Conference vaxuum::online_bookbuilding

Maybe a better place to ask this question would be in the BOOKREADER notes 
conference.  Product Management may be able to answer the question.  I guess 
it's not too easy to tear out the last page and send it in. ;^)

If you don't already have that conference in your notebook, you add it by 
typing:
	ADD ENTRY BULOVA::BOOKREADER
or press SELECT (KP7).

Wayne

    This is a good question, and one that we have no solution to at the
    moment.  Before we released the first edition of the VMS Online Doc.
    Library CD, we thought of two alternatives, but rejected both.
    
    First, we thought of providing a set of reader comment cards in the
    CD packaging itself --- these would have looked like postcards with
    the standard format used in the hardcopy documentation for readers
    comments.  The reason we chose not to do this was that the Bookreader
    and online documentation are designed to work in a clustered enironment
    where the system manager would handle mounting the compact disc, and
    the remote VAXstation users begin served by that disc would read the
    manuals on line.  This means that only the system manager would have
    access to anything shipped in the CD packaging.
    
    Second, we thought of offering an online readers comments capability
    to service customers only byt going through the Colorado Support Center
    as is done today for software problem reports (SPR's).  Basically, the
    service organization charges no overhead for the documentation update
    service, so with today's pricing scheme, they would have no way to 
    recoup the amount of expense they would incur by taking "readers
    comments" calls.
    
    One other alternative I thought about recently was providing an online
    readers comment "page" in every online manual, with instructions on how
    to print it using the DECwindows Print Screen capability.  Once the
    customer printed the form and filled it out, the form could be mailed
    to Digital just like the other hardcopy readers comments forms.
    
    The long and the short of it is that we haven't decided what we want
    to do about this...so if anyone has any suggestions, please add them
    as replies to this note, or the note in the Bookreader notes file that
    reply .1 points to; I follow both notes conferences and would welcome
    some new ideas on this matter.
    
    Cheers,
    Marian 

    Hi,
    
    I still need to know how I should submit comments. Should I use
    this notesfile or another notesfile?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Ruth-Ellen

Hi Ruth-Ellen,

	I don't mean to sound like I'm putting you off. (Although, I guess 
that's what I'm really doing ;^)...)  In this conference, we're really a 
little more concerned with the bookbuilding tools and how well they help in
producing online documentation.  I guess I didn't fully understand your 
original request.  But you really did bring up a good point that needs to be
addressed by someone.  Just how DO customers comment on online documentation?

	Have you tried the DECwindows Documentation conference on 4TRACK?  
Just add the entry to your notebook by pressing KP7 (Select) or type:
	NOTES> ADD ENTRY 4TRACK::DECWINDOWS_DOCUMENTATION

	I'm not sure about VMS documentation.  I haven't seen a notes 
conference for that.

Wayne

For the time being, we've set up a topic in ONLYME::3JK_ODP for logging
    reader's comments.  I think it's topic 61. Ruth-Ellen christened
    it with the first entry.    This gives us a place to collect feedback
    while deciding what to do about Reader's comment cards.
    
    Wendy

    RE .4 --
   
>	I'm not sure about VMS documentation.  I haven't seen a notes 
>conference for that.

   The VMS documentation conference is at BULOVA::DOCNOTES.  Press KP7 or
   select to add it to your notebook.

							-- Nina

    I've requested that all Reader's Comments be placed as a reply to a
    note (yetto be established in the BOOKREADER notes file so that users
    of the Bookreader application can find a place to comment as well.
    
    Thanks for all of your suggestions about this.
    
    Marian