THIS IS A MAIN HEAD

Developing Online Help in Lotus Notes
Jacqui Gross, Faye Smith, and Steve Charles

If you are a technical writer or manage technical writers and have been asked to document Lotus Notes applications, this workshop will give you a jump start. You can use the features available in Notes to create an effective help system as a Notes database. This help database can either be a view in an existing Notes application or a stand-alone database linked to the application. In this workshop, you will learn the basics of creating help systems in Lotus Notes.

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

Lotus Notes is a leading development tool for groupware applications. It is used by both small and large companies interested in true client/server technologies. Notes applications can be used by clients across the country or across the globe. With the Notes replication process, users can update their information on a daily basis, and that information is distributed overnight to servers throughout an organization.

The help databases used in this workshop were developed using Notes 4.x. Upon completion of this workshop, participants will know how to:

Create effective Lotus Notes help systems
Design a help form
Prepare the numbering system for topic levels
Use links, hotspots, and collapsible sections in a Lotus Notes help system
Attach supporting documents from various applications (word processing documents, spreadsheets, project plans, etc.)
Create effective navigation (graphical vs. text)
Open the help system to individual help views (pros & cons)
Effectively create or capture graphics for use in a Lotus Notes help system

This workshop will also demonstrate the use of Domino to view your Help database on the Internet, and alternative help system solutions (e.g., linking a WinHelp file to your Notes database).

ReferEnces

(1) Horton, William. Designing and Writing Online Documentation, 2nd Edition, Wiley & Sons, 1995.

(2) Richards, Cate. Special Edition: Using Lotus Notes and Domino 4.5, Macmillan Computer Publishing, USA, 1997.

Jacqui Gross (jgross@dttus.com)

Faye Smith (fsmith@dttus.com)

Steve Charles (scharles@dttus.com)

Deloitte & Touche LLP

PracticeServiceCenter

4022 Sells Drive

Hermitage, TN 37076

www.dttus.com

(615) 882-7600

The PracticeServiceCenter is the research and development center for Deloitte & Touche LLP. Deloitte & Touche is one of the nation’s leading professional services firms. We provide accounting and auditing, tax, and management consulting services through 23,000 people in more than 120 offices in over 100 U.S. cities. Deloitte & Touche is part of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a global leader in professional services with 72,000 people in offices in 129 countries.

Jacqui Gross is the Team Leader for the Technical Writing & Editing group for Client Service Technology. She has been developing end-user documentation for 15 years (9 of these years have been with Deloitte & Touche).

Faye Smith is a Project Leader for Client Service Technology. She has 10 years of experience developing end-user documentation, and in her 9 years with Deloitte & Touche, she has held various positions, including systems analyst and programmer.

Steve Charles is a Developer for Client Service Technology. Currently, he specializes in Lotus Notes development. Steve has been with Deloitte & Touche for 2 years.