Be consistent in verb tense when naming outline items.
Create the outline even if it has not been finalized. You can always go back and rename and reorganize outline items.
Avoid using special symbols such as &, $, *, and so on when naming modules, section, and topics since they may cause problems when publishing.
Create an audio script if you intend to record sound at the same time you record the steps.
Before You Record
Test the steps of the task to make sure you have all the steps and adequate test data.
Test the data before you record it and make sure it works. This will help prevent errors in your topic.
Make sure you set up the target application at the correct screen for the beginning of the topic. This may include logging out and logging in again to clear any “sticky” data.
Check your sound and microphone recording levels and settings if you will be recording sound at the same time.
As You Record
Go slowly when you are recording to be sure that the Developer has had time to read the objects on the screen completely and the screens in the application have a chance to refresh.
Make sure that the step you want to record is showing in the Next screenshot records area of the Recorder window before you press PRINTSCREEN.
Make sure that the action displayed in the Last recorded event area of the Recorder window accurately reflects the action you wanted to record. If it does not, click the Undo button in the Recorder window and re-record the action.
If you are not sure, record the action. It is easier to delete extra frames than insert ones that you missed.
After You Record
Immediately preview the topic in Try It! mode before you add attachments, bubble text, Introduction/End frame text, and so on. If you discover errors and have to re-record the topic, you will not lose a lot of extra work.
Listen to the recorded sound for each frame.
Editing Content
You cannot move (drag and drop) a frame in the Frame Structure window in the Topic Editor so make sure you insert it in the right place. However, you can copy frames within a topic and from topic to topic.
Be sure you know on which frame an Alternative Path starts and ends. However, if you choose the wrong end frame, you can change it.
Fonts and Colors
Changing the defaults in the Developer has no effect on the text fonts or colors for the printed outputs if you use the default Word template. If you want to change them, you should customize the PrintTemplate.docm file in the Styles folder for the appropriate print output. See Customize Document Formats in the Publish Content chapter for more details.
Multi-user Considerations
When working in a multi-user installation, be sure to check in your checked out documents so that they are under version control and available to other authors. Before leaving on a vacation, check in all of your documents.
If you need to work on a portion of an outline, only check out those documents that you need to edit.