I agree that it would be good to create a separate handbook to describe Calc's functions and I will spend time creating a first draft of this during the coming months.
As for the relevant chapter in the Calc Guide, I worry that it is now too thick following the addition of so many new functions. My latest draft is 80+ pages. I suggest we retain it for the moment but I'll try too remove excess verbage from descriptions that appear unnecessarily detailed. It would be nice to shorten it a bit before issue! I tend to agree with Jean and so when a separate handbook becomes available, the chapter should be withdrawn from future issues of the Calc Guide. Regards, Steve On Wed, 27 Nov 2019 at 01:09, Jean Weber <[email protected]> wrote: > On Tue, 26 Nov 2019 at 18:13 Olivier Hallot < > [email protected]> > wrote: > > > Hi Steve > > > > Em 26/11/2019 11:00, Stephen Fanning escreveu: > > > Olivier, > > > > > > As you are aware I have noted some discrepancies between the Function > > > Wizard and the Help system with regards to the descriptions of the 500+ > > > Calc functions. I have kept a list of the issues found so far and will > > > raise bugs in due course. > > > > I am interested in these discrepancies because the Help system is > > actually the reference information to users. Therefore, information > > accuracy in the Help system is a quality issue and must be addressed. > > > > > > > > [...] > > > > > > Once I have completed the draft Calc Guide chapter, I would be prepared > > to > > > carry out a more systematic and thorough cross-check of the function > > > descriptions over the next few months, as a background task. Would > that a > > > worthwhile exercise? > > > > In the Calc Guide point of view, my personal opinion is that it can turn > > the chapter into an extensive reference, which can turn the book a bit > > too heavy, having pages and pages of esoteric > > math/sciences/financial//computer sciences/.../ functions, perhaps > > better fit into a "Handbook of LibreOffice Calc Functions" book on its > own. > > > > Would that be a worthwhile exercise? yes definitely. Everyone will > benefit. > > > > Help system: must be as accurate as possible with respect to the current > > software implementation. > > > > the "Handbook": will be a wonderful piece of work for LibreOffice Calc. > > 500 or more functions is not a small task, though. > > > > Note: We often see a mix of objective in product documentation blurring > > Reference info and Guide info. To try to make things a bit clear, the > > software Help system must be reference-oriented, where information is > > factual and accurate (and dull). For example, the Help system should not > > be used to explain the math behind the COS function. The same COS > > function can figure in a Guide with some trigonometry background info to > > help user in achieving a goal, because Guides are essentially > > goal-oriented information. > > > > IMO the functions chapter should be a separate handbook, not part of the > Calc Guide itself. Years ago when the first iteration of the book was being > written, I argued against including it, but others wanted it in. To me the > Calc Guide (and all the guides) should be task- or goal-oriented (how to do > things), not reference books. > > Jean > > > > > > -- > To unsubscribe e-mail to: [email protected] > Problems? > https://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ > Posting guidelines + more: https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette > List archive: https://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/documentation/ > Privacy Policy: https://www.documentfoundation.org/privacy > -- To unsubscribe e-mail to: [email protected] Problems? https://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/mailing-lists/how-to-unsubscribe/ Posting guidelines + more: https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette List archive: https://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/documentation/ Privacy Policy: https://www.documentfoundation.org/privacy
