User Manuals

Description of User Manuals
Experienced users or engineers of a product create user manuals, or handbooks, to help less experienced users set up, operate, and troubleshoot a product. A user manual provides concise and easy to follow instructions for the safe and effective operation of a software or hardware package and tips to help troubleshoot errors.

Relevance
• Help designers organize and simplify operation of their product
• Gives users an easy to use resource to help them setup, operate, and troubleshoot the product in a safe and effective manner

Attributes of a High Quality User Manual

• Contains:
  • Short summary of the product and its capabilities
  • Step by step instructions for setup or first time use
  • Step by step instructions for continued operation
  • Step by step instructions for maintenance
  • Instructions for shut down and storage
  • Instructions for troubleshooting problems
  • References for further information on the product
• Organized into clearly marked sections
• Author and date of creation is clearly displayed
• Instructions ordered and numbered appropriately
• Content is clear enough for intended user to understand without any additional explanation
• Draws attention to safety hazards and actions that result in the destruction and degradation of the product
• Condenses all the information first time users needs to know about the safe operation of the product
• Does not include all of the technical details about the design or detailed information about the designers