First, a web site generally requires an entirely different
"layout" than help documentation.
Most web sites are mainly "reference," "marketing," or
"sales" material, and will usually run from 20-50 pages.
As Colum has already explained, most help docs can run 2K-4K
pages, and will consist of everything from version information
(plus release notes) to New Features to Contact Us to Features
broken down by function (Installation, User Controls, System
Administration, Configuration, etc.), This is usually the "layout"
for your TOC.
In addition to the TOC based on this layout, we have evolved
our doc to a more "webby" look by changing our home page to include
multiple navigation links based on "User Roles" (by
industry-specific user titles), "Functional Tasks," "Major
Components," "Menu Help," and "Reference." Each of these links
brings the user to a page with 20-50 other links, grouped
logically.
We found that the major complaint was "I can't find
anything!" Adding this additional structure has so far elicited
positive feedback. We're also hoping that as users find topics
related to their needs, they'll learn where those topics live in
the TOC, so that they can find things more easily in subsequent
trips.
A well-designed Index used to be helpful, but I think today's
"Googleized" users can't do anything but "Search"! And until RH
provides a better search engine in a future release, you need to
provide as much navigation help in your "layout" and/or find
another search engine to incorporate into your help.
Good luck,
Leon