Gary Schnabl wrote:
ghrt wrote:
Gary Schnabl wrote:
But you brought up the point of the "majority." What skill level
does the mainstream or typical user have at this point in a
computerized society? Do they need to use screen captures to learn
how open a file today versus ten years ago? I doubt learning that is
needed anymore. [Just stating the menu command to use to open a file
should suffice.]
GSG isn't some kind of 'learning how to use the computer' guide, but
let's be sincere, if you have to open a book in order to learn how to
use an office suite you are not used to computers, so the book should
start from the basic things.
But there is an excess of images, I agree. And - those usefull- maybe
we just crop them and flow the text around them?
Should the user guides other than GS receive the same treatment
pertaining to screen captures for basic tasks?
Depending on their level. If they'll offer non-basic level, no, because
I don't expect an absolute beginner in need of page styles and
cross-references.
If we decide that's best to begin from 0, yes, because if we talk for
these guys we must be understand by them, not by some kids which learn
much easier basic tasks, related to computer or not.
I don't want to write a guide for complete idiots. If we talk about Save
menu we may embed a screenshot of it, with some explanations floating
over the picture. Because it will be much easier to understand. If we
talk about some complicated feature which requires planning, like Base
or macros, most screenshots are (almost) useless.
I also look at these guides as intented to be read on computer screen,
so for me all this issue with page count is not important. The problem
is how descriptive GSG must be, and my answer is to cover all major and
daily features for ordinary office work.
