RE: Best practices for hyperlinking in help?

["Hemstreet, Deborah" <DHemstreet -at- kaydon -dot- com>]

 Hi Leonard,

I hyperlink the FIRST instance on each page, but not EVERY instance on
each page.

I hope this is helpful.

Deborah

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+dhemstreet=kaydon -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+dhemstreet=kaydon -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Leonard C. Porrello
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:47 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Best practices for hyperlinking in help?

In my on-line help, I have been using a hyperlinking convention
according to which I hyperlink only the first instance of a phrase. For
example, if "metadata catalog" appears several times in a help page, I
hyperlink (to the glossary) only the first instance of  "metadata
catalog". I've been wondering, however, if this is best. Because users
often read help pages topically (not from top to bottom), I am concerned
that they'll likely not notice a hyperlink to a glossary entry if there
is only one hyperlink at the top of a page. On the other hand, if I
hyperlink every instance of a phrase, the text often looks too cluttered
with links. I have a solution in mind, but I'd be grateful for any ideas
about best practices. 

Leonard C. Porrello

 

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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.
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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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