Re: Most illogical documentation

[claireconant -at- comcast -dot- net (Claire Conant)]

I have to come out of lurkdom for this one. Here's one:

You can view help information (this document) by selecting it from the main program's Help menu. 
To view help information
- On the Help menu, click Help.


Presumably, since they don't print these docs, and they're only available to the end users through the help menu, this is a bit useless. Other people's opinions may vary. 


Claire


-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: cupton -at- syclone -dot- net 

> I once worked with someone who always included three tables in his 
> installation manuals: 
> 
> - Standard Options 
> - Optional Options 
> - Custom Options 
> 
> TGIF 
> Carolyn 
> 
> > This seems a Friday-ish topic for tech writers. 
> > 
> > What is the most illogical bit of tech writing you've seen? 
> > 
> > The earliest, and still one of the best, that I've come across was a 
> > passage about how to open the box. You could only have opened the manual 
> > if you had opened the packing box beforehand. (Manuals were not handed out 
> > like candy by the sales people, either -- too expensive. So really, 
> > honestly, if you were reading that page, you'd already opened the box.) 
> > 
> > It even had a picture of the flaps of the box being opened and an arrow 
> > showing that the stuff had to come UP out of the TOP of the box, which is 
> > where the flaps were OPEN. 
> > 
> > Naturally, I personally have never written anything quite that illogical, 
> > not even under duress! I swear! 
> > 
> > --Nancy 
> > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
> > 
> > Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
> > printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
> > Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more. 
> > http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList 
> > 
> > True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help. 
> > Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical 
> > documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com 
> > 
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> 
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
> 
> Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
> printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
> Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more. 
> http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList 
> 
> True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help. 
> Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical 
> documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com 
> 
> --- 
> You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as claireconant -at- comcast -dot- net -dot-  
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> To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

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