More relevent help query results

T

The Blue Max

Unfortunately, all Microsoft help for Windows and Office, especially the new
help that links to the internet, is near useless. It returns a long list of
resources, but seldom returns an 'exact' hit relating to the issue.
Ironically, this often includes user help inquiries that specify exact names
for features, buttons, menus, or other operations! While there often may be
relevant, useful articles in the resulting list of articles, the user always
has to wade through a ton of garbage before finding it. You have GOT to
improve the efficiency of your help engine! The programs are too complex to
ignore the importance of the help feature! Please let us know if you feel we
have overlooked any important aspects relating to competent help queries?

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http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...-8c36ed29e621&dg=microsoft.public.office.misc
 
J

Johnbes

Hi Blue Max, Thanks for your comments, for Office 2007 Help have you tried
using the search scope dropdown to help narrow your search to a particular
context? (It’s the dropdown arrow to the right of the Search button on the
Help toolbar). Useful if you just want Client or Developer Help only,
without having to view Templates and Training resources in the search
results. Another method to help scope results is 'dialog help'. With an
Office dialog open, press the F1 key and you'll get help specific to the
dialog you currently have open.

The Help engine has logic to sort results by relevance, however, if the
search terms are general across a large number of help topics, the best
match may not bubble up near to the top. Can you send some examples of the
queries that are causing your target help articles to drop too low in the
search results?

Thanks,
John
 
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