[austechwriter] Re: Links and attachments

<snip>So far the most appropriate terminology seems to be
the following: The source module maps to a record in the target module =
and creates a join.
The field in which the join is created is called a mapping field.  The
records in the target module map back to the source module.
</snip>

I can appreciate that there is probably no single, simple, blindingly =
obvious solution for this type of problem (if there was this thread =
would never have been posted), however, I feel that the suggested =
wording above would only be appropriate if your users are overwhelmingly =
IT oriented.

In my experience, only very IT literate users understand "mapping". If =
you are talking to Mr and Mrs Joe Average PC User, then "mapping" and =
"joins", even "target module" for that matter, are words that will =
likely befuddle them. While the explanation given is no doubt =
technically accurate from a systems point of view, it needs to be much =
simpler for basic users, which are the ones most likely to be readin the =
help anyway. Since most Techwriters like ourselves work in IT, we =
sometimes also fall into the same trap that programmers do when they =
write "help" (loose translation). We assume users understand what we do. =
But there is a better way...

To sort out the conundrum, why not do some good old fashioned usability =
testing. Ask the users themselves! Go find some actual red-blooded, =
non-technical users of the system that understand this functionality and =
get them to explain to you in their own words what it does. Tell them =
that you want to know how they would explain it to a "newbie" that just =
came on board and knows nothing about the system. Compare notes for say =
five to eight of such contributors and see which words and phrases they =
come up with. Then run with that.

Regards

Rod Ward
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