Printed user manuals?

[SomptingGuy]

Are printed user manuals really a thing of the past?

We gave up printing manuals for our software several years ago and now the amount of help material we have is simply too big to contemplate printing it off. Besides, it's no longer in a form that facilitates printing (linked HTML pages).

I was wondering what the general consensus is here. Are paper manuals necessary? Do people really take them home to read in bed?

- Steve

 

[katmar]

Yes - those days are gone. When did you last get a manual when you purchased Windows? MS seem even to have cut back on the usability of the online manuals.

There are packages out there, such as Help & Manual, that will produce help files and printable copy from the same source. But at the very most I would include a PDF file - never a physical printed book.

I have had requests from buyers insisting on a physical manual because of some internal policy of their organizations. I quote them an extra price, print out the PDF for them, and ship it. But that is very much the exception.

Katmar Software
Engineering & Risk Analysis Software

http://katmarsoftware.com

 

[itsmoked]

I still get manuals.

I just got one with a VFD. It's about 2"x2.7" and was obviously reduced down from 8"x11". I can almost make out most of it with magnifying glasses.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[GregLocock]

I don't read them at home, but I do often load the help onto my laptop and use that at the same time as the program on the main PC.

Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Not only software - but some newer electronic devices - cameras, printers,etc. come with only a sheet or two explaining how to laod the CD that has all the info...

 

[KENAT]

We are in the process of going 'paperless' with out manuals but...

Certain customers really want the hard copies.

I think part of this is cultural. Also we are selling systems with a significant software content, not software as such.

Also we haven't helped our case becuase our cunning 'paperless' plan is just to PDF the existing manuals and throw them on a CD:-(.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[romke]

i don't think printed user manuals are obsolete, but manufacturers have chosen to cut costs by not printing them and supplying the text in another form. from their point of view quite rightly so, since the majority of the customers did not bother with the manual anyway - only caring about them if nothing worked anymore at all...

what i personally like to do is print out part of the manual referring to a particular problem - reading the instructions in print usually is far more convenient then reading them on screen. at the same time i use the screen version to copy text that has to be entered somewhere onscreen to avoid typos.

i can quite live with that solution - as long as the manual is written in some acceptable form and has a search function that makes it possible to look up specific information.

unfortunately a lot of manuals fail in those asspects. the worst thing to come across is a manual thas has been translated from another language by someone who perhaps understood something of both languages involved, but nothing from the apparatus the manual concerned itself with. especially when specialized techtalk has to be translated it helps a lot to be able to understand the language the original manual was written in - it can explain a lot of the quirks you come across.

in my view not the withdrawal of a printed version is the problem, but the decline of verbal skills to explain complicated subjects in understandable form and the lack of time to do that well is the problem with manuals these days.

and yes, Microsoft sets an example there - it is no coincidence that a lot of books are written about how to use their applications.

 

[AMN4]

I understand the need to reduce costs and save trees, but I'd still prefer a paper copy almost any day. The older I become, the less my eyes are able to look at a computer screen for prolonged periods of time. That's what I get for playing so many video games as a kid ;-).

 

[ScottyUK]

Depends what the manual is. I want a paper manual that I can take out on plant when I need it, without worrying about where I can plug my laptop in, or that it is raining, or that it will get broken. Maybe I don't need a full manual to carry with me, but a printed crib sheet or Idiot's Guide is both invaluable and expendable.


----------------------------------

If we learn from our mistakes I'm getting a great education!

 

[dogleg43]

If you're relying only on on electronic copies then make sure your company actually has a copy of the file.
Don't depend on a website link because those disappear or change.

Personally I like to have a printed version in my hand so I can mark it up or flag pages.

 

[SteveGregory]

One plug for the PDF manuals, you can use the search function for a keyword and flip through a bunch of pages quickly with this keyword. Sometimes the indexes on the paper ones are non-existent or not very good.

 

[rapt]

We still provide printed user manuals for our RC/PT design software software, RAPT.

It is linked HTML pages as a help file but it is possible to merge them into a properly formatted printed manual with a little bit of VB programming effort and MS Word.

 

[SomptingGuy]

Interesting replies. I used to tote the "mark up" argument myself. However, no printed manuals I own (only really ClearCase these days) have any of my handwriting in them.

Most of our requests (demands??) come from Japan/Korea/China. Maybe it's a language thing. Maybe these guys like to write things in the margins in their own languages. The counter to this is that we don't get the same from the Europeans.

- Steve

 

[katmar]

Strange - all the requests that I have had for printed manuals have also come from the east. I assumed that it was an internal policy of large companies and institutions in areas where there is a lot of software piracy as a way of preventing the purchase of pirated software (which never comes with a manual).

Katmar Software
Engineering & Risk Analysis Software

http://katmarsoftware.com

 

[KENAT]

Sompting & Katmar, when I mentioned cultural above I was talking about Asia, specifically Japan as I recall.

I can't say I know why but our marketing/sales say they still want hard copies. We're considering charging extra for them.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?