Re: Screen captures

[Bill Swallow <techcommdood -at- gmail -dot- com>]

"It depends" is right. I am not a fan of screen caps for the sake of
having screen caps. If they are contextual and add value by either
significantly reducing word count or depict a very specific or hard to
explain action, then IMHO they are worthwhile. But if it's a generic
screen plopped into text for the sake of showing a screen, I'd rather
omit it. Remember, everything boils up to the audience and the intent
of what you're writing. If it adds real value, use the convention and
incorporate it into style  for consistent use.

On Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 2:41 PM, Tony Chung <tonyc -at- tonychung -dot- ca> wrote:
> Can you say, "It depends"?
>
> I much prefer minimalist writing that goes through a user interface as
> text, with tables for values an parameters. However, if the user interface
> is terrible then screen shots may be the user's only hope for using the
> product.
>
> Besides that, you may need to check that the manual instructs the user to
> complete several discrete tasks, rather than teaches people "to use the
> software". The user doesn't care what the developers intended, only how it
> can help them to be more productive so they can leave the office on time.
>
> -Tony
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--
Bill Swallow
Writing and Content Strategy Consultant
http://www.linkedin.com/in/techcommdood
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
STC Vice President Nicky Bleiel is giving a free webinar on best practices
for creating mobile help.

Learn more: http://bit.ly/WNaCzd

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

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