Andrea, I find every time I assume competence, someone proves me wrong = *lol* My preference, where a wide variety of user experience exists, is to = have two versions of instructions - one explaining EVERYTHING (including pics = of every single screen) and one just skimming the important stuff. =20 Here's the link -=20 http://www.io.com/~hcexres/tcm1603/acchtml/user_guides.html Personally, I hate manuals. Never read the things if I have a choice :) That's why I'm a tech writer! - Naomi -----Original Message----- I've always thought that there is no point wasting user brain time = telling them the really obvious (that when they click OK, something will = happen). They need to be able to skim through the steps, and they probably won't = even read the notes unless something goes horribly wrong (ie the XYZ screen = does not appear). The notes are just a little bit of reassurance that = everything is going as it should. I don't think any studies have ever been done, = but I bet that if they were, users would not read the notes in the first = layout, but would read the notes in the second layout (where the notes are = placed next to the number, thereby elevating their status). End result, second layout takes longer to read, and is perceived as wordy/frustrating/slow = etc etc. Like I said before, just my thoughts. Does the online textbook support = that? Thanks and regards Andrea ************************************************** To post a message to austechwriter, send the message to austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To subscribe to austechwriter, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "subscribe" in the Subject field. To unsubscribe, send a message to austechwriter-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with "unsubscribe" in the Subject field. To search the austechwriter archives, go to www.freelists.org/archives/austechwriter To contact the list administrator, send a message to austechwriter-admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx **************************************************