Hesperus Arts -- Writing & Editing

Technical writing is discussed below. For my resumé and a list of published non-fiction, please click here.

Retriever Manual
The Retiever Manual described all the functions of, and tutored users in the operation of, Retriever, a students records system by Silvertip Software.

The manual ran to twenty-two chapters, six appendixes and a 1200 entry index. Explanations of program features were interspersed with "cookbook" instructions for doing common tasks.

I created the Retriever Manual in Microsoft Word using twenty-eight sub-documents.

Retriever Help Files
Retriever also had a complete Windows-style help. The help files covered the same topics as the manual, but took advantage of hot links between topics, and pop-up windows to illustrate the text.

RoomTime Manual
The manual for Silvertip's RoomTime application is in a different style. This booklet assumes that the user is in the midst of using the program, and has a question about how to manipulate something displyed on the screen, or wants to access a certain feature. Explanations accompany each button or data item, while heavy arrows reveal the flow of the program from screen to screen.

Additional pages explained basic program concepts, and an index helped users find feature explanations quickly. I composed the RoomTime manual in Microsoft Publisher.

RoomTime Help Files
As with Retriever, RoomTime came with Windows Help.

For technical writing services, please contact Morgan at mjh[at]hesperus-wild.org.