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Subject:RE: Product Help vs. Application Help From:Mike West <Mike -dot- West -at- oz -dot- quest -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 19 Nov 2002 10:53:56 +1100
> From: <rajancs2002 -at- yahoo -dot- com>
> > Can anyone tell me what is the difference between creating
> help for a
> > software product and creating help for a software
> application (project)?
> >
>
> First, what is the difference between a software "product"
> and a software
> "application"? They seem like synonyms to me.
Sometimes, but not always. An application
may be developed in-house for in-house use
only. It is not, as such, a "product".
What I don't understand is why the questioner
seems to assume that there must be a "difference"
in developing help for the two situations.
Possibly what the questioner has in mind is
that in the case of an in-house development
environment, a help author is likely to have a
much more precise understanding of who the
users are and how the application will be integrated
into the workplace than is generally possible in the
commercial sphere.
Stilll, this leaves open the question of whether
it is the "creating" part that is different, or simply
the creator's "understanding" of the users" situation
that is different.
Bottom line -- without input from the person asking
the question, the answer is unknowable.
--
Michael West
Melbourne, Australia
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