Stan Sieler wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> We've just finished installing the 5.5 PP 5, following the
> "HP 3000 MPE/iX System Software Maintenance Manual Release 5.5"
> (part# 30216-90223R3715) instructions.
>
> Whew!  Not easy.
>
> It seems like on every page, you have to remember what overall
> operation you're doing:
>    "Manage Patches"
>    "Manage Patches by Staging Area"
>    "Add-on with Tape and Manage Patches"
>    "Add-on with Tape"
>    "Update with Tape"
>    "Install a New System"
>    "Add-on with CR-ROM"
>    "Update with CD-ROM"
>    "Modify Remote SYstem"
>    "Re-Install using a CSLT"
> and, sometimes, the name varies slightly from section to section.
>
> Ugh.
>
> I've installed/patched/updated from time to time, over the years.
> But...I'm daunted by the new system.  On our first attempt, which
> included a "hand over" from one person to another in the middle,
> things *seemed* to work, but our network wouldn't come up when we
> were done.
>
> Suggestions on improving the process:
>
>    1) Web based
>
>       Provide a web site (HP ESC?) where you can go through an online
>       checklist to determine what "operation" you're doing.
>
>       The result is two-fold:
>
>          a) a large HTML file you can print out, which is
>             the *TAILORED* instructions for just the operation
>             you want;  This allows you to get hardcopy
>
>       and
>
>          b) a series of linearly linked web pages which is
>             the *TAILORED* instructions for just the operation
>             you want;  This allows you to follow it from a web
>             browser in the computer room.
>
> and/or
>
>    2) Paper based
>
>       The start of the manual should be a checklist/flowchart that
>       when completed leaves you with a letter like "A", or "B", ..., "H"
>       which corresponds with what operation you're doing.
>
>       Then, each section would start with the LARGE BOLD LETTERS that
>       it applies to.  *More importantly*, each section would *end* with
>       a "pointer" to the next appropriate section, like:
>
>                (large,bold) A  --> go to page 5-40
>                (large,bold) C  --> go to page 5-45
>
>       In the above example, there was no "B" direction ... because the
>       step that just ended was only for operations A and C!
>
> The latter suggestion is easily implemented by HP ... the manual is
> already setup for this kind of add-on.  The former suggestion is harder,
> but saves HP money!  (No need for HP to pay for printing and shipping
> the heavy manuals!)
>
Why not take it a step further and have the lupdate system (from HP) ask
which options you choose and then guide you through the installation or,
even better do it (semi?) automatically?

Nick D.