reference info in help

[wswallow -at- nycap -dot- rr -dot- com]

> QUESTION:
> Is there any authority who claims reference information cannot be 
> properly placed in online help?

Yes, but their "authority" is only limited to their scope of understanding of the technology, audience, and purpose.

> In fact, our design wound up making the help system into *the* 
> reference docs - we had instructions to drop the printed ref 
> manual, so 
> we figured the ref info could go in Help.  
 
Right. You give people whatever info they need in order to get the job done. There is no formula for this, other than knowing you raudience and what they'll need to get their jobs done. Anyone who tells you otherwise is not adequately assessing thhe situation.

> SAD ENDING:
> I entered my reference-based help system in an STC competition.  
> The 
> judges panned it categorically.  "Where's the procedural 
> information?" 
> they all said.  So you can ignore all of the above.

No, you can ignore the STC. 


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