The installation guide contains instructions and relevant information about the installation of a technology, which is mainly hardware or software. The installation guide has textual content supported by images and videos. It is presented in a document or webpage.
Different installation guides
There are different types of installation guides depending on the length, target audiences, technologies and more. A few of them are.
- Software Installation Guide: This guide is for the installation and configuration of the software. Examples are the image editing application installation guide and third-party mobile app installation guide.
- Hardware installation Guide: This guide is mainly produced when multiple hardware parts are needed to be assembled to make something. One such example is assembling multiple parts of a pedestrian fan.
- Computer peripherals Installation Guide: This guide is for the installation of computer peripherals, like keyboard, mouse, and printer. It includes hardware and software installations.
Note: There are also software updating, configuring and upgrading guides. Their structures are mostly similar to the installation guide.
A good installation guide
A good installation guide is user-friendly and updated. It contains only the necessary and accurate information. It is mainly developed by the technical writer.
To make a good guide, it is recommended that we first collect the requirements. The requirement includes going through the installation process and getting other relevant knowledge from the SMEs so that we know everything. After collecting the requirements, we can start documenting the guide, which includes developing and then editing and proofreading.
Dos and don’ts
- Always keep on updating with the latest information and instructions. Otherwise, the guide will become complex to use or not at all useful.
- Keep it as simple as possible, because it is always difficult to understand and install technology.
- If possible, try to add relevant installation images and videos. We understand far more quickly after looking at something as compared to reading about it.
- Do not rush while making the guide. Like any other technical guide, the installation guide needs to be accurate and complete. If there is a requirement to make it quickly then create a very simple draft, share it and keep enhancing and maintaining it.
Benefits
Installation guide reduces a lot of manual work of the installation process. Installation can be a complex and time-consuming thing to do, especially when there is a need for some additional configuration.
It is reusable and distributional and can be shared easily. It decreases a reasonable amount of support work for the product, which saves a good amount of money.