"Choose your own" install guide

[Chris Vickery]

But if you do that, everyone will start at the Fatal Error message and
work their way back to the beginning!

Honestly, I don't think it's a great idea, because it implies that all
readers start from the same place. Might make indexing difficult too. If
you did it selectively, like for three options within one procedure, I
could see it working out.

Chris "D. Terman" Vickery

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+cvickery=arenasolutions.com at lists.techwr-l.com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+cvickery=arenasolutions.com at lists.techwr-l.com]
On Behalf Of Kevin McGowan
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 12:27 PM
To: techwr-l at lists.techwr-l.com
Subject: "Choose your own" install guide

Hi folks,

As I'm learning more and more complications about our product install 
process from the professional services people, I am now pondering
rewriting 
my install guide modelled on the old "choose your own adventure" books
from 
my childhood.

Essentially, if you drew it all out in a flow chart, the flow chart
would go 
on for pages and make it seem ridiculously complicated. Instead, I'm 
thinking of a more user-friendly approach...and am wondering if anyone
has 
done this, or might have an opinion on it.

Basically, it would go like this:

You want to install PRODUCT on Windows - go to page 10
You want to install PRODUCT on Linux - go to page 13

In the Windows section:
You want to enable SAS support, go to page 20.
You want to skip SAS support, go to page 21.

Is this madness? Will a reader be annoyed reading a 100-page document
set up 
like this?

Cheers,
Kevin

_________________________________________________________________
Express yourself with free Messenger emoticons. Check out 
freemessengeremoticons.ca

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

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats
or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007

Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

True single source, conditional content, PDF export, modular help.
Help & Manual is the most powerful authoring tool for technical
documentation. Boost your productivity! http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as cvickery at arenasolutions.com.

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe at lists.techwr-l.com
or visit
http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/cvickery%40arenasolut
ions.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join at lists.techwr-l.com

Send administrative questions to admin at techwr-l.com. Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.