Looking for a documentation portal example

[John Sgammato]

How much of that can be controlled by providing a good print.css file and a button for it? 

-----Original Message-----
From: framers-bounces+jsgammato=imprivata.com at lists.frameusers.com [mailto:framers-bounces+jsgammato=imprivata.com at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of John Posada
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 4:58 PM
To: Michael "Müller-Hillebrand; Framers
Subject: Re: Looking for a documentation portal example

> A company with a lot of modules (software or hardware) nowadays 
> usually has a website where all the latest PDF files are available for 
> download.

we do.

> But, wouldn't it be desirable to have all that information in HTML
> format: better navigation options, more efficient search, search

no.

Why? When I post a manual for my product, content is one thing I'm interested in. However, I'm also interested in having control over what you see is what I sent. I don't want to take the chance that you are going to look at my $250,000 software's 200 page configuration manual in a browser I couldn't forsee and see something distorted. I don't want to know that because of something I have no control over, images don't show, show poorly, or appear somewhere I hadn't expected.

>for many tasks, but printing.

You make that seem like a minor point. I want to know that when you click the print button, you're going to get what I want...fonts and everything.

I can give you wonderful navigation in PDF. Acrobat has wonderful search facilities. HTML wouldn't buy me anything.

Besides...if I was to offer my manual in HTML, I'd have to include a complete directory hierarchy and possibly hundreds of files, scripts, images, etc.

We happen to offer alot of our background reference documentation in HTML on the CD and installed when you install the product. However, this is for material where presentation doesn't matter...you want a command line syntax or the meaning of a term. However, where presenatation matters, it stays PDF.

John Posada
Senior Technical Writer

"They say everyone needs goals. Mine is to live forever.
So far, so good."
_______________________________________________


You are currently subscribed to Framers as jsgammato at imprivata.com.

Send list messages to framers at lists.frameusers.com.

To unsubscribe send a blank email to
framers-unsubscribe at lists.frameusers.com
or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/jsgammato%40imprivata.com

Send administrative questions to listadmin at frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.