RE: Software User Guide as Specifications Doc - Anyone tried it?

Subject: RE: Software User Guide as Specifications Doc - Anyone tried it?
From: "Carey Jennifer (Cry)" <jennifer -dot- carey -at- cdi -dot- cerberus -dot- ch>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 14:00:09 +0200


Simon,

Thank you for your response. You're absolutely right, I forgot that key
adjective "functional" before the "specifications".

I have one more question. In your experience, did the manuals describe
procedures (for example, importing a document) or features (for example, the
Tools Menu)?

Jennifer

-----Original Message-----
From: Simon North [mailto:Simon -dot- North -at- synopsys -dot- com]
Sent: lunedi 22 aprile 2002 13.37
To: TECHWR-L
Subject: Re: Software User Guide as Specifications Doc - Anyone tried
it?



Yes, I have successfully worked on a project where the user
guide was used as the interface spec. This was, however, for
a defence equipment manufacturer where the whole culture
was built around specs anyway. Outside of defence systems
I've only rarely encountered an organization that worked
closely enough to specs for the approach to be much use.

You'd also need to be aware that a user guide that like could
only really be considered as a functional spec, and thee are
often quite a few other specs needed as well. If it isn't kept a
s afunctional spec then you run into the well-known problem
of having a manual that describes far too many
implementation details and isn't focused enough on either
tasks, or the readership.

Simon North.



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