Reizinger Zoltán wrote:
Hi Dan,
Elder Dan Lewis írta:
Welcome. I have been working on the Base Guide. I have written
the first chapter, and there is much that needs to be done on it. It
is being reviewed right now. It is located in the feedback folder for
Base:
http://www.oooauthors.org/english/userguide3/db3/base3_feedback/introducing-base/Introducing_Base_18Aug09_DEL_DJ[1].odt
This might give you an idea of what has been done so far. I am
beginning to think that this chapter is far too long (34,000 words).
Maybe you will have some suggestions as to where fewer words should
be used.
I downloaded your introduction chapter, it is great work!
Some ideas, not in order:
1. It seems to me, this document is contain not only introduction, but
valuable parts of next chapters.
I read lot of mails from this mailing list. Checked other applications
guide's introduction chapter, and I think some consistency could be
good between introduction parts of guides. In these introduction
chapters they describe the some basic ideas about application, main
application window, main toolbars, menu items, statusbar, etc.,
opening existing documents, creating new, some basic editions,
searching in database.
I think we must create some similar introduction chapter. Your version
contain much more which better fit into next chapters.
I know it hard without creating any useful example not possible
explain Base, and Base not contain any when installs.
For the introduction chapter needs simple database, which may be will
not use in next chapters, and it is only for working with wizards,
without any changes, when finished it. Needs some data into, to work
with queries, and reports. May be without any detailed explanation.
Main goal creating this database shows users, they can create simple
(at least half) useful but working examples, and not create high
barrier to them.
They may be not read Getting Started Base chapter, when they read Base
Guide.
2. If you check only dumb page numbers, Writer 27, Calc, 30, Draw 15,
Impress 23 pages long, base introduction 129 page, seems to me, too much.
The goal can be - create max 35 pages long introduction chapter.
3. If you agree, with my ideas, in changing this chapter.
I will try first to create (half)useful database, for example
Addresses database, then I try to cut down, this chapter, to show that
smaller introduction chapter is not impossible.
What you thoughts, about my ideas?
Best regards,
Zoltan
I agree with you completely. Go ahead with making the changes you
suggested. To be honest, I was not sure what an introductory chapter
needed to be so I wrote in far more details than I should have. In
chapter 2, I am modifying the same database I had used in the
introduction chapter. I can see where what I have already written can be
used in chapter 2 as well as later chapters.
--Dan
