Re: Repeating instructions

["Smith, Don" <dasmith -at- HAYES -dot- COM>]

Philip -

This comes up quite often here. I have found that for me, I am most
comfortable with your #4. I write to the most *common* of the pieces of
equipment (or software) and when there is a difference say, "If you are
using XXXX, use paragraph B of this step instead", or something similar.

Regards,

MOO

Don


> ----------
> From:         Philip Sharman[SMTP:sharman -at- WOWMEDIA -dot- COM]
> Reply To:     Philip Sharman
> Sent:         Thursday, September 24, 1998 5:18 PM
> To:   TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject:      Repeating instructions
>
> I'm writing a set of procedures to tell an installer how to set up some
> equipment, which consists of two systems.  95% of the steps for the two
> systems are identical, but there are some differences.
>
> Should I...
>
> 1) Give both sets of procedures in full.
> 2) Give the first set of procedures in full.  Then say, "Do the second
> setup like the first with these changes ..."
> 3) Give both sets of procedures in full, but flag somehow the items that
> differ.
> 4) Combine them both into one set of procedures and every so often say,
> "For System A, do this.  For System B, do that."
>
> (The installer will be setting up one system right after another.  The
> procedures for one system takes up about a page and a half.)
>
> I've found, when I've been following instructions in situations like this,
> that solution #1 irks me because it makes me wonder what's different and
> what's the same.  I end up reading carefully things I already know how to
> do.  But another writer thinks it is clearer to repeat it all.
>
> Any opinions?
>
>
>
>
> Regards,
>      Philip Sharman
>      <sharman -at- wowmedia -dot- com>
>
>
> From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000=
> =
>
>

 From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000=