atw: Re: Screenshots in user doco - Yes or No?

Hi all,

We try to limit screenshot use, as it has huge implications for 
localisation - screenshots need to be recaptured in each language, a very 
annoying and tedious process.  They are used where needed to prevent 
misunderstandings. As some of our documentation is used on touchscreens 
(as PDF), unneccessary screenshots waste a lot of space and are annoying 
to navigate past.

Kym

---
Kymberly Fergusson
Technical Communicator
Moldflow Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, Australia.
Ph: +61 3 9751 8149



"Craig Bligh" <Craig.Bligh@xxxxxxx> 
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atw: Screenshots in user doco - Yes or No?






Guys,
 
Fundamental question. Do you include screenshots in your printed doco or 
not? Why? Why not?
 
At the moment I'm trying to convince a company director that we don't need 
screenshots in our printed reference materials, despite a mandate to have 
the doco as user-friendly as possible (audience is teachers). At the 
moment we use screenshots in our getting started training notes (covering 
most common features), but not in our reference guide.
 
I've argued that adding screenshots will push the ref guide from about 450 
pages to around 650-700, making it less likely that somebody will pick up 
the doco in the first place. (I did also argue that since screens change 
every other day, it's a nightmare to maintain.)
 
So from a user's point of view, is it more user-friendly to include 
screenshots for a novice reader?
 
Thanks,
Craig
 
Craig Bligh
MXL Consolidated Pty Ltd
Level 1, 261 George Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone +61 2 8249 0022
Fax +61 2 8249 0099
Email craig.bligh@xxxxxxx
www.mxl.com

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