L
LongtimeUser
I've just migrated from Office 97 on Windows 2000 to Office 2007 on Vista.
Although I've found some nice things on Vista (eg searching), I have to say
I'm appauled at the state of Help, especially in Office, and the loss of most
context sensitive help. The whole Office 2007 help thing looks like it only
began development AFTER the release of the product suite, and then has been
so thinly resourced, you are STILL going backwards today.
Please, Microsoft, commit to your users (millions out there who are wasting
vast amounts of time working out how to do basic things) and implement a
proper help infrastructure, AND have the content ready BEFORE you release the
product! Don't you know you can actually contribute to World Peace?!?
I learned most of what I know about Microsoft applications from Help, and I
know that if it worked as reliably and had as much care in its organisation
as it used to, then it would be a more attractive first-port-of-call for
users instead of bothering colleagues and help-desks everywhere.
BACK TO BASICS - A Clearer Vision
* Briing back control-sensitive help (content fully local to machine) via
little "?" buttons in proximity to each control and/or right-click shortcut
menus (I'll call this 'level-1') - implemented as fast, small tooltip text
with potential for hyperlinks to the help infrastructure
* Bring back dialogue box sensitive help, to the Tab level (content fully
local to machine) via F1 AND a "Help" button in each box (I'll call this
'level-2') - implemented in a separate window that can access the rest of the
help infrastructure.
* Help from the Application help button on the Application ribbon/toolbar:
the help infrastructure window opens with TOC (content fully local to
machine) and general topics list for that application visible, and can access
the rest of the help infrastructure (I'll call this 'level-3').
* Help Infrastructure:
- Help window layout to provide for:
+ application TOC (turn on/off/alternate space with keyword index)
+ applicatioin keyword index (sorted list) with each term hyperlinked
(turn on/off/alternate space with TOC)
+ Search box and options (always visible)
+ Search results list area can be kept separate from content viewing
area (or in the same space, by option)
+ Plenty of useful hypertext cross-referencing in the help content area
+ Link drop-down tool to 'search for related topics' that is populated,
by currently displayd topic, with significant keywords
+ Place to comment on help, sends back to Microsoft
+ Useful Microsoft on-line support links
+ home, printer, back/forwards, stop, refresh, font, keep-on-top, and
any other browser gismos that are expected
- The help window to offer TOC, and when opened via 'level 2' call, shows
the TOC open at the topic, as well as the topic content.
- Dialogue/Tab context sensitive help (level-2) to always present a
single, well presented topic that offers conceptual info on feature as well
as duplicating level-1 type help on each control; never to simply return a
search results list.
- Search results to be returned first from local machine, there should be
no delay as the screen fills up waiting for on-line content. As on-line
articles are found, these to arrive later in list, and show in a different
colour so the user knows which articles would be slow, and can look at local
topics first, to save time.
- Local help content to be pre-indexed so that the new, fast Vista search
capabilities apply
- Natural language search be an option to turn on/off, and then it will
wait for you to type the whole phrase and click 'search' before searching
- If MS want to have an area reserved for their random tips or 'marketing'
then this should be able to be turned off - help should only help the user
and not be used to distract the user!
- We appreciate the up-to-dateness of on-line content, and the
speed/accessibility of off-line content. There is no reason why off-line
content can't be kept fairly up-to-date, as more people use the Microsoft
automatic updates, and off-line help content can be included in updates.
- Modular design of off-line content, to facilitate automatic updating.
- Microsoft to improve resourcing of Help development. Needs people with
librarian skills, especially with thesaurus authorship skills.
What do you think?
----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.
http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...-219fe2b2eab5&dg=microsoft.public.office.misc
Although I've found some nice things on Vista (eg searching), I have to say
I'm appauled at the state of Help, especially in Office, and the loss of most
context sensitive help. The whole Office 2007 help thing looks like it only
began development AFTER the release of the product suite, and then has been
so thinly resourced, you are STILL going backwards today.
Please, Microsoft, commit to your users (millions out there who are wasting
vast amounts of time working out how to do basic things) and implement a
proper help infrastructure, AND have the content ready BEFORE you release the
product! Don't you know you can actually contribute to World Peace?!?
I learned most of what I know about Microsoft applications from Help, and I
know that if it worked as reliably and had as much care in its organisation
as it used to, then it would be a more attractive first-port-of-call for
users instead of bothering colleagues and help-desks everywhere.
BACK TO BASICS - A Clearer Vision
* Briing back control-sensitive help (content fully local to machine) via
little "?" buttons in proximity to each control and/or right-click shortcut
menus (I'll call this 'level-1') - implemented as fast, small tooltip text
with potential for hyperlinks to the help infrastructure
* Bring back dialogue box sensitive help, to the Tab level (content fully
local to machine) via F1 AND a "Help" button in each box (I'll call this
'level-2') - implemented in a separate window that can access the rest of the
help infrastructure.
* Help from the Application help button on the Application ribbon/toolbar:
the help infrastructure window opens with TOC (content fully local to
machine) and general topics list for that application visible, and can access
the rest of the help infrastructure (I'll call this 'level-3').
* Help Infrastructure:
- Help window layout to provide for:
+ application TOC (turn on/off/alternate space with keyword index)
+ applicatioin keyword index (sorted list) with each term hyperlinked
(turn on/off/alternate space with TOC)
+ Search box and options (always visible)
+ Search results list area can be kept separate from content viewing
area (or in the same space, by option)
+ Plenty of useful hypertext cross-referencing in the help content area
+ Link drop-down tool to 'search for related topics' that is populated,
by currently displayd topic, with significant keywords
+ Place to comment on help, sends back to Microsoft
+ Useful Microsoft on-line support links
+ home, printer, back/forwards, stop, refresh, font, keep-on-top, and
any other browser gismos that are expected
- The help window to offer TOC, and when opened via 'level 2' call, shows
the TOC open at the topic, as well as the topic content.
- Dialogue/Tab context sensitive help (level-2) to always present a
single, well presented topic that offers conceptual info on feature as well
as duplicating level-1 type help on each control; never to simply return a
search results list.
- Search results to be returned first from local machine, there should be
no delay as the screen fills up waiting for on-line content. As on-line
articles are found, these to arrive later in list, and show in a different
colour so the user knows which articles would be slow, and can look at local
topics first, to save time.
- Local help content to be pre-indexed so that the new, fast Vista search
capabilities apply
- Natural language search be an option to turn on/off, and then it will
wait for you to type the whole phrase and click 'search' before searching
- If MS want to have an area reserved for their random tips or 'marketing'
then this should be able to be turned off - help should only help the user
and not be used to distract the user!
- We appreciate the up-to-dateness of on-line content, and the
speed/accessibility of off-line content. There is no reason why off-line
content can't be kept fairly up-to-date, as more people use the Microsoft
automatic updates, and off-line help content can be included in updates.
- Modular design of off-line content, to facilitate automatic updating.
- Microsoft to improve resourcing of Help development. Needs people with
librarian skills, especially with thesaurus authorship skills.
What do you think?
----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.
http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...-219fe2b2eab5&dg=microsoft.public.office.misc