User Guide Creation

Overview

Create clear, user-friendly documentation that helps users understand and effectively use your product, with step-by-step instructions, screenshots, and practical examples.

When to Use

• Product user manuals
• Getting started guides
• Feature tutorials
• Step-by-step how-tos
• Video script documentation
• Interactive walkthroughs
• Quick start guides
• FAQ documentation
• Best practices guides

User Guide Template

# [Product Name] User Guide

## Table of Contents

1. [Introduction](#introduction)
2. [Getting Started](#getting-started)
3. [Key Features](#key-features)
4. [Common Tasks](#common-tasks)
5. [Troubleshooting](#troubleshooting)
6. [FAQ](#faq)
7. [Support](#support)

## Introduction

### What is [Product Name]?

[Product Name] is a [brief description of what the product does and its main purpose].

### Who is this guide for?

This guide is designed for:
- New users getting started with [Product Name]
- Existing users looking to learn advanced features
- Administrators managing [Product Name]

### What you'll learn

By the end of this guide, you'll be able to:
- ✓ Set up and configure [Product Name]
- ✓ Perform common tasks efficiently
- ✓ Troubleshoot common issues
- ✓ Use advanced features

## Getting Started

### System Requirements

Before you begin, ensure your system meets these requirements:

| Requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
|-------------|---------|-------------|
| Operating System | Windows 10, macOS 10.15, Ubuntu 20.04 | Latest version |
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Disk Space | 500 MB | 1 GB |
| Internet | Required for setup | Required |

### Installation

#### Step 1: Download

1. Visit [https://example.com/download](https://example.com/download)
2. Click the **Download** button for your operating system
3. Save the installer to your Downloads folder

![Download page screenshot](images/download.png)

#### Step 2: Install

**For Windows:**

1. Double-click the downloaded `.exe` file
2. Click **Yes** when prompted by User Account Control
3. Follow the installation wizard:
   - Accept the license agreement
   - Choose installation location
   - Select components to install
4. Click **Install**
5. Wait for installation to complete
6. Click **Finish**

**For macOS:**

1. Double-click the downloaded `.dmg` file
2. Drag the application icon to the Applications folder
3. Eject the disk image
4. Open Applications and double-click [Product Name]
5. Click **Open** when prompted about opening downloaded applications

