Re: In reference to number of steps

Subject: Re: In reference to number of steps
From: Tom Murrell <trmurrell -at- yahoo -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2000 04:47:12 -0700 (PDT)

--- Dan Roberts <droberts63 -at- earthlink -dot- net> wrote:
> I dunno. 50 steps would lead me to think "Gawd, does it ever end?" So
> even if all 50 steps are in one flow, and that flow can be ...not
> broken out, no subdivided, not sectioned...perhaps "phased" is the
> word I want...phased into a few main phases, then I can hold that
> idea in my head better. And I guess, if you can determine "phases"
> then steps 14-26 are simply little parts of one major step.

First, I too would be daunted by a 50 step procedure. As a writer, I
would try to find a way for the user to accomplish the needed task as
easily as possible given the design of the task involved. But I don't
think documentation can 'save' a bad design. The best we can hope to do
is make it possible for users to accomplish the tasks they need to
accomplish despite the poor design. I don't design 'em, I just document
'em.

> >I much prefer to see procedures that are one step per task. (Do
> >this; this happens. Do that; this other thing happens.)
> Just out of curiosity, what do you do when there are bunches of
> fields to fill in one window/dialog/panel--is each field a step, or
> are they all pieces of the one step of filling out the
> window/dialog/panel?

The standard answer in this business is, of course, it depends. It
depends on the task. It depends on what the interface does when various
entries are made (do pop-ups occur in certain fields? how are invalid
entries handled by the form processor? etc.). In general, I would try
to make it as easy as possible for the user to fill out the form. Each
case is different. I might actually combine entries into a single step,
if the interface behaves in a consistent manner throughout the form.
Some do, but some don't.

=====
Tom Murrell
Lead Technical Writer
Alliance Data Systems
Columbus, Ohio
mailto:trmurrell -at- yahoo -dot- com
Personal Web Page - http://home.columbus.rr.com/murrell/

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf! It's FREE.
http://im.yahoo.com/

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Learn how to develop HTML-based Help with Macromedia Dreamweaver!
Dec. 7-8, 2000, Orlando, FL -- $100 discount for STC members.
http://www.weisner.com/training/dreamweaver_help.htm or 800-646-9989.

Your web site localized into 32 languages? Maybe not now, but sooner than
you think. Download ForeignExchange's FREE paper, "3 steps to successful
translation management" at http://www.fxtrans.com/3steps.html?tw.

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


Previous by Author: Re: In reference to number of steps
Next by Author: Re: In defense of 7 +/-2 steps per procedure
Previous by Thread: Re: In reference to number of steps
Next by Thread: Re: In reference to number of steps


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads