[gold_finger]

Hi guys,

I've been working on a new "Customize Your Desktop" page for the Help Manual.  Have tentatively made it a separate page accessed by link listed under "Install Guide" section of the manual (similar to how "Software Tutorials" is linked to from "Software" section).  Moved "Themes & Icons" and "Changing mouse pointer size" to the new page and am adding in misko's tutorial on making a launcher menu.  Will also add other general info on customizing the panel.

If you can think of other things you'd like to see on this page, let me know.  Hoping to have it above items done within next week and will upload to gold-finger branch on litemanual Github page when done.  Will post back here to let you know when it's uploaded for your review.

[valtam]

Wonderful, thank you gold_finger.

[valtam]

Ideas for future Manual entries:

UEFI - how to install LL the correct way with UEFI, reference:

[youtube]ZOmZXxXPwBU[/youtube]

GRUB Basics - navigating around the GRUB Menu, editing GRUB files inside LL, fixing dual boot problems with Windows etc,,,

Fixing the /etc/issue /etc/lsb-release issue - reference: https://www.linuxliteos.com/forums/index...61#msg1061

32bit or 64bit, which should I choose and why?

Adding the Lite Fonts package.

ATI and nVidia - the difference between legacy and current drivers and cards.

Enabling full Bluetooth support in Linux Lite - reference, https://www.linuxliteos.com/forums/index...opic=558.0

Changing hostname and username details.

Resolving Broadcom issues.

Changing the boot splash screen - reference, https://www.linuxliteos.com/forums/index...86#msg8586

Just ideas, not a 'shopping list' as such :)

[gold_finger]

Ideas for future Manual entries:

UEFI - how to install LL the correct way with UEFI, reference:

Have seen that video, but am working with someone right now to see if there is an easier way to get it done.  If successful, will use my method and give secondary reference to this video.  If not, then will recommend video method and try to create an easier-to-follow guide to go with it.

GRUB Basics - navigating around the GRUB Menu, editing GRUB files inside LL, fixing dual boot problems with Windows etc,,,

Fixing the /etc/issue /etc/lsb-release issue - reference: https://www.linuxliteos.com/forums/index...61#msg1061

32bit or 64bit, which should I choose and why?

Adding the Lite Fonts package.Enabling full Bluetooth support in Linux Lite - reference, https://www.linuxliteos.com/forums/index...opic=558.0

Changing hostname and username details.

Resolving Broadcom issues.

Changing the boot splash screen - reference, https://www.linuxliteos.com/forums/index...86#msg8586

Will work on those after Customize Desktop page done.

ATI and nVidia - the difference between legacy and current drivers and cards.

Not really an area I know much about.  Will likely need your input when time comes for that section.  Unless you want that done first, I'm going to leave it for last.


Just to throw out another idea for farther into the future -- it's starting to feel like we might be outgrowing the current structure of the help manual with it's five headings that we try to squeeze everything into or branched off of.  At some point, we might want to consider changing it to a layout more like a book, or wiki type layout, with an Intro as the home page followed by a table of contents to make things easier for people to find.  Any thoughts on that?  Good/Bad idea?

[valtam]

ATI and nVidia - the difference between legacy and current drivers and cards.

Not really an area I know much about.  Will likely need your input when time comes for that section.  Unless you want that done first, I'm going to leave it for last.

Let's leave that one for last.

Just to throw out another idea for farther into the future -- it's starting to feel like we might be outgrowing the current structure of the help manual with it's five headings that we try to squeeze everything into or branched off of.  At some point, we might want to consider changing it to a layout more like a book, or wiki type layout, with an Intro as the home page followed by a table of contents to make things easier for people to find.  Any thoughts on that?  Good/Bad idea?

I completely agree. I'm not terribly keen on Wiki's myself as the markup is slow and a pita to work with. I'll look at a solution for a new Manual this year. We'll definitely start off with a contents page.

[anon222]

Hi gold_finger,
Thank you for all the time, efforts and ideas you put into making the Manual.
I think many people don't know that there is a Manual.
If I were you, I would like to hear from the members how did they found out about the Manual.
I would also like to hear their thoughts on the Manual design and their ideas on how to improve the Manual.
For example: what new sections should be covered by the manual.
You could open a new thread in the Suggestions and Feedback section of the forum.
Something like this:

Code:

I'm interested in how many of you, when you first installed Linux Lite, were aware that there is a help manual in the whisker menu.
Also how did you found out about the Manual.
For example: On the forum, on the Welcome screen, found it in the Menu, on the Inernet, Facebook...
Please post you suggestions here on how to make the Manual better.
Your thoughts on the design and new sections are welcome.

Also a poll on how did the members found out about the Manual would be nice.

[gold_finger]

[quote author=gold_finger link=topic=1431.msg9681#msg9681 date=1420501833]
Just to throw out another idea for farther into the future -- it's starting to feel like we might be outgrowing the current structure of the help manual with it's five headings that we try to squeeze everything into or branched off of.  At some point, we might want to consider changing it to a layout more like a book, or wiki type layout, with an Intro as the home page followed by a table of contents to make things easier for people to find.  Any thoughts on that?  Good/Bad idea?

