This cable works fine: no directions needed, and it automatically alerts the computer (at least it does mine: I use Apple's iPhoto) that the camera is plugged in, which means the necessary software is launched without any effort on the part of the user. What's more, if you own any of the excellent Sony Cybershot cameras, this is the only choice available for downloading photos to your computer.
But if you do use this, be sure to unplug the cable from the camera as soon as the download is complete. If you don't, you may learn as I did that the product has one design flaw: even a moderate amount of pressure on the camera with the plug still in could tilt the camera bend the end of the cable, pulling the metal part from the plastic and rendering the whole thing useless. Which explains why I'm on this page ordering a replacement.