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.
Sue Heim asked <<...would you prefer to have a 500 page
manual that includes ONE WHOLE CHAPTER on learning the
program that is 150 pages long? Or would you prefer to have
a separate "Learning" booklet (likely saddle-stitched, btw)
and a separate user's guide?>>
I agree with your basic logic: the tutorial is only going
to be used once or twice, then shelved, whereas the
reference manual will be out all the time, so anything you
can do to slim it down will help the users. Another nice
plus: depending on how dramatically you intend to modify
the product for future versions, you may not have to
reprint the tutorial at all... since the basic learning
will be the same, you can use the same manual. Changes are
most often creeping featuritis, so you could simply print a
second tutorial for the new features. This could save lotsa
bucks. On the whole, I'd say go with separate books. The
cost difference shouldn't be horrible, and you may even
save money in the long term.
I'm curious, though, about your suggestion that the
"learning" booklet will be saddle stitched: 150 pages is
way too big for saddle stitching. You'll probably need
spiral, comb, wire-o, perfect or lay flat binding for a
book that size... or did you mean a separate learning book
plus a 150-page tutorial?
--Geoff Hart @8^{)} geoff-h -at- mtl -dot- feric -dot- ca
Disclaimer: Speaking for myself, not FERIC.
TECHWR-L (Technical Communication) List Information: To send a message
to 2500+ readers, e-mail to TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU -dot- Send commands
to LISTSERV -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU (e.g. HELP or SIGNOFF TECHWR-L).
Search the archives at http://www.documentation.com/ or search and
browse the archives at http://listserv.okstate.edu/archives/techwr-l.html
