To all User Assistance developers,

WinWriters is excited to be producing a new survey. We would like to find out what user assistance skills you possess and what technologies and tools you work with. The importance of those elements in your day-to-day work is also of interest to us. We will post the results of this survey on our Web site for free public consumption. (The 2000 edition is still available.) If you specialize in developing documentation for Help for software applications, please dive in and help us get a good sampling of our industry.

Joe Welinske
President, WinWriters

The survey has closed!

Technologies play a large role in User Assistance. They provide us with ways of presenting our content and, to a certain extent, contribute to our unique identity among technical communication professionals.

For each of the following technologies, rank its importance to your current development efforts.

Technology	Importance to Your Current Development Efforts
Click the key to display the answer legend in a separate window.	5—Invaluable 4—Very valuable 3—Moderate value 2—Minimal value 1—No Value NA—No answer
WinHelp (Microsoft)	5    4    3    2    1    NA
HTML Help (Microsoft)	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Acrobat (Adobe)	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Embedded user assistance (Help information coded directly into the application user interface)	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Readme files (text)	5    4    3    2    1    NA
World Wide Web or intranet	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Interactive helpers (wizards, troubleshooters, cue cards, etc.)	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Browser-based Help (WebHelp, InterHelp, or any HTML content displayed in a standard browser)	5    4    3    2    1    NA
HyperHelp (UNIX)	5    4    3    2    1    NA
QuickHelp (Macintosh)	5    4    3    2    1    NA
JavaHelp (Sun)	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Oracle Help for Java (Oracle)	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Apple Help or Apple Guide	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Computer-based training	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Web-based training	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Product demonstration (CD-ROM, kiosk demos, or web-based demos)	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Printed manuals (user, installation, or reference guides)	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Quick reference or getting started materials (quick reference cards, quick start guides, job aids, etc.)	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Other technology (specify one)	5    4    3    2    1    NA

If you are supporting Windows applications, please fill out this section.

What versions of Windows are you actively supporting? (You may select more than one.)

What versions of Help are you working with? (You may select more than one.)

For each of the following Windows Help features, rank its importance to your current development efforts.

Windows Help Feature	Importance to Your Current Development Efforts
Click the key to display the answer legend in a separate window.	5—Invaluable 4—Very valuable 3—Moderate value 2—Minimal value 1—No Value NA—No answer
Table of Contents	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Index	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Full-text search	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Context-sensitive API	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Customization of viewer window	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Linking to the Web	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Modular Help, Alinks	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Shortcuts	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Compressed .CHM/.HLP	5    4    3    2    1    NA
A standard user interface for Help	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Secondary windows	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Popup windows	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Related Topics menu	5    4    3    2    1    NA
"What's This?" context popup	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Other feature (specify one)	5    4    3    2    1    NA

Help authors employ a variety of skills to create and deliver effective content to our users.

For each of the following authoring skills, rank its importance in your daily work.

Skills	Importance in Your Daily Work
Click the key to display the answer legend in a separate window.	5—Invaluable 4—Very valuable 3—Moderate value 2—Minimal value 1—No Value NA—No answer
Writing procedures	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Writing reference information	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Copy editing	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Developmental editing	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Management and supervision	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Project planning (without management or supervisory responsibilities)	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Indexing	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Quality assurance and testing	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Graphics development	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Instructional design	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Web design	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Usability testing	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Task analysis	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Localization	5    4    3    2    1    NA
CBT/WBT authoring	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Coding Windows Help manually or with tools (HLPs, CHMs, CNTs, .HTMs, etc.)	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Coding Web content manually or with tools (select among the choices below)
HTML	5    4    3    2    1    NA
XML	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Cascading Style Sheets	5    4    3    2    1    NA
JavaScript	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Programming (C++, VB, Perl, ASP, PHP, etc.)	5    4    3    2    1    NA
Other skill (specify one)	5    4    3    2    1    NA

On which operating systems and platforms do your products run? (You may select more than one.)

For each of the following authoring tools and utilities that you currently use, rank your satisfaction with the product.

Authoring Tools and Utilities	Satisfaction with the Product
Click the key to display the answer legend in a separate window.	5—Extremely high 4—High 3—Satisfactory 2—Disappointed 1—Extremely disappointed NU—Not used
AnswerWorks (WexTech)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
AuthorIT	5    4    3    2    1    NU
Corel Draw (Corel)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
Director (Macromedia)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
Doc-To-Help (WexTech)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
Dreamweaver (Macromedia)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
ForeHelp (ForeFront)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
FrameMaker (Adobe)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
FrontPage (Microsoft)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
HDK (Virtual Media)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
Help & Manual (EC Software)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
HomeSite (Macromedia)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
HTML Help Workshop (Microsoft)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
HyperHelp (Bristol)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
Notepad (Microsoft)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
Paint Shop Pro (JASC Software)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
PhotoShop (Adobe)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
QuickHelp (Altura)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
RoboHELP Office (eHelp)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
RoboHELP for Microsoft HTML Help (eHelp)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
True Help (Concept One)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
WebHelp (eHelp)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
WebWorks Publisher (Quadralay)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
Windows Help Workshop (Microsoft)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
Word (Microsoft)	5    4    3    2    1    NU
Other tool/utility (specify one)	5    4    3    2    1    NU

We appreciate receiving any comments that you have about this survey—please use the text box below.