Abstract
This study investigated the need to include computer screens in documentation for software using a graphical user interface. Minimal manual principles emphasize the need to reduce verbiage. However, some suggest that depiction of screens in documentation can help the user coordinate documentation with computer screen displays. Documentation including button, icon, and screen information was varied with software designed for file transfers. College students used one of the three manuals designed along minimal manual principles. Students who used a manual with screens were significantly slower in transferring files and found it less helpful than students using either a manual with button and icon information or one with textual information only. Therefore, documentation for graphical user interfaces should include few, if any, screens. However, there appears to be a benefit for including icon and button information in the documentation.