Re: When to use screen shots (was: screen dumps in books)

["Robyn M. Nace" <robyn -at- HOTMAIL -dot- COM>]

Personally, I used step-by-step screen shots only in a software textbook for
beginners. I admit that the biggest reason that I don't use screen shots is for
my own sanity: the UI can change, even a little bit, negating a lot of work; if
text changes, the screen shots may need to be re-laid out; in online Help,
screen shots take up a lot of space. From a user's perspective, including
screen shots in online Help can be confusing, especially in Web-based
applications; they also take a long time to load.

Generally, I think that screen shots should only be used if the UI is so
complex that a user will need to see the UI, or if the user is at a beginning
level.

Brierley, Sean wrote:

> I am getting some very interesting points regarding the use of screen
> shots. I would like some more opinion on this matter.
>
> I am a screen-shot minimalist. Once in a while I will offer a screen
> shot to reassure the reader that they are, indeed, on the true path.
> However, I do not offer every screen shot with this purpose.
>
> Question, ought we provide step-by-step screen shots with our text? As
> one person wrote me, some find it reassuring to see the book mimics what
> they see on-screen.



--
-Robyn
"I've learned that wherever I go,
the world's worst drivers have followed me there."
 -not me, but it could have been


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