Define classes hierarchically.
When the concept is a class of objects, and you are describing that class for programmers, you may want to answer questions such as:
- What is this class?
- How can I spot a member of this class?
- Can you show me an example?
- To what superclass does this belong?
- What classes are components of this one?
- Can you give me some advice about using this class?
- What libraries contain applets using this class?
Open the concept up by sorting the information out into a series of objects like this. The pattern helps the user get fast access to particular information, skipping the irrelevant or unimportant.
When created as XML elements, these objects let individuals pick and choose, personalizing their own definitions.
Resource
Creating customer assistance that actually helps, from Hot Text: Web Writing that Works (2002, PDF, 993K, or about 18 minutes at 56K)
