Create user manual

You can make a Manual using these Microsoft programs, but in terms of designing and lay- outing of the Manual, there are less features and tools to play with. These applications have functionality and features that would take time to learn and get used to. However, these tools can give added color, texture and richness of design to the Manual which cannot be produced using the default Word programs.

Given these considerations, Adobe programs has the highest degree of freedom in terms of lay-outing and designing the Manual.

It will be more beneficial to have both hard and soft copy of your Manual. In that way, you will have a back- up copy online or in paper.

By using Cloud services, there is an integration of knowledge from you to various users. Use active voice. It is easier to understand than its alternative, passive voice, in which the subject is undefined. Examine these two sentences, the first active and the other passive, for examples of each: You should open the package slowly and carefully. The package should be opened slowly and carefully.

Write numbered instructions. Numerically ordered instructions will help the reader stay more focused on the process of using, connecting, or building the product in question. Instead of writing a long, rambling paragraph, or a series of un-numbered paragraphs, write your user manual with simple, explicit steps, each numbered clearly. Start each step with an imperative. An imperative is an action-oriented verb. By starting each step with a verb, you will clue the reader in to the action required to complete the step.

The screen will blink and turn blue. Use simple words and vocabulary in order to explain how the yo-yo works. In general, try to avoid jargon and technical language. To be effective to the broadest array of users, try to write at a sixth to seventh grade reading level. Ensure your translations are accurate if you are shipping a product overseas.

Hire a translator to translate your user manual into the native language of the country that you are shipping your product to. Alternatively, use an online translating app, but ask a native speaker read over and edit the translation for errors. If there are multiple language groups represented in your audience, include translations of the user manual in each relevant language.

The translator should be familiar with the product, as there may be different words for specific terms in the target language that not are word-for-word translations. Keep your writing brief. Instead of a few long paragraphs, use many short paragraphs.

Look for logical breaks in each section and put useful information into one or two-sentence chunks. The same applies at the sentence level. Keep your sentences short and simple, rather than long and rambling. This won't cause the word-count to go down, but the line breaks will make it easier to read.

Proofread the manual. A manual can lose credibility due to grammar and spelling mistakes. Have a coworker or technical writer edit and proofread the manual as well. In addition to spelling and grammar, a proofreader should look for: [11] X Research source Passive voice Ambiguous or confusing language Complicated sentence structure Overly long paragraphs.

Joe Simmons Corporate Trainer. Joe Simmons. Keep your instructions as focused, simple, and digestible as you can. Also, try to tailor the manual to day-to-day activities, which helps boost your employees' courage, competence, performance, and productivity.

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. People learn in different ways; if possible and appropriate include visual aides or links to online videos in the manual to assist visual learners. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. You Might Also Like How to. How to. Corporate Trainer.

Expert Interview. More References 2. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: Updated: July 9, Categories: Technical Writing. Article Summary X To write user manuals, start by breaking up the bulk of the content into chapters or sections that make sense for the product's use, then kick off the manual with a table of contents and glossary.

Deutsch: Eine Gebrauchsanweisung erstellen. Nederlands: Een gebruikershandleiding schrijven. If so, where will it live? However, unless you have a very good reason, I recommend at least having an electronic version available on your website. A print only version will work for most people, but are you prepared to create a braille version for users who may be blind or visually impaired?

Tools exist to make electronic documentation easier for all to access , but print only versions provide a much more difficult accessibility problem. Instead, make an electronic version available on your website as normal website text. A user guide is only great if it helps your customers use your product to the best of their ability. Before your new creation goes out into the world at large, you want to test it. Here are a few tips!

As noted above, this gives electronic documentation a huge advantage over print. However, even print only docs can be updated and made available for download on your website. Be sure that what you give your customers actually helps them use your product.

If you remember nothing else, keep in mind that great user documentation should be created, designed, and presented in a way that is most helpful to your users. Nowadays, user documentation is almost always offered online, which has helped technical writers be more imaginative in how they assist users. Great user documentation should include: Plain language, simplicity, visuals, a focus on the problem, a logical hierarchy and flow, a table of contents, searchable content, accessible content, good design, feedback from real users, and links to further resources.

Great user documentation can be made in four simple steps: First Know your goals and create a plan to achieve them. Next, create your guide based on your plan. Then test out your guide to make sure it does the job before you set it free. Finally, keep it up to date. When your product changes, update your documentation to reflect the changes. TechSmith Marketing Content Specialist. Science Enthusiast. Retired roller derby coach. On a mission to pet all the dogs.

A few things about me Mildly obsessed with the movie Alien, 2. Two pibbles: Biggie and Reo, 3. Friend of ducks everywhere. Skip to content. My instincts were right. Everybody in the company loves our new user guides, and so do our customers.

Manula is super easy to use. The few times I needed support, I got a fast, accurate reply; and the solution was always very simple. This was such a welcome change from our experience with Doc-to-Help support.

The effort has been well worth it! Our documentation is getting far more views and longer visits than it ever did in the old format. It takes an IT staff member approximately one minute to set up our website for each new Manula help document. Manula seamlessly integrates into our website, using our custom colors and logos to give a consistent user experience. The layout, table of contents, fonts and tables are inviting and easy on the eyes. We can even hide minor topics from the table of contents, thus keeping our extensive help from appearing too intimidating.

I love the ease of updating, the change control system, and ability to support multiple versions. And because the help is online, I can fix a typo or add a new topic any day of the year. This means there is no longer a rush to get the help finished weeks before an upcoming release. The context help is extremely easy to implement on both my end and the developer end. We are super happy Manula customers and would recommend it to anyone!. Manual very powerful AND very easy to use Apr 1, Manula is just such a solution.

The user interface and overall design of the system make it easy for us to create fully-customized and branded user documentation. Embedding different kinds of content text, images, video, URL links, etc.