ISO/IEC 26513:2009

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 26513
First edition
2009-10-15
Systems and software engineering —
Requirements for testers and reviewers
of user documentation
Ingénierie des systèmes et du logiciel — Exigences pour testeurs et
vérificateurs de documentation utilisateur

Reference number
©
ISO/IEC 2009
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ii © ISO/IEC 2009 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction.v
1 Scope.1
2 Conformance .2
2.1 Definition of conformance.2
2.2 Conformance situations .3
3 Terms and definitions .3
4 User documentation process within the systems/software life cycle .8
5 Documentation evaluation process requirements, objectives, and constraints.9
5.1 General .9
5.2 Documentation evaluation activities .10
5.3 Selection of an evaluation method .10
5.4 Documentation review .10
5.5 Documentation test .11
5.6 Project requirements affecting documentation evaluation.11
5.7 Resource requirements and planning.12
5.7.1 Impact of evaluation on project schedules.13
6 Documentation evaluation methods and procedures .13
6.1 Documentation review .14
6.1.1 Planning documentation review .14
6.1.2 Documentation review procedures .16
6.1.3 Managing the results of documentation review.17
6.1.4 Problem resolution and the documentation review cycle.17
6.2 System test of documentation .17
6.2.1 Planning system test of documentation .18
6.2.2 Performing and assessing results of system test of documentation.22
6.2.3 Problem resolution and the system test of documentation life cycle .22
6.3 Usability testing of documentation .22
6.3.1 Objectives for usability testing of documentation.23
6.3.2 Measures and metrics for documentation usability testing .23
6.3.3 Planning usability tests .24
6.3.4 Performing usability test of documentation.26
6.3.5 Problem resolution for documentation usability tests.27
6.4 Accessibility testing of documentation .27
6.4.1 Planning accessibility tests.27
6.4.2 Performing accessibility tests .28
6.5 Localization and customization testing .28
6.5.1 Planning for localization and customization testing .28
6.5.2 Performing localization and customization testing .28
6.6 Problem resolution process.29
Annex A (informative) Checklists for user documentation .30
Annex B (informative) Test and review checklist .37
Bibliography.53

© ISO/IEC 2009 – All rights reserved iii

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of
ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical committees
established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity. ISO and IEC
technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations, governmental
and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work. In the field of information
technology, ISO and IEC have established a joint technical committee, ISO/IEC JTC 1.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of the joint technical committee is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the joint technical committee are circulated to national bodies for voting. Publication as
an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO/IEC 26513 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 7, Software and systems engineering.

iv © ISO/IEC 2009 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Anyone who uses application software needs accurate information about how the software will help the users
accomplish a task. The documentation might be the first tangible item that the users see, and so influences
the first impressions the users have of the product. If the information is supplied in a convenient form and is
easy to find and understand, the users can quickly become proficient at using the product. Therefore, well-
designed documentation not only assists the users and helps to reduce the cost of training and support, but
also enhances the reputation of the product, its producer, and its suppliers.
This International Standard addresses the evaluation and testing of user documentation. It applies to both
initial development and subsequent releases of the software and user documentation.
This International Standard is independent of the software tools that might be used to produce documentation,
and applies to both printed documentation and on-screen documentation. Much of its guidance is applicable to
user documentation for systems including hardware as well as to software user documentation.
This International Standard conforms with ISO/IEC 26514:2008 Systems and software engineering —
Requirements for designers and developers of user documentation, ISO/IEC 15288:2008, Systems and
software engineering — System life cycle processes, and ISO/IEC 12207:2008, Systems and software
engineering — Software life cycle processes. This International Standard was developed to assist those who
test and review software user documentation as part of the software life cycle process. This International
Standard defines the Documentation Management and Validation processes of ISO/IEC 12207:2008 from the
tester's standpoint. This International Standard may be used as a conformance or a guidance document for
products, projects and organizations claiming conformance to ISO/IEC 15288:2008 or ISO/IEC 12207:2008.

© ISO/IEC 2009 – All rights reserved v

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 26513:2009(E)

Systems and software engineering — Requirements for testers
and reviewers of user documentation
1 Scope
This International Standard supports the interest of software users in receiving consistent, complete, accurate,
and usable documentation. This International Standard defines the process in which user documentation
products are tested.
This International Standard is intended neither to encourage nor discourage the use of either printed or
electronic (on-screen) media for documentation, or of any particular documentation testing or management
tools or methodologies.
This International Standard specifies processes for use in testing and reviewing of user documentation
(Clause 5). It is not limited to the test and review phase of the life cycle, but includes activities throughout the
Information Management and Documentation Management processes.
This International Standard provides the minimum requirements for the testing and reviewing of user
documentation (Clause 6), including both printed and on-screen documents used in the work environment by
the users of systems software. It applies to printed user manuals, online help, tutorials, and user reference
documentation.
The order of clauses in this International Standard does not imply that the software user documentation
should be tested in this order.
In each clause, the requirements are media-independent, as far as possible. The informative checklists found
in Annexes A and B may be used at each phase of the documentation process to verify that the appropriate
steps have been carried out, and that the finished product has acceptable quality.
This International Standard can be helpful for testing and reviewing the following types of documentation:
• documentation of products other than software, for example, hardware or devices;
• multimedia systems using animation, video, and sound;
• computer-based training (CBT) packages and specialized course materials intended primarily for use
in formal training programs;
• documentation produced for installers, computer operators, or system administrators who are not end
users;
• maintenance documentation describing the internal operation of systems software.
This International Standard is applicable to testers, reviewers, and other related roles, including a variety of
specialists:
• usability testers, documentation reviewers, and subject-matter experts;
• information designers and architects who plan the structure and format of products in a documentation
set;
© ISO/IEC 2009 – All rights reserved 1

• usability specialists and business analysts who identify the tasks the intended users will perform with
the software.
The International Standard can also be consulted by those with other roles and interests in the documentation
process.
Managers of the software development process or the documentation process should consider the testing of
documentation as part of thei
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