Document designers who present procedural instructions can choose several formats: prose, table, logical tree, or flow chart. In all cases, however, it is essential that the instructions are ordered in a way that allows users to reach the outcome in as little time as possible. In this article two formal methods are discussed that help determine which order is most efficient. The first method is based on the selection principle. The second method is based on the principle of the average least effort.

An online advisory system is described which offers guidelines and recommendations for text writers. The system tries to meet two essential requirements: easy switching from the text processing software to the online advice, and optimal access which enables the user to find relevant materials as easy as possible. The authors describe some studies with prototypes of the system. An analysis of information-seeking behavior yields some fundamental issues to be investigated in order to improve the usefulness of the system in the future.