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Posted by dorayme on 09/25/06 23:08
In article <1159197601.137483.7390@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com>,
usenet+2004@john.dunlop.name wrote:
> dorayme:
>
> > [usenet+2004@john.dunlop.name]:
>
> [PDF-reader link and instructions]
>
> > Many people find such things useful. One should try to avoid it but
> > not treat the principle as some sort of heaven sent tablet.
>
> One reason to follow the principle in general is that any mention of
> the mechanics detracts from the content proper.
There are many reasons to avoid it, I agree. But this sort of
reasoning worries me. "any mention..." sounds to me to be weak.
To go on and on about it, yes. To not try to avoid the need, yes.
But now and then one gets caught. I imagine it helps people that
I very very occasionally "say things about the mechanics". In one
case I mention that a following list of files are not intended to
be viewed necessarily on screen but downloaded for printing, but
that if viewing is wanted and simple clicking or double clicking
is not succesful, to try to right or control click and then save
etc.
Yes, I have thought to make the headings convey the message
"Publications for printing, not viewing" and other strategies.
But in the end in a practical situation for which a client is
paying good money, I want to make sure he is happy, his website
users have success. And I can't be running to others all the time
if I cannot see a time efficient "good design" solution. And to
be fair, it may be that you are simply wrong and no one, however
good, can do away with such help by clever design. I am not
disagreeing with your sentiment here, just any extreme form of
it.
> Another reason to follow the principle in this case is the difficulty
> of writing the instructions.
> Since all but the most basic instructions
> would necessarily be system-dependent, one set of instructions would
> not be sufficient. They would also be incomplete, because to cover all
> platforms, all browsers, and all users is not feasible. Brief
> instructions are probably useless: those who know what to do don't
> need any instruction and those who don't know what to do require fairly
> detailed instruction, instruction they can find either in the manual
> for their own system or in one of the webpages *about* PDF reading on
> the WWW.
I think this reasoning should not stop website makers from the
occasional tactical intervention. Most people are on WinIE, a few
on Mac. It is not difficult to say a few words and if it helps a
whole bunch of people...
--
dorayme
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