Job Aides

1
Job Aides Quick Reference

• ITSW 1410, Presentation Media Software
• Instructor Glenda H. Easter

2
Purpose of Job Aides

• To jog memory
• Used as Crib Sheets if short

3
What to Include in the Job Aide orQuick Reference

• Commands with a short definition
• Major menus

• Annotated tour of all the major interfaces
• A condensation of the procedures in the manual.

4
Listing the CommandsYou Must Choose

• List all commands A - Z in one giant list?

• Group commands the way they appear on the menus?

5
What to Include with Job Aids

• Include keyboard shortcuts
• Include special macro commands
• You may want to include neat tricks on a separate
  panel.

6
Mapping the Menus

• Dont make your user have to send up a white
  flag--?You may want to provide a map to
  the commands showing all the menus and
  submenus

7
Who Uses Menu Maps?

• Menu maps are aimed at fairly experienced users
  who face as many as a thousand commands and may
  only want the one used three months previously.

8
Showing the Interface

• Dont make your user juggle a dozen hats. --If
  he or she is a new or inexperienced user, you may
  want to focus on any complex or problematic
  elements in the interface.

9
Summarize the Procedures

• Group the tasks as much as possible, in the same
  way you have in the manual or the online help.
• Use meaningful headings so people can find what
  they need by skimming.

10
Summarize the Procedures (Continued)

• Carve your page up into columns.? Put the name
  of the small scale task on the left and put
  the steps drastically condensed on the
  right. ? Omit all but the essentials.
• Put the commands in a distinct font or style.

11
Summarize the Procedures (Continued)

• Omit all explanations of what happens.
• Do not number the steps or put white space
  between them.
• Reduce the amount of supporting detail.
• Dont leave out a key detail however, if people
  need extra facts, they will open the manual.