. showing the steps required to create a manual in Microsoft Word 2010. How to Make a Manual in Word 2010. How to Make Brochures in Microsoft Word.
How to Create a User Manual Three Parts:Creating Appropriate User Documentation User Manual Components Designing a Readable User Manual User manuals are written guides in either hard-copy (paper) or electronic document (PDF or XPS) format that provide instructions on how to do or use something. Although "user guides" are most often thought of in terms of computer software manuals, user manuals also accompany computers and other electronic devices such as televisions, stereos, telephone systems, and MP3 players, as well as household appliances and lawn and garden equipment. Good user manuals educate users about the product's features while teaching them how to use those features effectively and are laid out to be easily read and referred to. Following are things to consider when creating effective content for and designing the layout of a user manual. Define who your user is. To write a successful user manual, you need to develop a profile of your user, either formally, by creating a written profile, or informally, by taking the time to make reasonable assumptions about your user's characteristics. Such a profile is useful when you're part of a team writing the user documentation and can also be helpful in taking the product itself from concept to final form. Things to think about when forming a user profile include: Where users will use the user guide, such as at home, in the office, at a remote job site, or in the car. This may determine not only the content, but the style the user manual takes. How users will use the user guide. If the manual is one they will consult only infrequently or to look up information, it should primarily take the form of a reference document. If it is something users will consult frequently in the beginning, the reference section should be accompanied by a "Getting Started" section and instructions on the most common tasks the product will be used for. How much experience users have with the product or others like it. If your product is new or significantly different from similar products, you'll need to include an explanation of how it differs from other products as well as instructions on how to get started. If the product deals with something users often have trouble with, such as many computer applications, you'll need to provide appropriate information and detail in an understandable fashion. Put references to related documents in the preface. If the user documentation is more than 1 manual, make reference to the other documents, with the correct version numbers, here. The preface is also where to put a "How to Use This Guide" section if there is one. Put instructions/procedures and reference materials in the body of the manual. In most cases, procedures and reference materials should each have their own sections, although you can tell the user to refer to specific content in one section from the other. This way, the user can find the information he or she is looking for faster. Procedures should be written in a consistent structure throughout the instruction section of the manual. Begin with an overview of the task, then describe what the user has to do and what result he or she should see. Steps should be numbered and begin with action verbs, as the steps in each section of this article are written. Reference materials can include lists of options, troubleshooting tips, and frequently asked questions. Glossaries and indexes can be added near the end of the manual, although a list of frequently used terms can appear at the front. The index can be omitted if the manual runs less than 20 pages. Choose a few readable fonts. Although computers can support a number of different fonts, the goal of a user manual is to be an easily readable. Choosing only a small number of fonts that look good together is the best way to achieve this goal. Fonts can be broken down into 2 types: serif and sans serif fonts. Serif fonts feature small embellishment lines at the ends of the main strokes that form the letter. Serif fonts include such fonts as Times New Roman, Baskerville, and Book Antiqua. Serif fonts work best for large chunks of text displayed in 10 to 12 point size in the main body of a printed user manual. Sans serif fonts display only the strokes that form the letters without embellishment. Sans serif fonts include such fonts as Arial, Calibri, and Century Gothic. Sans serif fonts can be used for large chunks of text in sizes from 8 to 10 point in a PDF or Web-based manual, although the lack of serifs makes sentences displayed in sizes 12 point or larger harder to read. They can, however, be used effectively in larger sizes to display titles and headings, and they're also great in the smaller sizes for footnotes and numbers in columns and tables. You should generally choose plain fonts such as Arial or Times New Roman for your user manual, although you may want to use a decorative font for pull quotes or for titles if you're writing a user manual for a video game with a fantasy or science fiction setting. (In the case of pull quotes, you can often get by with one of the plain fonts and display the pull quote in italics.) Once you have decided on the fonts you want to use, create a sample page to verify that your fonts go together well on paper. You'll also want to show this sample to whoever has approval over the manual's appearance before you proceed further with writing it.','url':'http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-User-Manual','og_descr':'User manuals are written guides in either hard-copy (paper) or electronic document (PDF or XPS) format that provide instructions on how to do or use something. Although \'user guides\' are most often thought of in terms of computer software...
. a user guide or any other type of manual, these templates for MS Word make. basic instruction. manual? The Employment Manual template.
- How to Create a User Manual. User. If the user documentation is more than 1 manual, make. Build a template document for your manual. Many word.
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- How To Create Your Own Instruction, Manual. Next enter in the 'Description' of the instruction. Once you have saved your work for 'Step 1' you will then.
Here are some suggestions for improving the usability of user manuals based on our experience writing. user manual must make a. the user manual and work.