ghrt wrote:
Gary Schnabl wrote:
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.
Agreed. Especially with Writer. That's the most-used component, and
the one with the largest number of inexperienced users, even among
people who are otherwise comfortable using computers. For example,
many people have not used an office suite before, and it's very
different from using, say, email or the Web. Gary, you might read the
users' list sometime to remind yourself of the level of experience and
knowledge of many people.
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 agree that screenshots are not of much use there, but diagrams are
often be very useful when explaining concepts. For example, the
diagrams showing how the sequencing of page styles works. I've had
several people tell me that those diagrams made the concept make
sense. They were designed by a teacher, btw.
--Jean
