Re: What to do when you can't use screen captures in help

[Andrew Rollinson <arollinson -at- HIGHGROUND -dot- COM>]

Michelle wrote:
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While testing the help file, I noticed that the screen captures were taking
very long to paint.
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Have you thought about breaking the single image into several smaller
images, a la web page graphics? That would result in a faster download
time - of course you'd have to take steps to ensure that the composite image
doesn't collapse when the browser window is resized, for example a
fixed-width table.

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 I know that many help files don't use screen captures, but I have always
thought they were very effective.
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Me too, they provide a helpful level of detail and serve to enrich the
visual presentation of the page; but perhaps this technical problem will
force you to seek new solutions, thereby widening your arsenal of
communication tools.

Also, I have been told by other writers that a screen capture in the online
help for a product with an interface provides duplicated graphical
information; something that, where possible, should be handled via tool
tips, etc. - comments from the list? - and that an interface element with a
name can be described in the help with text, like in a task description:
"...then, click the GO button to submit the query..."

hope this helps,
Andrew

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