A user manual, which is also known as user guide, is a technical communication document designed to provide assistance to people using a specific device. It is generally written by a technical writer, even though user manuals are created by programmers, or product managers, or any other technical staff, mostly in smaller companies.
User manuals are most importantly connected with electronic equipments, such as, computer hardware and software.
Some user manuals consist of both the written manual and the related graphics. In case of computer applications, it is important to include ’screenshots’ of how the application should appear, and the hardware manuals often comprise of clear, basic images. The language used in the user manual is in accordance with the projected audience, with slogans put in to a maximum or explained methodically.
Content of a user manual:
The segments of user manual usually contain:
- A cover page of the manual.
- A heading page and copyright page.
- A foreword, including details of correlated documents and information on how to steer the user manual.
- A contents page of the manual
- A manual on how to apply at least the main purposes of the machine.
- A troubleshooting part explaining possible mistakes or difficulties that can arise, along with how to repair them
- A FAQ section (Frequently Asked Questions)
- Where to look for additional help, and contact information.
- A dictionary and, for larger documents, an index
Creating a user manual is usually an unnoticed phase in product development. Technical communicators and writers are appointed to write user manuals. Though, many companies give up appointing such writers and force product engineers to create manuals. Although it is hard to create an effective user manual, this article will provide you some simple steps on how to create a user manual.
Instructions
- Identify with the product you are creating the manual for. It is essential to employ the product as much as you can, and write down your experience with the product as you are using it. It is especially essential to write down things that are complicated to do with the product.
- Investigate your audience. This is the most important step in making a user manual. You have to know who is going to read and use your document. Study traits such as preceding knowledge, age and knowledge of the product.
- Make an outline of the most critical processes which are involved in employing the product. These processes can be the ones which you will have to document. It is not possible to document each situation, so select the ones that are most significant to the end-user.
- Write the directions by keeping the product in front of you. Examine your directions to ensure that they work and make sense.
- Examine the manual for its usability. Try to find as many product users as you can and request them to go through different processes that you have written in your user manual.
- You can also make any important changes based on your usability examination. The user is “sovereign” in the manual-making process. If the user of your product is asking to change the wording, change it.
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