What Would YOU Like to See on the Help Page?
Helping us... help... you...
Tuesday, January 22, 2008 by Zoomba | Discussion: WinCustomize News
The Help section of WinCustomize is about to undergo some significant changes. Currently, it's just a collection of poorly organized link lists that don't always take you to useful pages, and often contain horribly outdated information (there's a link to the DX 1.0 tutorial on there). So there's little question that it needs some love.
However, we're not just updating the link lists, we're looking at a completely redesigned and restructured page that's easier to use and more friendly to navigate. This also means we have room for new content.
So, if you could have one new section on the help page, what would it be?
ZubaZ
Reply #2 Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:04 PM
Reply #2 Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:04 PM
- Drop the wiki in there you know . . frame like
- Add a connection or form to the forums so questions can be asked and cross-posted to the "regular" forums (int the correct sub-forum) .
- Add links to the documentation available at stardock.com/products/{productname}/documentation
- Add a section about stardock.helpserve.com and a link/form
- Form to email support (parse the form contents, search what's in the available content, provide the best answer, offer to escalate if there is no good fit) [the paren above is all wishful thinking of course]
- Add a section on how to use WC (or link to the the wiki again) (it's a very complex site)
- Tie the search at the top of the page to only the help-type content
- IRC client to irc.stardock.com #Stardock
HG_Eliminator
Reply #3 Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:36 PM
Reply #3 Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:36 PM
Possibly a Link to the support om IRC or,a built in Help chat room. Where folks can come and ask Questions,possibly even some how integrated with IRC so folks on #stardock can help folks using a Browser based help chat window.
More easily navigated/understood help section. Most new comers don't even know we have a wiki. The descriptions in the help section, are sort of vague and not very descriptive of what they do.
Example Help. Aspx. Here the first section is "the software" not very telling whether its for downloading the software or what, it could be like... "The software" A general description of each programs functions. Next would be "Tutorials" The How to section, etc.
The Documentation needs to be organized in one central location and arranged according to level of user. New user tuts and such combined in to one easily navigated section, while the Advanced Developers sections grouped in another section etc..
All of the help section should be key word or phrase search able. Allowing users to find the info they need quickly and with as little searching as possible.
Will post more ideas as I think of them..
More easily navigated/understood help section. Most new comers don't even know we have a wiki. The descriptions in the help section, are sort of vague and not very descriptive of what they do.
Example Help. Aspx. Here the first section is "the software" not very telling whether its for downloading the software or what, it could be like... "The software" A general description of each programs functions. Next would be "Tutorials" The How to section, etc.
The Documentation needs to be organized in one central location and arranged according to level of user. New user tuts and such combined in to one easily navigated section, while the Advanced Developers sections grouped in another section etc..
All of the help section should be key word or phrase search able. Allowing users to find the info they need quickly and with as little searching as possible.
Will post more ideas as I think of them..
Zoomba
Reply #4 Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:55 PM
Reply #4 Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:55 PM
The upgrade to Help is going to be a combination of cosmetic (getting away from link lists) and content (adding good help info ON the page itself). However it's not going to be functional (embedded irc clients, changing how coded parts of the site function, web forms etc.)
The wiki will be more heavily referenced. Content better organized, and a much friendlier navigation scheme.
I like the ideas on sections for site usage specifically, and better display of existing documentation resources.
I'll be adding a section specifically regarding support issues as well.
Keep the ideas coming!
Alternate Setting
Reply #5 Tuesday, January 22, 2008 1:15 PM
Reply #5 Tuesday, January 22, 2008 1:15 PM
A 'Report broken link' kinda link - so that members have an easy avenue to report broken or outdated links and help ensure info remains relevant.
aufisch
Reply #6 Wednesday, January 23, 2008 4:46 AM
Reply #6 Wednesday, January 23, 2008 4:46 AM
1:) I would like to see a clear distinction being made between "Stardock"-support and Peer-support.
As it is now, people click on a link that is called 'Stardock support forums', but which is really only an alternative entry to the WC-support forums. This causes some of the support-seeking persons to become frustrated if they do not get the expected help, or if the only answer they get is "you have to contact Stardock-support", as they believe they just did that.
I would suggest that this link be renamed to something like 'User support forums' and that a second link be made called 'Stardock support' which would transfer to the helpserve site (as already mentioned by Zubaz).
2:) I would also suggest to make some of the more important links either bold or bigger. E.g the "How do I use these skins?"-link and the support-links.
