Hi all,
I am sorry, because I think that Terry is right here.
I have a proposal here: instead of putting “About” or “Read-Me” files here and
there, put all of these in a pdf file (styled using Language Reference
template), add a valid "doc_bug-request at realbasic dot com" email address et voilà.
Pros:
-----
a. Even if you will have few doc reports (both bug or requests), you have the
basics of the "What’s new in REALbasic 6" update pdf (for those of us who
upgrade from 5.5 to 6).
b. New buyers will get a brand new documentation.
c. Some questions will no more ends in the list because the answers are in the
"What’s new in REALbasic 6" update pdf.
On the cons side, there is none (the documentation have to be written, you
already have an eMail address to get doc bugs, and the list will still have
weird/useless questions here or there and even from me sometimes...)
HTH,
Emile
gettingstarted-request at lists dot realsoftware dot com wrote:
Subject: Documentation Errors/The RB "Neverending Story"
From: Terry Ford <tmford at shaw dot ca>
Date: Sat, 29 May 2004 07:39:57 -0700
Dear REAL Software,
One of the biggest gripes I have had with REALbasic documentation is
that the final releases often contain out of date or incorrect
information. I have noticed this since my first upgrade to Version 3
from 2.1.
I don't know how many times I have read, "Unfortunately that section of
the online reference is out of date and needs to be updated" or "Please
report it as a bug against documentation". I've lost track as I don't
have enough fingers and toes.
BTW, there should be "Documentation Error" as one of the pop-up
selections at the start of a report along with "Feature Request" and
"Bug Report".
I understand that Alphas and Betas should be exempt, but more of an
effort to update online docs in fc's would allow errors to be reported
before the PDF and Printed versions are created. That is, if that's not
already too late. In that case, it should be done in the Betas.
To me, Correct Documentation is the 'life blood' of any major
Application. This has probably cost RS a lot of new users upgrading
after finding that the examples or properties/events/methods in the
User's Guide or Language Reference do not work properly. People who
subscribe to the lists do get the benefit of these corrections but, as
far as I can tell, the vast majority do *not* subscribe to the lists.
I am, personally, so used to this problem that I have learned to live
with it.
Also, is there some way that one can subscribe to both the full lists
and their Digests; perhaps under a different name or email address? I
would like to compare them and decide if I want to go to Digest mode
without losing any valuable messages.
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