Re: [Inkscape-docs] [Manual] Organization of the new manual

20 May 2017

      Smal correction: a chapter for Copy/Duplicate exists. Could be extended
by deletion options.
Maren
Am 20.05.2017 um 13:49 schrieb Maren Hachmann:
...
Hi Brynn,
I think we should probably get a good overview about the book's current
structure first, before we venture into making major changes.
The current sections are meant to gently guide people from drawing
*with* geometrical shapes (as a scaffolding), to drawing complex shapes,
to using extras.
This is a very different approach from the one I use in my intro
tutorial, for example, where I explain some basics first, then go to
trying them out.
The book we are working on is thought out in a different manner. It
doesn't teach theory so much as it allows people to explore on their
own, and only introduces the concepts when they are needed. It's like
you would do it when you explain Inkscape to kids, or to people who want
to learn in a less intellectual way.
I like this approach a lot, as it doesn't require people to understand
everything before they can start creating their first drawings. I find
it would be a loss, if we turned this concept upside down, by adding
/all/ the theory to the beginning.
That said, I think it could be useful to quickly explain how to use the
palette, so beginners can color their drawings, and to ask people to
tweak some of the more badly chosen default settings (the four 'scale
with...' buttons and the Autosave feature), which will bite them in the
behind if not set to a useful value right from the start.
I agree that a new chapter for the Align+Distribute dialog (in the
advanced section), as well as one for Copy/Duplicate/Delete make a lot
of sense.
I would not include the transform dialog in this book at all. Its sheer
amount of options is a bit frightening.
You will find it easier to discuss this, though, when the translation
part is mostly done and you have all the relevant info available (which
is why I am currently concentrating on translating, one or more chapters
every day).
Anyone who can translate French -> English is welcome to join - there
are 43 (mostly short) chapters left to work on, as of today, May 20th 2017.
Kind Regards,
 Maren
Am 18.05.2017 um 19:24 schrieb brynn:
...
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

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