I am looking for a resource that identifies creative ways to assemble end user documentation for several different software applications. We currently have one volume of documentation that presents reference materials for Word and Outlook. We need to add to the reference materials without creating a reference material nightmare at their desks.
Any suggestions? What methods of assembly has been used with measurable success?
Belinda Danzy
3 Responses
Publishing Documentation through Groupware
I’m sure this is an obvious solution, so apologies if this is nothing new…
We run Lotus Notes as a groupware system and user documentation is maintained in a central database that all delegates have access to – this means we can update the material centrally and all users get the benefit.
This sort of system ought to be pretty straightforward to set up in MS Exchange, Novell, etc.
As an alternative, publish your documentation to a site on your company’s intranet, or even on a public website (if it’s generic enough, or if you want to go down the route of issuing passwords, etc.)
Hope this helps,
D.
Documentation
You could convert the documents into HTML (which is quite straightforward: in Word choose Save As Web Page) and place them on your company’s website with the web page password protected for the use of internal staff only.
Or you could convert the information into multimedia files and place it on an intranet/ company website with WinCam (www.wincam.net). Many users are visually oriented and would prefer to visualise the solution rather than read about it.
Adobe PDF Advantages
I’m an Adobe PDF fan, PDF has many advantages including file compression, hyperlinking, easy conversion from Word, Pagemaker etc, indexing capability and integration with HTML, printing, multiple-size eg, full screen display, etc.
It’s a good solution for corporate documentation and worth a serious look.