CompuServe Thread

#DOpus Manual Improvement

9 messages in this thread
#53338From: Dominick J. FontanaMar 25, 1993 8:56 PM
Jon, Hi! I really like DirOpus 4.0. However, I'd like to know if there are any plans to improve the manual. While the information in the current manual is generally well-written and better than many other software manuals, I feel the manual is incomplete and vague in certain areas. While I haven't had any trouble using DOpus (I'm a past user), I just feel that the program is so good, that the manual should match it in quality, and it currently does not. Many times, the proofreader's comments were actually printed in the manual, instead of the corrections being made. I'd be happy to get you started by sending you my list of typos and other errors I found while reading the manual. Thanks. Dom Fontana –> Sent from NY via AP <–
#53400From: Martin MurrayMar 26, 1993 9:41 PM
Hi Dom, please feel free to send any manual bug reports in. We did find a LOT of errors in the manual while going through it a couple of months ago and so hopefully have caught most of them; still please send in anything you come across. Jon
#53497From: Dominick J. FontanaMar 28, 1993 2:56 AM
Jon, Would I be able to fax in the manual corrections, or is it better to mail them? If fax is okay, please post your fax number. Thanks. Dom Fontana –> Sent from NY via AP <–
#53501From: Martin MurrayMar 28, 1993 8:59 AM
Hi Dom, please fax your corrections to Inovatronics on 1-214-340-8514, Attn : Eddie Churchill Jon
#53554From: Dominick J. FontanaMar 29, 1993 3:37 AM
Jon, Okay I will fax my corrections. Dom Fontana –> Sent from NY via AP <–
#53575From: Mark BettsMar 29, 1993 12:10 PM
Dominick, I'm fiarly new to Opus although I did own a version 3.41 I didn't use it much due to the lack of a HD, but now I have a HD and v4.03 I would be grateful if you could send me a list of the typo errors etc as I finding it a little difficult working my way through the manual as it is, without any errors. Thanks Mark (London)
#53636From: Dominick J. FontanaMar 30, 1993 5:30 AM
Mark, Sure, I'd be glad to send you a list of the DirOpus manual errors as soon as I finish compiling them for INOVAtronics. Someone had mentioned that the manual should be a guide for all other software companies and I disagreed. As you said, you are "finding it a little difficult working [your] way through the manual, as it is…". The manual layout is okay, but many. many things are not explained adequately for a new user. I do not believe in form over substance. The DirOpus manual looks nice, but its contents are incomplete. If you leave me your address in EMail, I will gladly send you my corrections as soon as they're ready. Dom Fontana –> Sent from NY via AP <–
#53724From: Wayne ColeMar 31, 1993 2:20 PM
Dom GUILTY! I'm the one who likes the manual. The reason is that I had no trouble setting up the program using the manual with the exception of two minor inaccuracies. Either I got a newer manual rev, or it goes to show you how hard it is to please a widely varied audience. It reads well as a reference. For a less experienced user, perhaps an addendum with more examples showing different outcomes of differnet setting would help, but I don't feel it should be mixed into the existin manual. That is becuase as a reference it is easy to locate the info, read a few sentences and et on with the job. I DON'T like the types that make you read 90 lbs of fluff before they get to the critical information. I like even less those that are so "concise" that they leave stuf out altogether. wmc – via Autopilot!
#53761From: Dominick J. FontanaMar 31, 1993 10:30 PM
Hi Wayne, I didn't have any trouble setting up the program either. I was just thinking about the manual from a new user's point of view. The manual is strong as a reference, but short on explanations. If you already know what you're doing, as we do being prior users, it's good. But if you don't know, it doesn't do that good a job of explaining things. Probably a tutorial section and a separate section on how to use the commands and configure your own buttons and menus would help. I'll "see" you around. 😎 Dom Fontana –> Sent from NY via AP <–