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>>I'm documenting a machine with two modules that are almost identical.
Some customers will order a machine with only one module; others will
get both so their production will be doubled; some will start with one,
then add the second later.<<
At a former employer, I was responsible for developing and maintaining
the training materials that dealt with a pair of systems such as you
describe. The first system had less functionality but had been available
for 6-9 months before the second came on the market.
Since the second system was expected to be the primary system purchased
by various customers, the original materials had been developed with
that in mind. So for the first 6 months of its life, the documentation
reflected only the first system - with appropriate marketing-type
caveats at various places, intended to make users want to get their
hands on the second system as soon as it was available. Once the second
system was available, the documentation was revised; those product
features that were restricted only to the first system were duly noted
where appropriate in the text, and the materials presented the second
system as if it were the only one available.
In retrospect, the documentation model worked very well, since after 18
months on the market, very few people wanted the first version of the
system at all; and there were probably only a handful of systems
actually in existence-most had been retrofitted for second-system
capability.
Respectfully,
Joe Hauglie
Technical Editor
Technical Information Systems
Texas Instruments - Tucson
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