3.) My third suggestion would be that Questions that get asked on the forums a lot (besides the 'how do I use this' question) are getting a direct link on the Page which then answers that Question. Suggested Answers:
1. Answer to "WB doesn't load any skins (Win98)" (a.k.a the crack doesn't work)
2. Answer to "Bootskin doesn't work" "I can't start up my computer anymore"
These Links could be under an Extended FAQ-section which would contain such 'hot'-questions followed by a link to the full FAQ.
As it is now, people click on a link that is called 'Stardock support forums', but which is really only an alternative entry to the WC-support forums. This causes some of the support-seeking persons to become frustrated if they do not get the expected help, or if the only answer they get is "you have to contact Stardock-support", as they believe they just did that.
I would suggest that this link be renamed to something like 'User support forums' and that a second link be made called 'Stardock support' which would transfer to the helpserve site (as already mentioned by Zubaz).
2:) I would also suggest to make some of the more important links either bold or bigger. E.g the "How do I use these skins?"-link and the support-links.
3.) My third suggestion would be that Questions that get asked on the forums a lot (besides the 'how do I use this' question) are getting a direct link on the Page which then answers that Question. Suggested Answers:
1. Answer to "WB doesn't load any skins (Win98)" (a.k.a the crack doesn't work)
2. Answer to "Bootskin doesn't work" "I can't start up my computer anymore"
These Links could be under an Extended FAQ-section which would contain such 'hot'-questions followed by a link to the full FAQ.
Lantec
Reply #7 Wednesday, January 23, 2008 9:04 AM
Reply #7 Wednesday, January 23, 2008 9:04 AM
A "Search the.........."
Wiki
FAQ
Tutorials
Articles
I believe the search engine is the most important part of any help system. No one wants to wade thru pages upon pages to glean the 1 item they believe is important.
Wiki
FAQ
Tutorials
Articles
I believe the search engine is the most important part of any help system. No one wants to wade thru pages upon pages to glean the 1 item they believe is important.
HG_Eliminator
Reply #8 Wednesday, January 23, 2008 3:22 PM
Reply #8 Wednesday, January 23, 2008 3:22 PM
The Help section needs a "Rules of skinning and Copyright's" sub section. Detailing the ins and outs of fair use/Copyright infringment and the Artists rights. With full examples of what is fair use/copyright infringement and what is not.
This would help all skinning communities by offering a comprehensive "Do's and Dont's" rule book of skinning.
This would help all skinning communities by offering a comprehensive "Do's and Dont's" rule book of skinning.
Azamantes 2025
Reply #9 Wednesday, January 23, 2008 3:30 PM
Reply #9 Wednesday, January 23, 2008 3:30 PM
a search button an more tutorials about skinning
Lantec
Reply #10 Wednesday, January 23, 2008 3:33 PM
could make it interesting and slip in a few pics from Guantanamo with captions saying "He forgot to include permission.txt" or "see what happens to rippers"........just a thought...
Reply #10 Wednesday, January 23, 2008 3:33 PM
With full examples of what is fair use/copyright infringement and what is not.
could make it interesting and slip in a few pics from Guantanamo with captions saying "He forgot to include permission.txt" or "see what happens to rippers"........just a thought...
HG_Eliminator
Reply #11 Wednesday, January 23, 2008 3:44 PM
Reply #11 Wednesday, January 23, 2008 3:44 PM
SD could use their own images and make "mock up" rips to illustrate what would and wouldn't be allowed, thus offering a visual representation...
Alternate Setting
Reply #12 Friday, January 25, 2008 11:41 AM
Reply #12 Friday, January 25, 2008 11:41 AM
Maybe a compilation of scripts for DesktopX, that are clearly public domain and can be used by anyone wanting to use them in their own work.
Philly0381
Reply #13 Friday, January 25, 2008 11:47 AM
Reply #13 Friday, January 25, 2008 11:47 AM
Ah, lets not loose sight of the title of the page "HELP", it should have lots of it.
ZubaZ
Reply #14 Friday, January 25, 2008 12:13 PM
Reply #14 Friday, January 25, 2008 12:13 PM
Maybe a compilation of scripts for DesktopX, that are clearly public domain and can be used by anyone wanting to use them in their own work.
Ah, lets not loose sight of the title of the page "HELP", it should have lots of it.
Agreed . . "How DX uses script" is a good addition, sripts themselves . . drop them in the wiki somewhere.
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Reply #1 Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:00 PM
Would a link to some sort of message system to Stardock Support be appropriate. All of the other links really are self help. What is a person to do when they use those but just can't figure it out, or need to identifly something that support may not be aware of.
This may not be where you want folks to enter that sort of a help link, just a thought. Updating the other links will be a good improvement.