nEncouraging users to explore information.Windows Help is a hypertext system in which users navigate through two-dimensional space on the computer screen. Hypertext simply means that information (the electronic pages) is linked in such a way that users can read the material nonsequentially. Because hypertext is possible only in the electronic medium, it has no corresponding equivalent in our familiar world of books and magazines. That makes it more difficult for people to catch on to, but more flexible once people do understand how to use it. Its primary advantage over printed materials is that it provides better ways to access information. But access alone is not communication; it isn’t even information.
For hypertext to be successful, it must support a well-organized information structure. If the hypertext is well made, users should be able to choose links according to the associations they form when they read the information. Merely adding links willy-nilly to topics does not make a Help file usable. If you get carried away with the idea of hypertext, you will likely make a mess of things. On the other hand, if hypertext links are used skillfully, they can improve the information’s organization and make it more accessible to users. They can provide new pathways through information without destroying familiar paths.
Hypertext is good for:
nEncouraging users to explore information.
Because users are not forced to read the information in any particular order, hypertext allows much more freedom than printed documents. With hypertext, you can create the Help file to fit the information instead of forcing the information into conventional formats.
nProviding different ways to access information.
In hypertext, users can choose different paths through the information. They can look at examples, read overviews, find keyboard shortcuts, or view related topics. They can also skip any information they aren’t interested in reading.
nSupporting associative thinking.
Hypertext presents a model that is much closer to our natural way of thinking; it incorporates a three-dimensional network of topics and links that we can access by association. So, if designed properly, these networks should be superior to books for storing and accessing information.
nPresenting information in different forms.
Because information exists electronically, it can be used and reused with ease and at virtually no cost. This makes hypertext ideal for accommodating different users and different learning styles. For example, you can organize some topics as a reference manual and another group of topics as step-by-step procedures.
Hypertext also has some well-known problems:
nHypertext is disorienting.
The most common problem that users have in hypertext systems is getting lost. This is especially true for first-time users who have trouble creating mental models of the information space.
nHypertext lacks structure.
Because users can choose their own order, writers must provide a structure and organization that makes exploration possible and yet does not become too disorienting or too limiting for the user.
nHypertext hides information.
Many hypertexts contain volumes of information, but almost all of it is hidden from view because it is displayed one screenful at a time. Getting users to the information they want quickly and directly is often difficult.
nHypertext authors lack experience.
People have been producing printed documents for centuries, but we have little experience with electronic documents and hypertext. And yet, creating a successful hypertext requires skill and experience—if you create meaningless links, you may well end up with an ineffective Help file.
When designing the hypertext structure of your Help file:
nProvide a home for your users.
Because users get lost so easily, they need a place where they can return to recover their bearings. Windows Help provides a Contents button as a standard feature, which you can use as the home topic. Design this topic to introduce the document, show how it is organized, and provide convenient access to the rest of the information.
nCreate the illusion of simplicity.
If you create a simple interface and organization for your hypertext, you can provide large amounts of information without burdening the user. However, if your organization is complex and confusing, just a few topics may prove overwhelming.
nFollow the golden mean.
Hypertext encourages excess. Once you get the hang of it, you are tempted to overuse it. But hypertext is only a way to organize information. If you provide too many links in your topics, users may think that the point of the information is not to read it or understand it, but to see where the next link takes them.
nPlan for the future.
Hypertext takes shape as you create it. If it is very large, it may not be long before you have trouble comprehending all the details. Planning can help. Decide how you want to structure the Help file before you begin. Then create templates and placeholder topics to hold the information. As you proceed, create links and structure, even though they may lead to dead ends. By the time you finish the writing, you should have most of your structure in place.
nPractice makes expert.
Hypertext is difficult to create, so it requires practice to become skilled. The best way to learn how to use hypertext is to create a few simple projects and keep trying new ideas until you understand the concepts. Then try creating something more difficult.