Re: Trends in documentation delivery?

["Roger Pence" <rp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>IBM will drop Infoseeker in the next release of OS/400.  They plan to go
>ahead with the Internet in both HTML and PDF formats, and then plan to work
>on the Information Center CD.
>
>They don't like books, because they don't program on AS/400's.


I like IBM's move to PDF. I have paid for an HP printer with the money I
saved printing high-quality PDF downloadable files. Unfortunately, PDF isn't
intended for online use, it is _very poor_ navigational/search tools.

To further add to the frustration of PDF being unusable as an interactive
aid, IBM has zapped the print button from the redbooks on the Web (the
feature that used to collect user-selected sections or chapters is gone!)
Thus, with redbooks your options are either download and print the entire
redbook or use your browser's HTLP print page at a time (which generally
features about 12 lines per page!). There is _no good way_ to print selected
portions from redbooks on the Web.

The answer is simple and IBM needs to get the message (give it to 'em Al,
please!):
    * Kill the current, nearly worthless softcopy library.
    * HTML and PDF are fine formats--stick with them. I don't mind printing
entire books with the PDF format. With a good laser printer's two-up
feature, PDF provides great hard copy.
    * Distibute manuals in both PDF and HTML on a CD and on the web--make
either easily downloadable.
    * Put the print by section/chapter feature back on the Web for _all_
books.
    * Include a Windows desktop HTML print-by-chapter component with the new
HTML/PDF only softcopy library.
    * And, fer cryin out loud, include a good x-ref index and search
facility.

It seems so easy to me!

rp

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