Hi Friends, First I just want to thank Maren again, for getting this manual set up, so that we can move forward with translating and editing. 3 Cheers!!!
During our early discussions, I had mentioned, and she agreed, that since the Docs list covers kind of a lot of territory (website, new manual, various other documentation) we might want to identify discussions pertaining to the manual by something in the title of message. That's why I put [Manual] at the beginning of the title of this message. I'm not sure if it should maybe go at the end of the title? Or maybe should be [Man]?
My main reason for this message, is because I want to start a discussion about overall organization of the chapters. To me, it makes sense to get that ironed out in the beginning. Because as it grows, it could become harder and harder to change how it's organized.
(Note that in this message I'm more describing the chapter and section titles, because right after this, I want to send another message on the subject of possibly improving section and chapter titles. Eventually, they'll come together, but for getting everyone's ideas out, it's probably better to have separate threads.)
So here are some thoughts I'm having on organization. If everyone else wants to wait, that's fine too. Just speak up :-)
To me, the Selection tool is a global tool and does not belong under Geometric Shapes. That implies either it can only be used with the shape tools, or used best with them. And that's not the case at all, in my view.
I'm thinking we need a new major section, that would go between Introduction and Geometric Shapes. Maybe it would be called something like The Basics or Getting Started? The purpose of it would be to quickly make newbies productive, while linking to the relevant parts of the manual, at each step. Then the rest of the manual would by and large be about the same (except I'll probably suggest a different order for some of chapters later). This could really almost be in the form of a tutorial, although not necessarily.
This section I'm proposing would include the following -- the current Interface chapter -- the current Managing the Workspace chapter(which appears to be about Document Properties dialog) -- the current Selection tool -- the current Fill and Stroke dialog -- a new chapter which explains the difference between raster and vector (unless this already exists and I haven't found it yet?) -- current Importing raster images -- current exporting PNG -- current Copying/duplicating -- current Saving your work (these last 3 are currently way down the list, in advanced section) (see discussion below) -- a new chapter introducing transparency, but linking to deeper applications in Fill/Color and/or Advanced sections -- current Align and Distrib from Path section to here -- maybe Transform dialog? (not sure if currently exists)
(not in that order - we can discuss the order later, if everyone agrees to this new section)
I'm having a hesitation about including the Fill and Stroke dialog in this section. Most of it is about color and transparency. But because of the Stroke Style tab, it becomes more of a global tool. I generally have it open always. Other comments?
The reason I would include Importing here, is because many newbies start out with Inkscape by needing to trace a raster image (auto-trace or manual). I tend to think of importing as part of setting up my document. Any other thoughts?
To me, you can't get more global than copying/duplicating (except maybe selection tool). For Saving Your Work, it just doesn't make sense (to me) to have that in advanced section. I realize for many formats, it is advanced material. But I'm thinking -- have a simple explanation in this new section, but then have links to the more advanced info, which most newbies won't need, just to get started.
For the section on Paths, I would suggest moving Strokes, Markers, and Custom Markers, out of the Fill/Colors section, into Paths section. That seems obvious to me, but I'd be interested to hear reasons for keeping them with Fill/Color. Ordering of fill/stroke/marker here too.
Is the Transform dialog covered anywhere? I don't see it by browsing the chapters, but maybe is there somewhere? If not, I would put either in the Geometric Shapes section, or maybe even the new section.
After some discussion, we can propose a good order for the chapters. Of course, I can only read those which have been translated. So maybe the current order will make more sense when I can read them.
But for now, what do you all think about the idea of a new section?
All best, brynn