**For Linux:**

```bash
# Download and install
wget https://example.com/downloads/product-name.deb
sudo dpkg -i product-name.deb

# Install dependencies if needed
sudo apt-get install -f

Step 3: First Launch

1. Open [Product Name] from your Applications folder or Start menu
2. You'll see the welcome screen
3. Click Get Started to begin the setup wizard

Initial Setup

Create Your Account

1. On the welcome screen, click Create Account
2. Enter your information:
   • Email address
   • Password (minimum 8 characters)
   • Full name
3. Click Sign Up
4. Check your email for a verification link
5. Click the link to verify your account

💡 Tip: Use a password manager to generate and store a strong password.

Configure Preferences

1. Click Settings in the top-right corner (⚙️ icon)

2. Configure your preferences:

   General Tab:

   • Theme: Light, Dark, or Auto
   • Language: Select your preferred language
   • Notifications: Enable/disable desktop notifications

   Privacy Tab:

   • Analytics: Choose whether to share usage data
   • Crash reports: Help improve the product

3. Click Save to apply changes

Key Features

Feature 1: [Feature Name]

What it does: [Brief description of the feature]

When to use it: [Scenarios where this feature is useful]

How to use it:

1. Navigate to [Menu] > [Feature Name]
2. Click [Action Button]
3. Enter the required information:
   • Field 1: [Description]
   • Field 2: [Description]
4. Click Submit

Example:

Let's say you want to [specific use case]:

1. Click the "+" button in the toolbar
2. Select "New Project"
3. Enter "My First Project" as the name
4. Choose "Web Application" as the type
5. Click "Create"

Result: You'll see your new project in the sidebar.

⚠️ Note: This feature requires [Product Name] Pro. Upgrade in Settings > Billing.

Feature 2: [Feature Name]

[Similar structure as Feature 1]

Common Tasks

Task 1: Creating Your First Project

Goal: Create a new project from scratch

Time required: 5 minutes

Prerequisites:

• Active account
• Completed initial setup

Steps:

1. Open the project menu

   • Click File > New Project
   • Or press Ctrl+N (Windows) or Cmd+N (Mac)

2. Choose project type

   • Select from available templates
   • Click Blank Project for this tutorial

3. Configure project settings

   Name: My First Project
   Location: ~/Documents/Projects
   Template: Blank
   

4. Add initial content

   • Click Add Item in the sidebar
   • Select item type
   • Fill in details

5. Save your project

   • Click File > Save
   • Or press Ctrl+S (Windows) or Cmd+S (Mac)

✅ Success indicator: You'll see "Project saved successfully" in the bottom-right corner.

Task 2: Importing Existing Data

Goal: Import data from an external source

Supported formats: CSV, JSON, XML, Excel

Steps:

1. Click Import in the toolbar

2. Choose your data source:

   • From File: Upload a file from your computer
   • From URL: Enter a URL to fetch data
   • From Database: Connect to an external database

3. For File Import:

   - Click "Choose File"
   - Select your CSV/JSON file
   - Click "Upload"
   

4. Map your fields

   • Match source columns to destination fields
   • Set data types for each field
   • Preview the mapping

   Source Field	Destination Field	Type
   email	Email Address	Text
   name	Full Name	Text
   created	Created Date	Date

5. Import settings

   • Duplicate handling: Skip, Update, or Create new
   • Error handling: Stop on error or Continue
   • Batch size: 100 records per batch

6. Click Start Import

Progress: You'll see a progress bar showing:

• Records processed
• Successful imports
• Errors encountered

Task 3: Exporting Data

Goal: Export your data for backup or external use

Steps:

1. Select the data to export

2. Click Export button

3. Choose format:

   • CSV: For spreadsheets
   • JSON: For APIs and code
   • PDF: For reports
   • Excel: For analysis

4. Configure export options:

   Include headers: ✓
   Date format: YYYY-MM-DD
   Encoding: UTF-8
   Compression: None / ZIP
   

5. Click Export

6. Save the file to your desired location

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Issue: Application won't start

Symptoms: Double-clicking the icon doesn't launch the app

Possible causes:

• Corrupted installation
• Insufficient permissions
• Conflicting software

Solutions:

1. Try restarting your computer

   • Often resolves temporary issues

2. Reinstall the application

   # Windows: Use Add/Remove Programs
   # Mac: Delete from Applications and reinstall
   # Linux:
   sudo apt-get remove product-name
   sudo apt-get install product-name
   

3. Check system logs

   • Windows: Event Viewer > Application logs
   • Mac: Console.app
   • Linux: /var/log/syslog

4. Run as administrator (Windows only)

   • Right-click application icon
   • Select "Run as administrator"

Issue: Can't log in to my account

Symptoms: Login fails with "Invalid credentials" error

Solutions:

1. Reset your password

   • Click "Forgot password?" on login screen
   • Enter your email address
   • Check email for reset link
   • Create new password

2. Check Caps Lock

   • Passwords are case-sensitive

3. Clear browser cache (web version)

   Chrome: Ctrl+Shift+Delete
   Firefox: Ctrl+Shift+Delete
   Safari: Cmd+Option+E
   

4. Verify account is active

   • Check email for account verification
   • Contact support if account is suspended

Issue: Data not syncing

Symptoms: Changes don't appear on other devices

Solutions:

1. Check internet connection
2. Verify sync is enabled
   • Settings > Sync > Enable sync
3. Force sync
   • Click profile icon > Sync now
4. Check sync status
   • Look for sync icon in bottom-right
   • Green = synced, Yellow = syncing, Red = error

FAQ

General Questions

Q: Is [Product Name] free?

A: [Product Name] offers both free and paid plans:

• Free: Basic features, 1 project, 100 MB storage
• Pro ($9.99/month): Unlimited projects, 100 GB storage, priority support
• Enterprise: Custom pricing, dedicated support, SSO

Q: Can I use [Product Name] offline?

A: Yes, [Product Name] works offline. Changes sync when you reconnect.

Q: What platforms are supported?

A: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and web browsers.

Data and Privacy

Q: Where is my data stored?

A: Data is stored on secure AWS servers in [region]. Enterprise customers can choose data location.

Q: Is my data encrypted?

A: Yes, all data is encrypted:

• In transit: TLS 1.3
• At rest: AES-256 encryption

Q: Can I export all my data?

A: Yes, go to Settings > Data > Export All Data.

Support

Getting Help

Documentation: https://docs.example.com

Community Forum: https://community.example.com

Email Support: [email protected]

• Response time: 24 hours for Free, 4 hours for Pro, 1 hour for Enterprise

Live Chat: Available for Pro and Enterprise customers

• Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM EST

Phone Support: 1-800-EXAMPLE (Enterprise only)

Reporting Bugs

Found a bug? Help us improve by reporting it:

1. Go to Help > Report Bug
2. Describe what happened
3. Include steps to reproduce
4. Attach screenshots if applicable
5. Click Submit

Feature Requests

Have an idea? We'd love to hear it:

1. Visit https://feedback.example.com
2. Search existing requests
3. Vote for existing ideas or submit new ones

Version Information

Current version: 2.5.0 Release date: January 15, 2025 View release notes

## Best Practices

### ✅ DO
- Use simple, clear language
- Include screenshots and visuals
- Provide step-by-step instructions
- Use numbered lists for sequential tasks
- Add tips, warnings, and notes
- Include keyboard shortcuts
- Provide multiple paths to accomplish tasks
- Test every step you document
- Keep content up-to-date
- Use consistent formatting
- Add a table of contents for long guides
- Include search functionality

### ❌ DON'T
- Use jargon without explanation
- Assume prior knowledge
- Skip important steps
- Use outdated screenshots
- Write wall-of-text paragraphs
- Forget to update for new versions
- Overcomplicate simple tasks

## Resources

- [Technical Writing Handbook](https://developers.google.com/tech-writing)
- [Microsoft Style Guide](https://docs.microsoft.com/style-guide/)
- [Grammarly](https://www.grammarly.com/)
- [Hemingway Editor](https://hemingwayapp.com/)