TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
A recent somewhat tongue-in-cheek commentary posted at http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1107-852765.html included the following
commentary and I thought it would be good fodder for discussion here on the
list.
>Software Rage Syndrome is the result of:
>
>Software in which seemingly simple tasks are not explained in the help
>documentation.
>
>Online help systems that make it difficult to find the solution to a
>problem, often because the specific text of error messages cannot be
>found in the knowledge base.
>
>Software that no longer comes with printed documentation or any easy way
>for customers to print the online documentation, sometimes requiring
>users to run the application on two machines so the online help is
>available on one machine while the user manipulates the application on
>the other.
I'm inclined to agree with the commentary; some of my most vituperitive
outbursts over the last several years have occurred as a result of help
files that seemed to deliberately prevent me from getting the information I
needed.
Mike
---
Mike Starr WriteStarr Information Services
Technical Writer - Online Help Developer - Technical Illustrator
Graphic Designer - Desktop Publisher - MS Office Expert
Office: (262) 694-1028 - Pager: (414) 318-9509 - Fax: (262) 697-6334
Home (262) 694-0932 - mike -at- writestarr -dot- com - http://www.writestarr.com
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Check it out! Get some cool freebies when you buy RoboHelp! You'll receive
SnagIt screen capture software and a 10% discount voucher for RoboHelp
Consulting. This special offers expires March 29, 2002.
www.ehelp.com/techwr
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
