How to Create Zero-Search-Time Computer Documentat

By Peter Schorer

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1573980110
• ISBN13: 9781573980111
• Release Date: June 2000
• Publisher: Peer to Peer Communications
• Length: 166 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.5" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

A"Must Have" for all Managers (and Software Engineers)

This book is about far more than creating documentation. It is about the creation and use of software and about setting expectations that are measurable and reasonable. Schorer makes statements about how easy it should be to use software. At first the statements seem wild and "off the wall." A close examination of good software, shows that these are reasonable and measurable expectations. We would have much higher productivity if his recommendations were followed. We would have a lot higher ROI and a lot less frustration. The book is very readable by both engineers and managers. If you deal with software in any manner, this really is a "must read."

Zero Search Time makes a great point

..... I found straightforward, good advice in the book. It is true that Schorer is blunt and I disagree with a couple of Schorer's subjective comments. I am not sure that Schorer has revolutionized technical writing as much as he has applied excellent fundamentals, and fluidly presented easily applied advice on how to improve typical technical documentation. There is a central point to the book, which "reader from Canada" apparently missed, and which IS pretty revolutionary: the industry lacks an objective criterion for measuring quality; Schorer suggests that we use lookup time. With a way to measure quality that directly benefits clients, all of the sudden the technical writers who write high-quality documentation would demand higher salaries and respect. If just a few writers adopted Schorer's method, I could start to look more kindly to the stack of user's manuals that sit unused, gathering dust in my bookcase. I read the book online, on Schorer's Web site, and then wanted a hard copy to write notes in. Take a look and judge for yourself.

A must-read for anyone serious about writing documentation.

At last a short book that cuts through the BS and delivers what is really needed - a concise methodology for developing software documentation that makes it possible for users to be productive quickly and with a minimum of time invested in reading. Destined to become a classic in the industry (at least amongst those not wedded to the old approach of writing books about how to learn the software - as opposed to how to use the software). Highly recommended (and I don't say that often).