TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:FW: One big manual or several small ones? From:"Moore, Tracey" <TMoore -at- PARKERVISION -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 28 Apr 1999 13:21:31 -0400
I don't see why a big manual has to be hard to use. A big manual that is
well organized, has a comprehensive index and nice clear tabs shouldn't
be hard to use. Size doesn't make it so, disorganization does.
<<My question is this: Would an end user rather have a large
document that contains lots of information in a format that is
hard to use and find the necessary data, or would a user
prefer to have smaller documents where the information is
easily accessible?>>
Definitely try and find out what YOUR end users want. You may be
surprised by what you find.
