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QuestionWhy new version of product documentation has no index?

  • Thursday, October 22, 2009 12:15 PMnotacat Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Just installed Visual Studio 2010 beta 2 and found a grievous change in off-line documentation comparing with VS 2008. Off-line help has no index any more. It used to be a most valuable feature of offline docs fo me. I'm sorry if you don't like my opinion, but if offline help contains only TOC and search, I'll prefer google.

    Maybe I missed something and there is a way to turn-on index or to view new documentation in a previous version of Microsoft Document Explorer?

    Are you going to add index feature in release version? Is there a place where I can submit an issue about that?
    notacat

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  • Thursday, October 29, 2009 2:40 AMAnand Raman - MSFT Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     

    Notacat, 
    A number of VS 2010 Beta 2 customers have asked why we did not deliver a Keyword Index as part of the new help system.  We realize the importance of delivering a keyword index, but we were unable to deliver it in our first release.  In this V1.0 release of help system, we first implemented an improved search capability in order to deliver a more familiar, consistent online and offline experience.  We then implemented a keyword index feature based on our search catalog.  Unfortunately, the results did not meet our quality bar and we determined that this feature would require more work than the Beta 2 timeline allowed.  We are looking at implementing it for at future release.

    In the meantime, the usage pattern we anticipate is that you'll search for the general concept using full text search and then refine your topic selection using the TOC and related topics.  We did anticipate that there would be a period of adjustment for customers.  Our hope is that you will try working with the new design and give us feedback that we can use to prioritize the features and fixes that our team delivers in later releases.

    Anand..

     


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