. From the front panel, press Cancel.
>    1.1 if the LCD says blah, do this.
>    1.2 if the LCD says blah, do this.
> 
> 2. Do such and such.
> 

=====
Maggie Secara

Note: This post may contain misspellings, grammatical errors, disorganized sentence structure, or may entirely lack a coherent theme. These elements are natural to the process of writing, and will only add to the overall beauty of the post.

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