Re: RoboHelp Q

["Zen C" <zenizenc -at- gmail -dot- com>]

Thanks guys, I am glad I asked.


On Mon, Jun 16, 2008 at 9:50 AM, Paul Hanson <phanson -at- quintrex -dot- com> wrote:

>  No way. Don't tell the user anything like this. Three things:
>
> 1)      The user is going into the help system to find information. You're
> telling them, first thing, before they even can look for info, that they may
> not find it? Why even look? Why ever look in the help if they know it could
> possibly be out of date?
>
> 2)      Have a feedback form on the topic. Let the user use that if they
> find something unhelpful.
>
> 3)      You don't need to tell them to contact Support. They will do so
> anyways if they can't find the info **if** they're trained to look in the
> help in the first place.
>
>
>
> All you can do is your best – the version of help that installed with the
> app is the latest version and you are always updating it. Period. Don't
> instill doubt in your users that they won't even bother to look in your
> help, even if you get your dev processes corrected and actually have
> up-to-date online Help.
>
>
>
> Paul
>
>
>
> *From:* Zen C [mailto:zenizenc -at- gmail -dot- com]
> *Sent:* Monday, June 16, 2008 8:40 AM
> *To:* Paul Hanson
> *Subject:* Re: RoboHelp Q
>
>
>
> Well we want the user to know that the Help is not up to date with the
> application all the time. The program is constantly changing cos it is a new
> product. Mgt wants some help out there cos there are some using the product
> already. Every time the Help is ready to update there is something or the
> other that is changed.
>
> Do you think I should just include a note on the main page stating the
> following:
>
>
>
> "Please be advised that the contents of the Help system may not be up to
> date with the current application. We make every effort to maintain the Help
> System as frequently as possible. However, there may be a delay in our
> ability to provide the most current content to you. Please contact the
> Support department if you should need assistance or require further
> information."
>
>
>
> Some way to keep the user informed so that they don't complain. The concept
> here is put whatever information out there, even though it might not be up
> to date or may change again and again. I have tried to follow the process of
> waiting to put out information until the product is somewhat stable and then
> do releases, but it doesn't work that way here.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 16, 2008 at 9:25 AM, Paul Hanson <phanson -at- quintrex -dot- com> wrote:
>
> Every time someone accesses the help, which they don't want to go into in
> the first place, you want to tell them something that can't be incorporated
> in to the online Help topics? What could be possibly that important that you
> need to tell them the same thing *each* time they access the help?
>
> Don't do this. Incorporate you content into the topics. I'd use your help
> once and then never again.
>
> Paul
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+phanson=quintrex -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:
> techwr-l-bounces+phanson <techwr-l-bounces%2Bphanson>=quintrex.com@
> lists.techwr-l.com] On Behalf Of Zen C
> Sent: Monday, June 16, 2008 8:21 AM
> To: techwr-l List
> Subject: RoboHelp Q
>
> Hi,
>
> I want to insert a disclaimer as a message that pops up when the Help
> button
> is clicked. I want the user to read the message before going into Help. Is
> there anyway I can do this for web help or do I have to get a programmer to
> code something for it to work.
>
> Have a great day!
>
> Zen
>
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