The direct use of already existing user manuals for computer aided instruction and information retrieval with the aid of hypermedia

By implementing on-line manuals and CAI-programs for car repair with the aid of a hypermedium, using already existing user manuals, it was found that working with a script gives a suitable way for transformation. The existing material which was examined is very well suited for transformation, although a page often contains too much text. When a company wants to computerize all its existing documentation material, both for instructional purposes as for information retrieval, it is a cheap way to copy the existing material directly. New material could be constructed in such a way that it is more suitable for the use in an on-line application. An extension to the system is the possibility to couple several manuals by means of a multi-layered hypermedium-application. Each layer has its own functionality such as for documentation purposes, diagnostics and instruction. A user can, by clicking on a specific item, jump from layer to layer. Each layer contains its own control structure.