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Subject:Re: Writing for on-line From:"Jessica N. Lange" <jlange -at- OHIOEE -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 18 Feb 1998 11:42:31 -0500
>Jane Bergen wrote
>
>Also, with online, there is no concept of grouping categories unless you
>plan out your online topics to make use of the Browse buttons, although
>in fact (a fact I regret!) most of the new online help offerings seem to
>be eliminating Browse features altogether.
I am working on my first online help (after years of paper manuals), and
have struggled with Browse sequences (to have or not to have).
As Jane notes, they're absent from most of the help files I've looked at,
and I've not understood why. Does anyone know why Browse sequences are
considered unnecessary? Are they not helpful? Do users not use them?
I've always liked 'em and consider those little arrow buttons to be an
invitation to explore. I note that many web sites make use of the concept,
whether by using arrow buttons or Next/Previous text; and of course the
browser itself has built-in "browse sequence buttons".
Regards,
Jessica N. Lange
Technical Communicator
Ohio Electronic Engravers, Inc.
jlange -at- ohioee -dot- com