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.
I am fairly new to tech writing, but not to learning software - so maybe I
have an user's point of view?
How can you MASTER a program when you just have online help?
I want to read a manual and let it tell me all sorts of little things the
program can do that never occurred to me.
Using online help, if you don't ask the right questions, you'll never
learn much but the most basic things the program does.
I just got a new Mac with Clarisworks 2. something and a minimalist manual
and I swear I will never voluntarily buy a Claris product.
I tried using it, as I had to make a drawing, something I know nothing
about, and the help system just looped me around and around. And the
manual just told me to go to the online help.
Minimalist manuals are ridiculous, and they will make IDG publications rich.
