>From my extensive magazine reading about UI's, I'd claim that blaming stupid users is stupid (or some sage advice like that from Mr. Gump).
Nothing will be damn-fool-proof, and even fool-proof doesn't always work with me as a user. The goal should be reducing the amount of similar traffic on this forum. I've seen comments about file-associations every day for weeks. The users asking aren't computer literate. They want to use the "office" tool and expect windows to take care of the rest. That is the reality of part of the openoffice user space, and as many have said, this forum is usually very kind to these often frustrated folks. Let's not try to fix everything, or go crazy with inch high red letters. Let's help them on this issue. While the file-association choice is being offered, display a help screen on what file-association means, and enough information to help them make a rational choice. My favorite good example of a useful help screen is on most Netgear home routers. I've been impressed with Netgear's router configuration instructions that have context sensitive help on screen everytime the user has a choice that attempt to explain what the choices mean. Many (read most), have the same help information, but you have to look it up, and with the Netgear, it is just there when needed. (knowing a little about some of these Netgear software/hardware platforms, it is amazing that on some routers, they manage to do the normal firewall/router program and all this help in a 4MB Flash device) On 9/13/05, mike scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On 12 Sep 2005 at 17:55, Dan Lewis wrote: > ... > > Part of the problem may be that most people do not read the setup > > guide first. As I pointed out above, page 27 in the 1.1.4 setup guide > > discusses this issue as well as tells how to solve the problem. Is > > there something that you would like to change on that page? > > But if people *won't* read the setup guide, how would this help? > > It's obviously a problem for some, so wouldn't it best to put a warning > during installation in inch high, flashing red letters about this > particular choice? And have the default to leave file associations > alone. (And make sure there are entries in the help files to help put > things back if needed.) Mind you, I strongly suspect even then some > will just click through, and complain that clicking on an msoffice file > doesn't start OOo. :-) > -- > various incoming sites blocked because of spam; see > http://www.scottsonline.org.uk for a list and openpgp crypto key > (key fingerprint 2ACC 9F21 5103 F68C 7C32 9EA8 C949 81E1 31C9 1364) > [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mike Scott, Harlow, Essex, England > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
