TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
If the manuals is in electronic form then Peter's solution can work fine and fairly simply. But if like me you are stuck with Hard Copy then you can't magic pages in and out. So it's print as required or find another way.
My solution is to have the bulk of my manual as the main product and then include ALL of the modules as separate Apendices at the end and which are indexed well in the front matter contents.
About halfway through my manual the user has to "detect" what modules are fitted so there is a mention here that "detect" will reveal only those modules which are included while the appendix will give details for ALL options so please make reference to only those that you need.
Hey presto - one manual fits all and the sight of extra modules has tempted the odd customer to buy more and expand their main unit. (so marketing may love you as well)
Best of luck
David
______________________________________________________________________
David Harrison | Controllers
Mold-Masters (UK) Limited | Global Hot Runner and Temperature Control Technology
Netherwood Road | Rotherwas Ind. Est.
Hereford | HR2 6JU | United Kingdom | Company Registration Number: 1912861
Tel: +44 (0) 1432 265 768 | Fax: +44 (0) 1432 263 782 mailto:dharrison -at- moldmasters -dot- com | www.moldmasters.com
______________________________________________________________________
Sent on 11.01.2013 15:35 by David Harrison
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+dharrison=moldmasters -dot- co -dot- uk -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+dharrison=moldmasters -dot- co -dot- uk -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Sarah Blake
Sent: 11 January 2013 13:25
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Modular products...
...this has got to be a solved problem by now, right?
I've just moved to a new gig, and they have a product setup where the 'product' is the platform, plus a number of optional and mutually independent modules that are 'switched on' according to the license.
I don't want to confuse the users with documentation for modules they don't have access to, and I don't want to have to manually generate tailored documentation for every sale. Has anyone successfully used other options?
(Yes, I know I asked this same question like six years ago. I didn't manage to figure out a good, scalable solution then either)
Have you signed up<http://blog.arieso.com/sign-up/> to receive the Arieso blog yet? See articles on 'iPhone 5', 'LTE-A', even 'the Mars Curiosity rover'. Please visit blog.arieso.com<http://blog.arieso.com/>
Arieso Ltd, Astor House, Newbury Business Park, London Road, Newbury, RG14 2PZ, United Kingdom.
Registered in England No. 04515167, VAT Registration No: 784 1794 87
Arieso Inc, 3495 Piedmont Rd, Bldg 11 Suite 550, Atlanta, GA 30305, USA.
This message and its attachments are confidential and are intended for the use of the individual(s) named above. If you have received this email in error, you are not authorised to make any use of it - the unauthorised use, disclosure or copying of the email or its contents is prohibited. Please notify us by reply and delete it along with all copies in your possession. The message content may contain personal views which are not the views of the company unless specifically stated. The Arieso Group does not accept legal responsibility for the content of this message as it has been transmitted over a public network nor for any loss or damage caused by errors or viruses. Thank you.
P Please consider the environment before printing this email.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Writer Tip: Create 10 different outputs with Doc-To-Help -- including Mobile and EPUB.
Looking for articles on Technical Communications? Head over to our online magazine at http://techwhirl.com
Looking for the archived Techwr-l email discussions? Search our public email archives @ http://techwr-l.com/archives
*****************************************************
This email and any files transmitted with it are
confidential and intended solely for the use of
the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If this email has been received in error please
delete it immediately and notify the sender.
Mold-Masters (2007) Limited
www.moldmasters.com
*****************************************************
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Writer Tip: Create 10 different outputs with Doc-To-Help -- including Mobile and EPUB.
