Re: [libreoffice-users] LibreOffice's documentation (pdf and online)

Here are my responses.

1.  I seldom look at the PDF documentation.  Mostly I find what I need 
through the F1 key, and also because I forget it's there until I go 
searching for an answer online.  I'll also go to the PDF when I'm trying 
to understand an entire concept (like styles, which still are winning 
the battle).

2.  I use the F1 key all the time.  I came to LO after using Windows 
since it was created and F1 is the first thing I do to get help on any 
program.  It's nice when it's context-sensitive, but just going to the 
built-in help is sufficient.

3.  Most of the time I'm using any documentation it's via the F1 key (or 
the menu equivalent, if I already have my fingers on the trackpad) and 
I'm usually coming from a spreadsheet, looking for the parameters for a 
specific function.  This is one of the few areas where in my experience 
MS Office is actually superior to LO; in MSO the functions are grouped 
better for ease in finding what you're looking for (arithmetic 
functions, logical functions, etc.).  In the LO help you often have to 
know what function you want to use, even if what you're looking for is 
what function fits your current need -- like having to know how to spell 
a word before you can look up its spelling in the dictionary.

4a.  Some have suggested videos.  Personally, while I have no trouble 
with either my vision or my hearing, I hate the trend toward doing 
everything on videos.  They take longer than reading, they annoy other 
people in the office, and usually they're not the best choice for what I 
need at the time.  They might be useful for longer topics (like those 
blasted styles), but not for syntax questions, for example.

4b.  My preference is for a manual's information to be available 
locally.  I'm not always in a location with Internet access, and 
sometimes I turn off my modem because I don't want any new mail 
downloaded (I have 18 mailboxes to manage, and if I close the email 
program before I check them all then the new messages are no longer 
flagged as new; unread isn't a sufficient status).

Thanks for asking for our input.  I've rewritten seven sets of bylaws 
for various organizations, so I don't envy you and the rest of the 
volunteers on this project!

Dave Liesse




On 6/24/2015 09:58, dallen wrote:
> Hi All,
>
>     I'm an experienced Technical Writer beginning work on LibreOffice's
> documentation, but I have some questions for LibreOffice users:
>
>     1) Does anyone EVER look at the pdf documentation? If not, why not?
>     2) Does anyone EVER click the F1 key for help? If not, why not?
>     3) Do you see any overall issues concerning the documentation?
>     4) If the presentation of the documentation were to change to make it
> more useful, what would it look like?
>
> Thanks for anyone's help.
>
> Davidaa
>
>
>
> --
> View this message in context: 
> http://nabble.documentfoundation.org/LibreOffice-s-documentation-pdf-and-online-tp4152516.html
> Sent from the Users mailing list archive at Nabble.com.


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