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Re: Documenting the user interface

Subject: Re: Documenting the user interface
From: Janice Gelb <janice -dot- gelb -at- sun -dot- com>
To: TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 11:05:18 +1100

Kay Honaker wrote:

Try to be as task-oriented as possible. In other words, don't just go through each button or tab and tell what they do. Instead, describe a work flow that takes the user through the tasks for which she will use the software.
On the other hand, you need to cover all the buttons and tabs and fields and functions. Otherwise, the user will wonder why they exist (with good reason).

Not sure I agree that "users will wonder" why things exist in
the user interface. I think most users buy a product to
accomplish some task and with very few exceptions, their
interest in the interface is solely related to how to use
it to accomplish that task. That's why I agree that you
don't need to describe every button, tab, field, etc. They
should only be described in the tasks in which they are
used to accomplish something.

-- Janice

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RE: Documenting the user interface: From: Kay Honaker

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