Are these directions difficult to understand?

[notfred]

Users seem to be having difficulty with this, is there any way I could make it more straightforward?

(Note: All users know what CRTS2 and RTS are - they're database sytems at my organization.)

Update RTS Information
Due to the nature of RTS, it's impossible to automate updates to CRTS2 from RTS through the web. I've created a program that you can download and run from your desktop that will update CRTS2 with current RTS info.

crtsclient.zip for Windows. Requires the Java Runtime Environment, version 1.4 or later.

Instructions for use:
Unzip the file to your PC.
double click on the file "crts.exe"
The program will retrieve data from RTS, and then connect to the server. when you see a prompt that looks like '#> ' the program is waiting for your input.
There are two commands you can enter:
"update CA-XXXX" (with no quotes) will update a specific report (substitute the report number for XXXX, i.e. 'update CA-0001')
"update all" will update all the reports in the database.

When you are done entering commands, simply type "exit" to quit the application.

 

[Ogg]

could it be any simpler?
eh No

or am I one of the dumb ones and Im missing something?

 

[Zysoclaplem]

You lost me at "unzip the file."

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Ogg
could it be any simpler?
eh No

or am I one of the dumb ones and Im missing something?

No, it's pretty straightforward, I personally don't see the difficulty either.

 

[Hankerton]

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
You lost me at "unzip the file."

Unzip? I was lost at Update

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Hankerton

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
You lost me at "unzip the file."

Unzip? I was lost at Update

Very helpful.

 

[Viper GTS]

It would be great if it were going out to people like us, but end users need MUCH more hand-holding.

You're assuming they know whether or not they have the java runtime installed, how to use winzip (or even have it installed), how to find the file once unzipped, etc.

It's unfortunate, but I wouldn't provide those instructions to end users without expecting some serious confusion.

Viper GTS

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

"i'm good with the customer dammit!"

 

[torpid]

If they aren't computer savvy it will be hard to follow. Why don't you make an self extracting installer? How do people know if they have the JRE? What are the steps to install the JRE?

These instructions are not for joe user...

 

[clamum]

Looks straightforward to me. Unless they don't know what unzipping a file is, I'd say you'd have to be kinda dumb not to be able to follow your instructions.

EDIT: I'm assuming JRE is already installed and/or they know how to do that, too

 

[Aves]

Unzip the file to your PC.

It should probably specify which file and it might help if you just told them to unzip it to their desktop to make the extracted files easier to locate.

 

[Kelemvor]

Just make sure there ar elots of screen shots with red circles and arrows pointing out everything. And if it's internal people, why use a Zip file? Just link to the EXE. Unless there's multipel files in there.

 

[Kev]

if that is too complicated for them, they are retards, plain and simple.

 

[Phoenix86]

Yes, that is too difficult for most user, too many steps. You should automate the unzipping (self extracting) and script the two commands. You will lose most people at:
"There are two commands you can enter:
"update CA-XXXX" (with no quotes) will update a specific report (substitute the report number for XXXX, i.e. 'update CA-0001')"

First, it's too 'systemish' looking, and scary. I'd bet its done from a CLI too right? eww...

Are you trying to scare them away with this message?

edit: From my experience, 3-5 steps at MOST, and don't have users enter things like network paths or commands unless they are used to it (few and far between).

edit2: I have seen users screw up things (not completed the instructions, or call) when given an app a single button.

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
Yes, that is too difficult for most user, too many steps. You should automate the unzipping (self extracting) and script the two commands. You will lose most people at:
"There are two commands you can enter:
"update CA-XXXX" (with no quotes) will update a specific report (substitute the report number for XXXX, i.e. 'update CA-0001')"

First, it's too 'systemish' looking, and scary. I'd bet its done from a CLI too right? eww...

Are you trying to scare them away with this message?

edit: from my experience, 3-5 steps at MOST, and don't have users enter things like network paths or commands unless they are used to it (few and far between).

I would think most people who can access the internet with an IQ >100 could figure it out.

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: SP33Demon

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
Yes, that is too difficult for most user, too many steps. You should automate the unzipping (self extracting) and script the two commands. You will lose most people at:
"There are two commands you can enter:
"update CA-XXXX" (with no quotes) will update a specific report (substitute the report number for XXXX, i.e. 'update CA-0001')"

First, it's too 'systemish' looking, and scary. I'd bet its done from a CLI too right? eww...

Are you trying to scare them away with this message?

edit: from my experience, 3-5 steps at MOST, and don't have users enter things like network paths or commands unless they are used to it (few and far between).

I would think most people who can access the internet with an IQ >100 could figure it out.

Wanna sit in my seat for a day? The average user is about as computer savvy as a rock. K.I.S.S.

If you give them the option to screw it up, they will. Just about each step in this process has an option to screw it up.

 

[WannaFly]

Originally posted by: SP33Demon

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
Yes, that is too difficult for most user, too many steps. You should automate the unzipping (self extracting) and script the two commands. You will lose most people at:
"There are two commands you can enter:
"update CA-XXXX" (with no quotes) will update a specific report (substitute the report number for XXXX, i.e. 'update CA-0001')"

First, it's too 'systemish' looking, and scary. I'd bet its done from a CLI too right? eww...

Are you trying to scare them away with this message?

edit: from my experience, 3-5 steps at MOST, and don't have users enter things like network paths or commands unless they are used to it (few and far between).

I would think most people who can access the internet with an IQ >100 could figure it out.

Anyone that has worked with end users know they cant figure anything out - unzipping a file is too complicated, they wont know where it is. Install JRE? hah yah right. In a properly managed organization users wouldnt have the permissions to install software.

OP: is there a reason that this cannot be done web based with a nice GUI?

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86

Originally posted by: SP33Demon

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
Yes, that is too difficult for most user, too many steps. You should automate the unzipping (self extracting) and script the two commands. You will lose most people at:
"There are two commands you can enter:
"update CA-XXXX" (with no quotes) will update a specific report (substitute the report number for XXXX, i.e. 'update CA-0001')"

First, it's too 'systemish' looking, and scary. I'd bet its done from a CLI too right? eww...

Are you trying to scare them away with this message?

edit: from my experience, 3-5 steps at MOST, and don't have users enter things like network paths or commands unless they are used to it (few and far between).

I would think most people who can access the internet with an IQ >100 could figure it out.

Wanna sit in my seat for a day? The average user is about as computer savvy as a rock. K.I.S.S.

If you give them the option to screw it up, they will. Just about each step in this process has an option to screw it up.

Prolly all AOL users. Ok non AOL users

 

[cyclistca]

If your a computer guy like most of the people her? No.

If your anyone else? Yes

Screen shots are Gods gift to us computer guys. I always use screen shoots when I create stuff like this. Then if the clients still can't understand I hunt them down and kill them.

As some one said K.I.S.S is your friend.

 

[rh71]

want to make your life easier ? Take the extra 10 minutes and put up screenshots every step of the way.

 

[PanzerIV]

Trust me notfred, for non computer users that is indeed too complicated. Reminds me of the time my boss thought she was going to be clever and zip a damn file and send it to everyone in an email. The file was hardly compressed and it made no sense to zip it. All it did was make my life more difficult by having to go do the update myself or walk people through it on the phone. All in all a big time waster because she didn't use her head.