MX-18.3 RC1 Feedback

[dolphin_oracle]

Ok I'll add to the next update of mx-docs. Jerry just finished updates.

[AK-47]

People are getting tired of being told RTFM.

True but a label/comment is very different from a suggestion in the forums. For example, AFAIK, people are not tired of "README" files (taken from "drink me" and "eat me" from Alice In Wonderland).

IMO, the label "Read the Fine Manual" does several positive things. First it is telling people here is the manual that people have been telling you to read, in a very unambiguous and slightly humorous way. Second, our manual is superb! I think it is at least partially responsible for our newfound DW fame. It really is fine and I think we should tell people that up front.

I know of no better way to tell people "here is the documentation, please read it". Especially people who are tired of being told to RTFM. One common complaint/suggestion after being told to RTFM is "where is this manual you speak of?" Providing a "Read the Fine Manual" label relieves the tension from being told too often to RTFM.

I much prefer being direct, unambiguous, and slightly humorous over being slightly ambiguous and mamby-pamby.

OTOH, I'm weird so my senses of humor and propriety can sometimes be far from universal.

Connotations play a huge part in this, and Windows veterans often associate "RTFM" with snobbery and refusal to help. It used to be the case where you could ask a complicated question with no obvious place to look for help, and be told "just RTFM lol" or something to that effect, and it put a lot of people off.

How about "Manual" it's obvious it's a User Manual and it's obvious it's for MX...

Like this:

Perhaps the icon can be made with a bit more contrast, it blends well with the background and isn't easy to spot at a first glance. Sort of like the icon used in the welcome screen:

helpicon.png

[i_ri]

hello dolphin_oracle and everyone
I do not grow tired of Some0ne saying "RTFM" ,
just maybe the icon text could be
"Field Manual"


and a tip/ note in the manual about drag and drop it to the Documents folder for safekeeping if you don't want it on the desktop. (?)
[or put it into Documents in the first place; not the desktop. (?) if it goes into documents, then it will need a marker more descriptive than simply Manual. BitJam or EadwineRose mouse over for better description text would be great.]
MXanual

[Adrian]

Well, I for one, I'm glad that the most bug reports are about the color of the icon and the text that needs to go with the manual icon

[i_ri]

hello dolphin_oracle
Yes Adrian, same thought here. though not feedback while it is not a dev column
along the same lines,, I always included in a mx usb remaster demo one of each filetype in order to demonstrate / familiarize the default behavior and showcase the associated software within the filesystem. in Documents one each .txt[.lf], .pdf, .odt; in Pictures a .jpg; in Videos a video [make it a d_o and add a link to more mx help videos]; in Music one audio file; Desktop Help.
Combine this with each of these being related to MX Manual and that is [six in this example, audio?] each a reference / referral to experience the MX help contents. A cute sample file is best, but it could be oriented toward Manual, Credits, Welcome.

[asqwerth]

Short, sweet and CLEAR is best.

Just "Manual" will do for me.

Agree with Adrian.

[JayM]

"Manual" is easier to translate too.

[Eadwine Rose]

Yep, manual is just peachy :)

[mxer]

I'd suggest using the black & white MX logo for the manual, (as well as the Installer), because once installed, it will be clear to anyone that it is the MX Manual.

[Eadwine Rose]

Mod note: referring to the rules: no politics allowed on this forum. Posts dealing with such have been removed.