Re. Online vs. paper manual

[geoff-h -at- MTL -dot- FERIC -dot- CA]

 Melinda Carr asked how to resolve the issue of duplication
 between online and printed versions of a software manual.
 I'd like to make the following distinction:

 Online: context-sensitive, and relatively comprehensive.
 (Since the size and duplication cost for the files isn't a
 problem, make as much information available as possible.)
 For example, hitting the system's help key should provide
 help for the currently active window or dialog; this should
 include optional access to a detailed reference for every
 field in the dialog or item in the menus for that window.

 Paper: general philosophies, tutorials, overviews, how to
 combine features of the software to accomplish larger
 tasks. Also include a "How to use online help" section! For
 example, no description of the "cut" (or "copy") and
 "paste" commands per se, but rather a discussion of how to
 use these commands to create multiple copies, to move text
 around, and to transfer text between two programs.

 For example, could you organize your online information
 into separate "books", one based on reference material
 (e.g., what values a field can accept) and one based on
 tasks (e.g., combining various typographic functions to
 format a page template). I have no specific recommendations
 on how to make this separation efficient... does anyone
 else?

 I'm making these suggestions based solely on my personal
 experience as a user of online help, and I haven't tested
 the effectiveness of my proposed dichotomy. Treat them only
 as the starting point for a discussion. I'd love to hear
 from others who have more experience in this area. Jared,
 are you reading this? <grin>

 --Geoff Hart    @8^{)}
 geoff-h -at- mtl -dot- feric -dot- ca

 Disclaimer: If I didn't commit it in print in one of our
 reports, it don't represent FERIC's opinion.