Re: Content of Help Systems

[Art Campbell <art -dot- campbell -at- gmail -dot- com>]

I'd say minimal duplication. Help is just that -- a Just In Time
answer to a context-specific question or to provide context-driven
info (more info on screen and field values and options, for instance).

We (at a number of companies, going back more than a
decade) have always put the books online as .pdfs to provide
the conceptual / background / etc.

Also, there's no reason not to link between the two. Add
a "For More Information" link in the Help topic pointing toward
the in-depth discussion in the User Guide .PDF.

Art

On 9/20/05, M Parcell <mbtechwriter -at- yahoo -dot- com> wrote:

> *and* task-based information. Our question is: Should
> help system content duplicate documentation content?
> Or, do these items serve distinctly different purposes
> that merit different content?

--
Art Campbell                                             art -dot- campbell -at- gmail -dot- com
  "... In my opinion, there's nothing in this world beats a '52 Vincent
               and a redheaded girl." -- Richard Thompson
                             No disclaimers apply.
                                     DoD 358

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