When writing computer user documentation, focusing on the needs of your audience is critical. This book provides you with a surefire approach to generating clear, effective documentation that's tailored to the information requirements of the end-user. Written for technical writers and their managers, quality assurance experts, and software engineers, the book describes a user centered information design method (UCID) that helps you ensure your computer documentation conveys significant, meaningful information for the user — and avoids unnecessary repetition or inconsistencies. Specifically, the UCID approach shows you how to... • Integrate the four major information components of a software system from the user's viewpoint: user interface labels, system messages, online documentation, and printed documentation • Make sure these individual elements are working together to improve software usability • Make better decisions on which information to provide and in which media, based on user needs and project-specific requirements • Deploy iterative design and prototyping procedures that minimize design flaws and save you valuable time and money • Get more out of each of your technical writer's individual skills, and guide them in effectively designing interface labels and system messages