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.
Well, if they don't check it, they'll have to specify an app to use each and
every time they select that log file. Considering that the user will only
have received this dialog in the event that they do not already have an
application specified for this type of file, it is likely that they do not
have other files of this type to view, which they might have reason to want
to view in a different app.
My opinion is this: tell them what it's for and recommend that novice users
check the box. Sophisticated users, if they know something you don't about
their system and have reason to do differently, won't take your advice
anyway.
My two cents, for free.
km
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Geoff Lane [SMTP:geoff -at- gjctech -dot- co -dot- uk]
> Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 1999 11:56 AM
> To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject: QUERY: File associations
>
> Hi All,
>
> I'm currently writing a tutorial for a Windows-based product. While
> performing some functions, this product writes log files (with the
> extension
> '.log') to its log directory. I have to document how to view these log
> files.
>
> the procedure goes something like:
>
> 1. From the Tools menu, choose "View Logs". The Logs folder opens.
> 2. Double-click the log file that you want to view.
> * If the LOG extension is associated with a program,
> then the log file opens in that program.
> * If there is no such association, Windows opens the
> "Open With" dialog box. In this dialog box, select
> a suitable text editor (for example, Notepad) ...
>
> One of the SMEs insists that I instruct the users to check "Always use
> this
> program to open files of this type". However, this worries me because it
> changes things for the whole operating system (not just for the product).
> IMO, I should tell the users the purpose of this check box and leave them
> to
> make the final decision.
>
> What do you think?
>
> TIA,
>
> Geoff Lane
> Cornwall, UK
> geoff -at- gjctech -dot- co -dot- uk
>
> From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000=
> =
>
>