I completely agree. I'm not terribly keen on Wiki's myself as the markup is slow and a pita to work with. I'll look at a solution for a new Manual this year. We'll definitely start off with a contents page.
[/quote]

Okay, then we're pretty much on same page for that.  I don't have any Wiki experience, but was using that more as an example.  I think all we need to do is come up with a basic page/header/footer design, then just write the manual in HTML like is done now but have it in more of a book type format.  Title/Intro page, table of contents (with main sections and sub-topics under them), followed by pages of content.  As things get added, just put the page in most appropriate spot and add it to the table of contents.  That's pretty much all I was thinking.

I think many people don't know that there is a Manual.
If I were you, I would like to hear from the members how did they found out about the Manual.
I would also like to hear their thoughts on the Manual design and their ideas on how to improve the Manual.
For example: what new sections should be covered by the manual.
You could open a new thread in the Suggestions and Feedback section of the forum.

Yes -- it does seem that some people aren't aware of the help manual.  Don't really know what can be done differently to make them aware.  Jerry's already got link to it in Favorites on the Menu, Welcome screen mentions it, and a bookmark to it is preset in the browser.  I think part of the problem is not that they don't know it exists or where it is, but they have a hard time finding what they need in it when they look for a solution -- which is a big part of the reason I brought up possibly changing the format.

Good idea to ask people on forum for their input about the manual.  Will do that a bit later today.

[anon222]

Yes -- it does seem that some people aren't aware of the help manual.  Don't really know what can be done differently to make them aware.  Jerry's already got link to it in Favorites on the Menu, Welcome screen mentions it, and a bookmark to it is preset in the browser.  I think part of the problem is not that they don't know it exists or where it is, but they have a hard time finding what they need in it when they look for a solution -- which is a big part of the reason I brought up possibly changing the format.

Good idea to ask people on forum for their input about the manual.  Will do that a bit later today.

Oh, I totally forgot about browser bookmark. Favorites on the Menu, Welcome screen mentions it, and a bookmark to it is present in the browser. That covers all the thing we can do to tell the users about the manual. I guess we won't go that far to draw it on the wallpaper. :)
I agree, it must be hard to find what they need. I hope there is a solution that's not going to take you too much time and effort. Changing the format can be a complex thing to do.

[valtam]

Okay, then we're pretty much on same page for that.  I don't have any Wiki experience, but was using that more as an example.  I think all we need to do is come up with a basic page/header/footer design, then just write the manual in HTML like is done now but have it in more of a book type format.  Title/Intro page, table of contents (with main sections and sub-topics under them), followed by pages of content.  As things get added, just put the page in most appropriate spot and add it to the table of contents.  That's pretty much all I was thinking.

Agreed :)

[gold_finger]

Hi Jerry & Misko,

As you can see, I'm running a little behind on getting the "Customize Your Desktop" Page done.  Had friends in from out of town for 5 days and got sidetracked.  Should be complete by Monday and uploaded to Github for review.

Regarding Help Manual feedback from forum members, here are my general thoughts.  A few things can be easily added to what we already have:
-- File Permissions:  briefly explain diff. b/w using sudo vs. a separate root user and that being able to use sudo does not mean that the user is always running as administrator the way they may think of it in Windows terms.  (altman)
-- Make note of how to fix wrong PPA url for Google and Steam for any who run into that problem after initial install and update attempt.  (altman, bitsnpcs)

Things that I agree would be beneficial to add when format of manual changes to make these additions easier:
-- Some kind of "Quick Start" guide. (Wirezfree, misko)
-- Beginner's FAQ section (just basic FAQ's aimed at Linux beginners -- not a comprehensive answer every imaginable question thing.)  (Wirezfree, misko)
-- Common Linux Terminology (maybe in form of glossary at end, or possibly just merge this into FAQ's and aim it primarily at differences b/w similar terms used in Windows vs. Linux)  (Wirezfree, bitsnpcs)
-- Troubleshooting Section: mainly brief descriptions of problems with links to possible solutions posted in the forum or elsewhere on the net.  Over time, this can be added to easily and end up being very useful for most common problems.  (Wirezfree)


Other:
-- Youtube channel with various tutorial videos.  (rokytnji, banko)  I like this idea, but might be a bit much to try implementing right now.  Possible idea would be to make a list of wanted video tutorials and ask for help from forum members to make them.
-- Maybe? consider expanding on the list of basic terminal commands already in the manual.  Maybe add some typical commands that people are asked to run when posting for help on forums?  Personally, I think it might just be better to leave it mostly as we already have it but add a few recommended tutorial links.  There are plenty of really good tutorials out there already and it seems pretty pointless to essentially just recreate the same thing in our manual.  (Wirezfree, bitsnpcs)

Anyway, I'll probably try to add first couple of items to manual immediately.  What are your thoughts on rest of items?

I'm thinking that once we've decided on some of these things I can start working on any new content we'll be adding and try to have as much as possible ready to apply to whatever new format/template we decide on later for the manual.  With any luck we might be able to have it ready to roll out with the next LL release.