On Tue, Mar 23, 2010 at 10:59 AM, The Editor <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Mon, Mar 22, 2010 at 12:14 PM, Markus Weimar
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> I think we can find a common denominator that brings advantages from both 
>> views.
>
> Agreed. I like your proposal below...
>
>> When I first saw the help system I was disappointed. I expected
>> something like a formulary but what I found was a source code browser.
>> I said to myself this must be intended to be used when you have no
>> access to the code and you need to look something up. This is okay
>> then but of little interest to me as I have access to the code and a
>> text editor.
>
> I've found that true myself. I don't use it much at all. I just keep
> my code open all the time, and dive in whenever I want to...
>
>> Then I saw that more or less hidden page with the title "Editing
>> Notes". A markup table with preview only two clicks away! Very, very
>> nice and much potential.
>
> Note, if you are not an admin, the markup screen comes up first. Not
> second. I also designed it to be extensible. Can't remember the
> details--but we should be able to put in as many help pages as we
> want. I was kind of thinking people would create help plugins--to keep
> the core lean. But I can see the advantage of having 4-5 pages of very
> basic help information...
>
>> Partition the page in two sections: quick reference and code browser.
>> The code browser stays as it is. The quick reference would be that
>> API-like structure we have been talking about. Markups are there. Why
>> not add the same for variables, functions, conditions and commands?
>
> Better yet, why not just have the lay help information come up first,
> and then put links to the help system beside each. Example:
>
> Breadcrumbs: brief description..... Parameters.....  [[see code]]
> [[more info (at BoltWire)]]
> Counter: ..........  [[see code]]  [[more info (at BoltWire)]]
>
> If we did this, we could even consider moving the help lines out of
> the code. I suspect they might be more useful in a nice display...
>
>> No verbose documentation, just a quick reference list. The extended
>> docs will be on BoltWire.com. And as the quick reference would be part
>> of BoltWire, it would automatically be on BoltWire.com, too.
>
> Great--more stuff online...  For the help section we might use this
> simple hierarchy:
>
> site.help:  where to get help (mailing list, help system, BoltWire
> website. links to subpages)
> site.help.markups: ...
> site.help.functions: ...
> site.help.conditionals: ...
> site.help.commands: ...
> site.help.engine: ...
>
>> I would love this. And I could much better use BoltWire when sitting
>> in the sun without net access. It would make the system more complete
>> and less dependent on the website.
>
> Agreed. It would be useful. I don't always remember every parameter
> myself... Would be nice to get some normal help files in BoltWire. I
> think generating the text could be a nice goal for 4.xx

Agreed with all agreements of you from above. :)

What do you mean by "normal help files" and "generating" (from where?)?

This is going to be an awesome help system!

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