Do you read the help file?

[dennisV]

How important is the help file to you?

What would you like to see more of in the help file?

[Nightwind]

Hi Dennis,
I'd like to see detailed instructions on making custom Life Factors, perhaps step by step videos on all of the great features.

[dennisV]

Hi Dennis,
I'd like to see detailed instructions on making custom Life Factors, perhaps step by step videos on all of the great features.

Ok, I'll add a section on how to create Life Factors. I was thinking about creating videos as well, but when I do, they'll be hosted on the site, because if I include them with the program it would just bloat the size too much. Making a good, step-by-step video is actually a very tedious process, that's why I've been postponing doing that for a while.

[Sarai]

As with everything else, I start off on my own and go to the help only when I have a difficulty and can't figure it out. If I can't start off on my own, I probably won't spend much time with that particular software.

Although I believe in the existence of a detailed help section, I'll always prefer for the software to be intuitive enough that you don't need it (except for more complex 'tasks').

So far, Smart Diary Suit hasn't led me to a dead-end that would make me search for the help button. ; )

Sarai

[dennisV]

As with everything else, I start off on my own and go to the help only when I have a difficulty and can't figure it out. If I can't start off on my own, I probably won't spend much time with that particular software.

Although I believe in the existence of a detailed help section, I'll always prefer for the software to be intuitive enough that you don't need it (except for more complex 'tasks').

So far, Smart Diary Suit hasn't led me to a dead-end that would make me search for the help button. ; )

That's the same approach I usually take myself with other software. I'd like SDS to be easy enough to use (yes, there are more complex tasks, but out-of-the-box it should just work and be intuitive). If you find any task or feature that are not, please let me know, so I can revise them.

[nick7]

I think I'd have to go with this as well Dennis. If I like the software enough to keep it and I'm having a problem with something, then I'll hit the help button but I'd prefer the program to be intuitive enough that I can use it straight out the box. SDS does this perfectly. I wouldn't want to be without a comprehensive but easy to follow help file, just in case I couldn't work something out. Normally, if a program seems to be too complex to begin with, I'll lose interest in it fairly quickly. Fortunately SDS is not guilty of either offence.

[J-Mac]

Hi Dennis.

Yes, I read the Help file when I purchased SDS-Medical. And I just read through it again tonight to see if it had anything of substance added to it since last time. Unfortunately, no; same old Help file. I posted in the Suggestions forum back around Thanksgiving about your documentation and made several suggestions, to which you seemed receptive at the time. But the docs for SDS are still lacking in any kind of instructions, tutorials (though you do mention them, they aren't anywhere to be found!) Also some pictorial Help would be very helpful. SDS-Medical isn't a simple, self-explanatory program! People wanting some help in monitoring their health, fitness - and lack thereof - usually don’t want to have to figure out how the program is supposed to work; I'll bet that they would like to just get right into entering data and tracking.

Sorry to be so whiny about this but SDS-Medical is in sore need of some documentation! I hope this is taken as constructive criticism, as it is meant to be.

Thank you.

Jim

[dennisV]

Hi Jim,

Yes, I know - help file is really in need of some work, but with each new update things are added to the program and there is never enough time to actually work on the help file. Screenshots are also hard to maintain with so many changes, as they'd need to be changed for practically each release, which in itself is a huge task. Of course this all cannot be an excuse and hopefully in a couple of updates I will actually be able to set aside a week and work on the help file during that time.

In the mean time, please feel free to ask me anything

Thanks!

Dennis

[J-Mac]

Hi Jim,

Yes, I know - help file is really in need of some work, but with each new update things are added to the program and there is never enough time to actually work on the help file. Screenshots are also hard to maintain with so many changes, as they'd need to be changed for practically each release, which in itself is a huge task. Of course this all cannot be an excuse and hopefully in a couple of updates I will actually be able to set aside a week and work on the help file during that time.

In the mean time, please feel free to ask me anything

Thanks!

Dennis

Thank you Dennis. Although this is pretty close to what you said back in November....

I think that what is there might be about as good as it will get, though I hope I am wrong. In the meantime I'll stop back again in another few months and see if it is ready so I can give my SDS-Medical another go.



Thank you.

Jim