From: "Marvin Kaye" <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [LML] Re: Lancairs, what else?
To: lml
Date: Tue, 04 Feb 2003 09:58:37 -0500
Message-ID: <web-2008787@logan.com>
In-Reply-To: <20030204144559.34618.qmail@web14007.mail.yahoo.com>
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Posted for Jeff Dingbaum <expressct@yahoo.com>:

--- Brent Regan <Brent@regandesigns.com> wrote:
> Online manuals that are hyper linked to questions, answers and photos 
> would do everyone a lot of good AND may make financial sense be reducing 
> the customer service workload. Any web savvy builders out there want to 
> step up to the challenge?

I would like to offer my view on online manuals.  Express put their manuals in
a password protected area earlier this year.  They are in .pdf format and are
updated as needed.  My manuals on my second owner kit are 12+ years old and
some areas leave a little to be desired, like pages.  Express has done a great
job of putting the information that is needed online.  It is separated into 
1-4
page procedures that download very fast.  I usually download a whole bunch at 
a
time and review everything in context.  If the new docs are different than the
old, I print it out, take it downstairs, and compare to figure out what I want
to do.

I like Brent's idea of hyper links to photos, questions, answers.  You could
have basically the same underlying web structure for each procedure or section
and just populate it with the info relevant for that section.  That said, 
however, it would take more effort to setup than .pdf files.

Updated .pdf files may be a good starting point that is fairly easy and cheap
to implement.  As for the hyperlink areas, as Brent said, it may be possible 
to
have a builder be the moderator or overseer for putting together a small
section and "owning" it, so to speak.  Maybe those who are finished building
and don't have to worry about squeezing more time out of the day.  That way
they can help the people who come after them and they are still involved in
building.

Regards,
Jeff Dingbaum
Express 6% done
Cherokee 180 flying