The new release no longer works with the operating system that most of your users have on their desktops. The new release no longer works with the database system or version of it that you’re using. In this section, you will learn how to install version 3.x of the Python programming language onto your computer. As you can easily tell, some of the above information can be included in a User or System Administration Guide as well. The decision of what information should go where is a management (or client) decision although, if you are the writer, you can argue your case as well. However, it is much better to repeat crucial information in more places than one since you usually have no control over the way technical manuals are used.
Windows XP and most Linux distributions are examples of operating systems that can be installed with an answer file. In unattended installation, it is assumed that there is no user to help mitigate errors. For instance, if the installation medium was faulty, the installer should fail the installation, as there is no user to fix the fault or replace the medium. Unattended installers may record errors in a computer log for later review. Avoid using jargon, acronyms, or technical terms that might confuse the users or make them feel intimidated.
Users will appreciate the level of professionalism that technical writers bring to the development of this important document. If you are not running in an Xwindows-capable environment, follow these steps. Yonyx helps automate call center tasks by streamlining business processes through interactive decision tree solutions.
How can I conserve network bandwidth while installing software?
A software installation guide is a document aimed at users of your software which helps them install, uninstall, and upgrade your software. It informs them of the prerequisites needed to use your software and helps them troubleshoot common errors during setup. Your software installation guide may be aimed at an IT or operations department, or potentially the end users of your product. A software installation guide is a complete guide that users follow when installing mechanical or electronic system (like software i this case). They tend not to be similar since companies produce different software, which work differently.
This was once usual for many programs which run on DOS, the classic Mac OS, Atari TOS and AmigaOS. As computing environments grew more complex and fixed hard drives replaced floppy disks, the need for tangible installation presented itself. It is highly recommended before installing software that administrators run an inventory scan so as to check all the installed software are license compliant.
Examples are AmigaOS 4.0, various Linux distributions, MorphOS or Mac OS versions 1.0 through 9.0. (See live CD and live USB.) Finally, web applications, which run inside a web browser, do not need installation. Typically, they will work with system administrators and others involved in the installation process for technical information. Pronounced dot e-x-e, this is the standard extension for installation files on Windows computers.
How can you ensure software installation instructions are easy to understand?
The older version of the software will be uninstalled before installing the new one. This document explains how to download OCLC software and how to install it on workstations in your library. Use the following validation checklist, or portions of it, to validate a successful installation of the components. We look at the main sections in an Installation Guide, how to write each section, and provide sample text to help you get started with your technical documents. Server Administrators—If your organization has a team that handles server administration, i.e., building and maintaining servers, then this group will need to be able to access your application server.
You use the Console to set up and maintain the various synchronization instances. This is shown graphically in Figure 9-13, although do note that it is possible to have multiple source and target systems, even in different Exchange organizations. Sometimes, it is the case that members of the development team may write the software installation guide. This is generally a mistake, as developers are too close to the product and struggle to see the software from a user’s point of view. A technical writer has the skills to write an effective and engaging software installation guide while at the same time championing the experience of the user.
If you’re not exactly sure what kind of software you’re looking for, try describing the tasks you want to complete. For example, if you wanted a way to create to-do lists and organize your appointments, you might search for something like https://www.globalcloudteam.com/ free calendar organizer software. Today, the most common way to get new software is to download it from the Internet. Applications like Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop can now be purchased and downloaded right to your computer.
Most pieces of software you install will walk you through the installation steps, but not all programs will follow the same steps, so be careful to read each prompt. Now, follow the set-up instructions and answer the questions in the prompts regarding your desired installation features. These spell out a number of very important policies which will tell you what you can expect in aspects such as data privacy. The terms and conditions may be lengthy, but they provide critical information. As a professional in information technology (IT), it’s important to understand the terms of use of a piece of software.
An installation guide is an owner’s manual written to describe the installation of either a mechanical/electronics system (like a child’s swing or a hi-fi set) or a software product. If you do not want to install the applications through the installation interface, use these alternate, manual installation procedures. Every Yonyx interactive decision tree (also known as a Dynamic Call Script or a Yonyx Guide) consists of a network of guidance steps (referred to as “steps”) and user responses (referred to as “responses”). Employ an automated software installation tool on premise and on cloud with a free 30-day trial.
- For example, let’s say you have four LED lights in the front of your product or four circles displayed on the status bar of your software.
- An unattended installation either does not require the user to supply anything or has received all necessary input prior to the start of installation.
- No matter who your users are, the guide will take them through the step-by-step process of installing your software and help them navigate through any errors.
- Administrators are bombarded with open-source software installation requests.
- Testing your instructions can help you to ensure that they work as intended and that they are easy to understand.
- Without your software installation guide for both beginners, intermediate and advanced users, your customers may struggle to make the most of your software.
Anticipating errors or issues can help to reduce frustration and increase user satisfaction. At this point, the remainder of the software installation process is highly dependent on the operating system. Broadly speaking, you will use the installation file you downloaded to install the software; however, the form that file takes will depend on your operating system.
This is extremely advantageous considering the amount of time and energy saved on large-scale deployments of numerous software. A headless software installation is a software installation process where no graphical user interface is displayed. Automated software installation, also known as software deployment, is the process of installing software on multiple computers using a software installation script. The software prerequisites section should list all the software you will be requiring software users to install in order for software installation to take place.
Once that confidence is established they can proceed to fine-tune the settings and adapt it for more refined and complicated tasks. But the research has shown that if the customers cannot quickly start to set up and operate a system their level of frustration builds up quickly, leading to a poor user experience. That’s why this section is important to encourage customer loyalty, build high satisfaction levels, and generate as few calls to the customer service department as possible. The mark of good documentation is when it actually helps the user to accomplish their goals. Ensure that some of your reviewers know nothing about using your product to understand what your guide will be like for complete beginners. Make it easy for users to jump back and forth between sections of your guide, in case they must return to an earlier step.
Poorly written software installation guides can lead to software not being installed, software not working properly or software installation errors. A good software installation guide can help reduce user frustration and increase the chances that software will be installed correctly the first time. There might be some common errors and issues that arise during the installation process, in which case you should list them and include how to solve them.