[no subject]

["Lindamood, Brad" <blindamood -at- DCA -dot- COM>]

     Dixie writes:
     >I'm currently working on a manual set that was recently put online,
     >complete with hyperlinks among and between volumes, chapters, and
     >sections. The hardcopy version included a brief section
     >(approximately a paragraph long) to introduce each chapter. Online,
     >this introduction seems unnecessary or at least misplaced (a single
     >frame, linked only to the volume TOC). Does anyone have any
     >suggestions on this sort of structure difference for online
     >documentation? (e.g., perhaps the intro should be placed on the TOC
     >frame?)

     We have used two approaches to this situation. First, you can include
     an entry on the TOC called "Overview" under each chapter entry, which
     includes you introductory information. The contents of the topic
     should be obvious to the user, and they will view it only if needed. A
     possible drawback with this method is that if the system is slow (you
     don't mention the Web, but this is implied in your mention of HTML in
     the subject) this can be a waste of time. We use this for Windows
     online Help, so speed is *usually* not a problem.

     The other method, which you also mention, is to put a brief (1 or 2
     lines, complete sentences not necessary) overview directly alongside
     or below the chapter link. The user can then see the overview
     immediately without jumping to a new location. I would probably go
     with this method, as long as it doesn't require huge overviews.

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     | Brad Lindamood             E-mail: blindamood -at- dca -dot- com |
     | Information Specialist                                |
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