[Libreoffice-qa] The term "Online Help" (was: Use of abbreviations in this ML)

[Jean Weber]

On Mon, Jan 13, 2014 at 6:54 AM, Jean Weber <jeanweber at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sun, Jan 12, 2014 at 10:31 PM, Marc Paré <marc at marcpare.com> wrote:
>> Le 2014-01-11 08:05, Christian Lohmaier a écrit :
>>>
>>> Hi Pedro, *,
>>>
>>> Am 11.01.2014 12:50 schrieb "Pedro" <pedlino at gmail.com
>>> <mailto:pedlino at gmail.com>>:
>>>  >
>>>  > [abbreviations or the term Online Help] ...
>>> So let's hear some suggestions. I assume everyone will understand which
>>> one is meant when they read the term "Offline Help" in isolation. If you
>>> disagree, please also suggest a different term for that.
>>>
>>> Ciao
>>> Christian
>>>
>>
>> I have been following this discussion and the only worry I have is that the
>> doc team is not included on it. IMO, Jean should be aware of this discussion
>> as the acronyms and any potential changes may have an effect on the various
>> documentation terminology that is being used in our docs.
>>
>> It would be nice if any changes were coordinated with all affected groups.
>>
>> From my point of view OLH (Online Help), and, from a vernacular point of
>> view for most users, would mean that once you choose that particular
>> link/menu item, that you would be sent "online" on the internet for the help
>> files. The OLH menu link, when viewed in context in any particular software
>> package, usually means to a user that she/he will be taken to help files for
>> that particular software available on the internet.
>>
>> IMO, if we would want to make it clearer that the help files are NOT online,
>> then another name/acronym should be created to properly describe the menu
>> choice. Making as short, descriptive, obvious and as literal as possible,
>> IMO, should be our primary goal; this will ensure that all competency levels
>> of users (whether newbies or knowledgeable users) are clear as to the menu
>> choice they are making. Perhaps just labelling "Help Documents" would be
>> sufficient enough. The fact that there is no "online" will be obvious enough
>> that the user is not being sent online for help docs and that the local
>> files are always accessible to the user.
>
>
> I've been following this thread, as it relates to a (minor) concern
> that I've had for some time. (My computer use goes back far enough
> that to me, "online" means "on the computer" (not "on the Internet)
> versus in a book; but I'm well aware that the term means something
> different these days, especially to younger users. So, yes, we need a
> better one; and yes, the term needs to be the same in the user guides
> as it is in the program and elsewhere.
>
> I haven't done any research to see what might be a common term these
> days, so I don't immediately have a suggestion. I'll get back to you
> later today when I've had a chance to consider this a bit more.
>
> --Jean


The user guides refer to "the built-in Help system" which is reached
by pressing F1 or choosing Help > LibreOffice Help on the menu bar.
"Built-in" may not be the best term but it is short, descriptive, and
literal. Is it obvious? Your call.

(I still haven't done any research to see what might be a common term
these days.)

--Jean