How to document multiple paths to the same goal?

["Geoff Hart" <Geoff-h -at- mtl -dot- feric -dot- ca>]

Amy Lattof wondered <<What do you do when the software 
you are documenting has two paths for most of its tasks? For 
example, to launch an application you might: a. Select Tools 
> Run > MyApp, from the menu bar.  or b. Click the MyApp 
button on the toolbar.>>

There seems to be a trend in much of the documentation I've 
seen to document only the menu command, and (as you 
suggested) provide a list of shortcuts elsewhere to keep the 
text relatively uncluttered. I like and accept the reasoning 
behind this: unless you're specifically trying to teach all users 
all the possible ways to get a task done, you just confuse 
people by giving them too many choices. (This is NOT a 
comment on the alleged stupidity of users, but rather an 
observation of basic human behavior that I've seen repeatedly 
in my years of doing this work. Some people really do want 
to know all their options, but they're in the minority.)

<<my manager wants to document both paths in the main 
procedure. Sooo, it would go some thing like: Select Tools > 
Run > MyApp from the menu bar, or click the MyApp button 
on the toolbar.>>

How about a compromise? Since the buttons don't really 
require any explanation that isn't already present in the 
accompanying text that describes the menu procedure, put the 
button for each step in the left margin, beside the text that 
describes the procedure. Then make it clear in the "how to 
use this manual" or "getting started" section what you're 
doing and why. For example (and feel free to revise this): 
"We've put the menu commands for all tasks right in the text 
to help you learn how to get around the program's menus. For 
those who prefer button shortcuts to menu choices, we've 
displayed the buttons that accomplish the same task in the 
margins beside the text. Pick whichever approach best suits 
your working style. We've included a complete list of 
shortcuts and alternatives in Chapter X..."

--Geoff Hart @8^{)}  geoff-h -at- mtl -dot- feric -dot- ca  (Pointe-Claire, Quebec)
"Perhaps there is something deep and profound behind all those sevens, something just calling out for us to discover it. But I 
suspect 
that it is only a pernicious, Pythagorean coincidence." George Miller, "The Magical Number Seven" (1956)