User documentation
Importance of User documentation
User documentation
• User documentation refers to the documentation for a product or
service provided to the end users.
• The user documentation is designed to assist end users to use the
product or service.
• This is often referred to as user assistance.
• The user documentation is a part of the overall product delivered to
the customer.
User documentation is important because it provides a avenue for
users to learn:
• how to use your software
• features of your software
• tips and tricks of your software
• how to resolve common problems with your software
What does user documentation usually include?
Minimum hardware and software requirements
Installation guide
How to start the system
How to use different features of the system
Screenshots explaining main features of the system
Example inputs and outputs
Explanations of error messages and troubleshooting guides
Information to contact the developer of the system if an
undocumented question arises
Different methods of User documentation
• Internal documentation
• External Documentation
Internal Documentation
External Documentation
• Separate documentation – User manual
• Email support
• Embedded Assistance or integrated user assistance
• Frequently asked questions
• Live Chat Session
• Online portals or Web portals
• Remote Desktop Connections
Manuals Online support
Embedded Assistance or integrated user
assistance
Frequently asked questions
Live Chat Session
Online portals or Web portals
Remote Desktop Connections
Method Advantages Disadvantages
•User friendly •you might not get level of detail you want
Help files •really fast •the user might not know what to search for
•easy to use
•Might be hard to find
•can be accessed offline
•larger amount of information
Online support •easier to update •can't be accessed offline
•can access from any device •if you have slow internet connection, it's bad.
•can be faster
•slower
•easy to find •if you lose it, you're going to have a bad day
Printed manuals •you can browse through them •harder to search
•work without a computer •cannot be updated
•prone to physical destruction