Re: Distributing Word docs to customers

[<neilson -at- windstream -dot- net>]

Beth Agnew said: 
> Another thing to think about is the customer support liability issue. If a
> customer takes information from a document (whether Word or PDF) and makes
> their own "cheat sheet" or mini-manual, as some like to do, those documents
> do not get updated with the usual manual set. Incorrect information can
> creep in when the user copies, adds to, or changes the information during
> the course of repurposing it. They may change meaning, and introduce errors.

This is not a new situation. Back in the days of user printed manuals, where
separate colors showed the difference between user-typed commands and the
prompts and output from the computer, a university customer complained:
"The manual refers to two separate colors, rust and brown, but the manual
itself is printed in just black and white. Please send us manuals that are
actually printed in color."

It turns out that the university's mathematics department lacked the budget
to purchase multiple copies of the official manual. So they had made Xerox
copies for all the students on the copying machine in the university's
administrative office. No additional budget was required; the entire expense
was hidden in "administration". The fake manuals were very hard to use, and
the blame somehow fell on the Xxx Computer Company.

Word now makes it possible to do make the same mistake much more easily, with
the text referring to the special interpretion intended for "text printed in
the RaraAvisUnique font" ("typeface" for the printerly literate) that somehow
mysteriously appears in Times New Roman. 

--Peter Neilson


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to Help file formats or 
printed documentation. Features include support for Windows Vista & 2007 
Microsoft Office, team authoring, plus more.
http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

Now shipping: Help & Manual 4 with RoboHelp(r) import! New editor,
full Unicode support. Create help files, web-based help and PDF in up
to 106 languages with Help & Manual: http://www.helpandmanual.com

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- web -dot- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- 

To unsubscribe send a blank email to 
techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40web.techwr-l.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/ for more resources and info.