Re: How does all this work?????

From: Craig Schiller (cschiller1_at_earthlink.net)
Date: 03/14/04 

Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2004 09:17:00 -0800

Joe -

Still a ridiculous theory. The EB isn't big enough to hold all of the possible
combinations of spreadsheets a user might want to create, either. And
documenting "all of the possible combinations" isn't the goal of a proper
manual.

Help files are notoriously poor.

Who's talking about a "silly 4 page manual"? I thought the discussion was about
proper documentation. The written manuals for my word processor (WordPerfect),
music sequencing program (Cubase), and graphics application (Painter) are all
over 500 pages. THAT's documentation!

Craig

Joe Rohn wrote:

> Craig,
>
> While your point about cost may have some merit...that's about it. The
> Encylopedia Britannica wouldn't be big enough to hold all of the possible
> combinations of creating web sites with FrontPage. There is extensive online
> and offline help included with the product (while I admit I too feel that is
> lacking at times and also could be written better) Even with those possible
> shortfalls.. there is still way more information as to "How to" then could
> be crammed into some silly 4 page manual as to how to use FrontPage.
>
> People simply need to learn how to use the help files..and if they can't
> find it there..then go for alternatives.
>
> A simple search in the offline help section of FrontPage 2003 for "create a
> web site" comes back with this:
>
> Create a Web site
>
> 1. On the File menu, click New.
> 2. In the New task pane, under New Web site, click the type of Web site that
> you want to create.
> 3. Click the Web site template that you want.
> 4. Locate and click the location where you want to publish your site, and
> then click Open.
> Notes
>
> You can either publish your site to a local directory or folder on your hard
> disk or network, or publish it to the Internet where your account is
> located.
> If you create a SharePoint site, you must publish it to a server running
> Microsoft SharePoint Services.
>
> --
> Joe
>
> Forum Crafters:
> http://www.forumcrafters.com
> FrontPage Users Forums:
> http://www.timeforweb.com/frontpage
>
> "Craig Schiller" <cschiller1@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:40534EB4.8E93C8E5@earthlink.net...
> > Joe -
> >
> > Although I have suggested to my namesake that he get a book on FrontPage,
> your
> > comment that it would be "next to impossible to include step by step
> > instructions for FrontPage since the combinations of what you can do with
> > creating web sites are infinite" is absolutely ridiculous. Using that
> "logic",
> > it would be next to impossible to include step by step instructions for a
> word
> > processor, or an image processor, or a music sequencing program, or even a
> > spread***.
> >
> > No, [IMHO] the reason there are no step by step instructions is because:
> > 1. They're actually difficult to write clearly
> > 2. They're expensive to print
> > 3. They're expensive to print
> >
> > Software companies, seeking to maximize their profits, have stopped
> supplying
> > decent documentation because they've learned that they can get away with
> it.
> > [/IMHO]
> >
> > Craig
> >
> > Joe Rohn wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Craig,
> > >
> > > Being a little frustrated when you first start out in something is
> > > understandable!
> > >
> > > That being said... It would be next to impossible to include step by
> step
> > > instructions for the use of FrontPage since the combinations of what you
> can
> > > do with creating web sites are infinite!
> > >
> > > As others mentioned there are huge amounts of information available in
> print
> > > and on the web for using FrontPage.
> > >
> > > As a possible starting point here's one:
> > >
> > > http://www.icemocha.com/tutorials.htm
> > >
> > > There are definitely a few gazillion others though! :-)
> > >
> > > --
> > > Joe
> > >
> > > Forum Crafters:
> > > http://www.forumcrafters.com
> > > FrontPage Users Forums:
> > > http://www.timeforweb.com/frontpage
> > >
> > > "Craig" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > news:AC4CE151-54E4-4FF0-8211-FB0FC9F9D8D5@microsoft.com...
> > > > Well, I guess I'll have to buy some books or look for online help, but
> it
> > > just doesn't make sense to me..... even the simple products you buy come
> > > with instructions, it only stands to reason that something that is
> difficult
> > > to use should DEFINITELY come with directions. I mean it only makes
> sense to
> > > me that they would want people who buy their product to know how to use
> it,
> > > and have a pleasant experience with it.
> > > >
> > > > So, here I go..... "getting my feet wet"; "Jumping in head first";
> > > "Learning to walk"; "Looking up online tutorials"; "Buying books",
> etc....
> > > >
> > > > Or, I could have just opened up the FrontPage 2003 box and read the
> > > directions. LOL!
> >