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Re: Transitioning user expectations from feature to task-based information? (take II)
Subject:Re: Transitioning user expectations from feature to task-based information? (take II) From:Geoff Hart <ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com> Date:Wed, 02 Feb 2005 15:15:32 -0500
Donna Jones wondered, in my response to providing a second
(feature-based) table of contents: <<Rather than two TOCs, wouldn't it
make more sense to provide a good index? I'm a huge champion of
indexing because, if it's done well, a user can find just about
anything.>>
Agreed, of course, but I believe the original message specifically
stated that the topic in question was easily found via the index. The
problem was that the <strikethrough>idiot</strikethrough> manager who
raised the problem had apparently never heard of or considered using
the existing index.
Since the specific context was a transition from feature-based to
task-based documentation, you can ease the transition by using the
access method preferred by this class of user (in this case, a TOC).
This doesn't replace the index, but if you can't induce the manager to
use the index, at least you've met their needs with the second TOC.
--Geoff Hart ghart -at- videotron -dot- ca
(try geoffhart -at- mac -dot- com if you don't get a reply)
www.geoff-hart.com
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