Comments on: Rethinking the Importance of Screenshots, Diagrams, and Other Visuals http://idratherbewriting.com/2007/08/10/rethinking-the-importance-of-screenshots/ The Latest Trends in Technical Communication Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:02:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Amoxicillin and strep throat. http://idratherbewriting.com/2007/08/10/rethinking-the-importance-of-screenshots/comment-page-1/#comment-140744 Amoxicillin and strep throat. Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:59:30 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/08/10/rethinking-the-importance-of-screenshots/#comment-140744 <strong>Amoxicillin no prescription....</strong> Amoxicillin rx655 syphilis. Amoxicillin rx655. Amoxicillin. Expiration date for amoxicillin. Amoxicillin allergy. How quickly does amoxicillin work. Amoxicillin yeast infection.... Amoxicillin no prescription….

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]]> By: ted http://idratherbewriting.com/2007/08/10/rethinking-the-importance-of-screenshots/comment-page-1/#comment-38972 ted Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:10:41 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/08/10/rethinking-the-importance-of-screenshots/#comment-38972 I've found it's often about balance - trying to include a decent amount of supportive screens without over (or under) doing it. Screenshots can be used to orient a user and help them find a set of instructions or section of info, as you bacially mentioned, and that's what we've been using them for. But we were told to cut down on all screens in all guides in general, to help cut down translation costs. Sometimes, though, we can over do it and simply remove everything - leaving a bland (and sometimes intimidating) numbered list of instructions behind. Need to watch out for that... I’ve found it’s often about balance – trying to include a decent amount of supportive screens without over (or under) doing it. Screenshots can be used to orient a user and help them find a set of instructions or section of info, as you bacially mentioned, and that’s what we’ve been using them for. But we were told to cut down on all screens in all guides in general, to help cut down translation costs. Sometimes, though, we can over do it and simply remove everything – leaving a bland (and sometimes intimidating) numbered list of instructions behind. Need to watch out for that…

]]> By: Core Dump http://idratherbewriting.com/2007/08/10/rethinking-the-importance-of-screenshots/comment-page-1/#comment-38691 Core Dump Mon, 13 Aug 2007 14:58:31 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/08/10/rethinking-the-importance-of-screenshots/#comment-38691 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] many technical writers have de-emphasized the use of screen captures in their user documentation, this post in I'd Rather Be Writing argues that this practice may not be a good thing.I used to think screenshots weren’t necessary [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> [...] many technical writers have de-emphasized the use of screen captures in their user documentation, this post in I’d Rather Be Writing argues that this practice may not be a good thing.I used to think screenshots weren’t necessary [...]

]]> By: Grant Boston http://idratherbewriting.com/2007/08/10/rethinking-the-importance-of-screenshots/comment-page-1/#comment-38643 Grant Boston Sun, 12 Aug 2007 00:32:25 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/08/10/rethinking-the-importance-of-screenshots/#comment-38643 I think the problem arises because of the way users are trained to use software and other "simple" tools. Usually the new tool appears one day and people are told to "get working" - they need to know how to do something, quickly and simply with pictures. Only after a period of frustration does someone decide to do "training" and by that time people want to know how to do things because they are so far behind in their work. Only if people learn about the tool and why they are using it BEFORE it appears do they care to learn about the whys and wherefores. I think the problem arises because of the way users are trained to use software and other “simple” tools. Usually the new tool appears one day and people are told to “get working” – they need to know how to do something, quickly and simply with pictures. Only after a period of frustration does someone decide to do “training” and by that time people want to know how to do things because they are so far behind in their work.

Only if people learn about the tool and why they are using it BEFORE it appears do they care to learn about the whys and wherefores.

]]> By: Blog News Watch » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup - Week Ending August 10, 2007 http://idratherbewriting.com/2007/08/10/rethinking-the-importance-of-screenshots/comment-page-1/#comment-38616 Blog News Watch » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup - Week Ending August 10, 2007 Sat, 11 Aug 2007 01:38:54 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/08/10/rethinking-the-importance-of-screenshots/#comment-38616 [...] . . . Deep Jive Interests: Tony writes about VideoCafe and “pimp[ing] your blog” . . . I’d Rather Be Writing: Tom rethinks “the Importance of Screenshots, Diagrams, and Other Visuals” . . . [...] [...] . . . Deep Jive Interests: Tony writes about VideoCafe and “pimp[ing] your blog” . . . I’d Rather Be Writing: Tom rethinks “the Importance of Screenshots, Diagrams, and Other Visuals” . . . [...]

]]> By: Blog News Watch » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup - Week Ending August 10, 2007 http://idratherbewriting.com/2007/08/10/rethinking-the-importance-of-screenshots/comment-page-1/#comment-38617 Blog News Watch » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup - Week Ending August 10, 2007 Sat, 11 Aug 2007 01:38:54 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/08/10/rethinking-the-importance-of-screenshots/#comment-38617 [...] . . . Deep Jive Interests: Tony writes about VideoCafe and “pimp[ing] your blog” . . . I’d Rather Be Writing: Tom rethinks “the Importance of Screenshots, Diagrams, and Other Visuals” . . . [...] [...] . . . Deep Jive Interests: Tony writes about VideoCafe and “pimp[ing] your blog” . . . I’d Rather Be Writing: Tom rethinks “the Importance of Screenshots, Diagrams, and Other Visuals” . . . [...]

]]> By: This Writer's Friends http://idratherbewriting.com/2007/08/10/rethinking-the-importance-of-screenshots/comment-page-1/#comment-38606 This Writer's Friends Fri, 10 Aug 2007 18:33:07 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/08/10/rethinking-the-importance-of-screenshots/#comment-38606 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/08/10/rethinking-the-importance-of-screenshots/I used to think screenshots weren’t necessary when it was obvious where buttons and other links were located. For example, if I wrote something like “Click the Subscribe to RSS Feed link in the sidebar to subscribe to this blog’s RSS feed,” you’d think that people could easily follow this instruction. [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> [...] http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/08/10/rethinking-the-importance-of-screenshots/I used to think screenshots weren’t necessary when it was obvious where buttons and other links were located. For example, if I wrote something like “Click the Subscribe to RSS Feed link in the sidebar to subscribe to this blog’s RSS feed,” you’d think that people could easily follow this instruction. [...]

]]> By: Alan J. Porter http://idratherbewriting.com/2007/08/10/rethinking-the-importance-of-screenshots/comment-page-1/#comment-38597 Alan J. Porter Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:57:44 +0000 http://www.idratherbewriting.com/2007/08/10/rethinking-the-importance-of-screenshots/#comment-38597 Hi Tom - Another great post. This one, combined with a comment I heard while teaching a training course earlier this week inspired me to ramble on my blog on the subject of <a href="http://4jsgroup.blogspot.com/2007/08/should-tech-writers-be-writers.html" rel="nofollow">"Should Tech Writers Be Writers?"</a> I'd be interested to know what you think? Hi Tom –

Another great post. This one, combined with a comment I heard while teaching a training course earlier this week inspired me to ramble on my blog on the subject of “Should Tech Writers Be Writers?” I’d be interested to know what you think?

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