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Subject:Making software manuals available for purchase From:Jill Tiefel <jtiefel -at- vetconnect -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Thu, 02 Aug 2001 13:27:57 -0500
Greetings...
I write the technical documentation for a Windows-based software
application. Currently, we have ~3000 users. I produce printed
documentation/help files using Doc-to-Help and have had much trouble due
to the large size of our files. We only produce Winhelp, but want to
move to HTML help. I have been scouring the archives for information
from writers in a similar environment. If my predicament sounds
familiar, please let me know what tool you use and why you made the
decision to use it.
Management wants to do away with our large, professionally printed
reference manual. The idea is that users would rely on our help system.
In theory, this sounds good, but I have the feeling that our users
(generally not technologically savvy) are not going to like this. Using
a survey, I am collecting data from our clients to assess their needs
and make a decision. I would love to hear from people who have been/are
in a similar situation. Was it practical for you to discontinue sending
a book with your software releases? Did you make manuals available for
purchase? Did many users actually purchase the manual?
(Please respond directly because I only receive the digest. If many
replies are received, I will summarize and post to the list.)
Thanks in advance!
~Jill
Jill Tiefel
jtiefel -at- vetconnect -dot- com
Technical communications specialist
VetConnect Systems, Inc.
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