Quality Assurance Checklist for User Info
Use this checklist to calculate the Quality-Assurance Index of your printed or online user guide.
Answer each checklist question as Not Applicable (N/A), yes, or no. If no, explain why not?
To determine the Index count the number of yes answers compared with the total applicable questions.
With the Microsoft Excel 5.0 spreadsheet, use yes=1 and no=1 and the Usability Index is calculated for you.
Before every release of a book ensure that the checklist is completed and all outstanding issues are resolved.
Usually, a book is released in Draft, Preliminary, and Standard development cycles.
This checklist is based on checklists developed by STC members Roy Hartshorn, Craig Henkle, and Ann Rockley.
Also based on "Evaluating the Usability of Human-Computer Interfaces", by Ravden and Johnson, 1989.
Please email any questions or comments to Benjamin Keevil (bkeevil@sympatico.ca) at Keevil & Associates.
Checklist Preliminary - Issue 1, September 4, 1996.
Quality Assurance Index (calculated by Excel as a per cent) 98
Name of Book Using Tapestry 1.1
Part Number of Book None
Status of Book Preliminary - Issue 1
Name of Product Tapestry
Date of Evaluation 1-Aug-96
Checklist Questions N/A Yes No Comments
Front Cover
Front cover included? 1
Name of product included and correct? 1
Title of book included and correct? 1
Unapproved abbreviations avoided in title? 1
Company logo included and correct? 1
Product theme picture included? 1
Color markup included and correct? 1
Inside Front Cover
Inside front cover included? 1
Title of book included and correct? 1
Name of product included and correct? 1
Unapproved abbreviations avoided in title? 1
Part number of book included? 1
Status of book (for example, Draft - Issue 1) included? 1
Release date (for example, June 1996) of book included? 1
Notices Page
Trademarks included and correct? 1
Trademarks listed in alphabetical order? 1
Liability statement included and correct? 1
Licence agreement statement included and correct? 1
Copyright symbol, statement, and date correct? 1
Previous copyright dates correct? 1
Electronic emission notices included and correct? 1
Publisher's name and address correct? 1
Revisions Page
Date and status of the book correct? 1
Summary of changes included and complete? 1
Description of changes brief but clear? 1
Are the appropriate back-level changes correct? 1
Reference to change bars included and correct? 1
List of Figures
List of figures included? 1
List of figures complete? 1
Page numbers correct? 1
Each title unique and correct? 1
Capitalization, spelling, and punctuation correct? 1
List of Tables
List of tables included? 1
List of tables complete? 1
Page numbers correct? 1
Each title unique and correct? 1
Capitalization, spelling, and punctuation correct? 1
Figures
Figures in final form and approved? 1
Titles, callouts, and annotations in correct position? 1
Figures correctly placed? 1
Figure width consistent where possible? 1
Figures proofread for capitalization, spelling, and grammar? 1
Abbreviations, terms, and symbols used consistently? 1
Figures used to supplement text where possible? 1
Figures easily translated? 1
Symbols and other conventions explained properly? 1
Placement of brackets and arrows correct? 1
Line weights correct and consistent? 1
Figures uncluttered? 1
Alignment of information correct? 1
Body
All pages included and accounted for? 1
All links tested and correct? 1
All pages in correct order? 1
Backup pages for end rectos included? 1
Back Cover
Back cover included and correct? 1
Color markup included and correct? 1
Inside Back Cover
Inside back cover included? 1
Title of book included and correct? 1
Name of product included and correct? 1
Unapproved abbreviations avoided in title? 1
Part number of book included? 1
Status of book (Draft - Issue 1) included? 1
Release date (June 1996) of book included? 1
Name of country in which printed included and correct? 1
Placement of elements correct? 1
Spine of Book
Spine included? 1
Name of product included and correct? 1
Title of book included and correct? 1
Company logo included and correct? 1
Placement of elements correct? 1
Color markup included and correct? 1
Translation Package
Instructions for translator included? 1
List of file names and sizes included? 1
Readme file included? 1
Other concerns or comments?
Calculating the Index N/A Yes No Index (per cent)
Total N/A, yes, and no answers. 26 47 1 98
Total Number of questions (N/A+Yes+No) 74

Last Update: 5/18/97

Name: Benjamin Keevil

Email: bkeevil@sympatico.ca