Textpattern CMS support forum
You are not logged in. Register | Login | Help
- Topics: Active | Unanswered
#25 2005-05-17 21:17:52
- davidm
- Member
- From: Paris, France
- Registered: 2004-04-27
- Posts: 719
Re: [wiki] TextBook Wants You !
Thanks Destry for the input ! I guess it will help shed light on the TextBook process, and true I am also expecting more of the old-timers ;) And yeah chapter 4 is not an easy one, old-timers will be key to completing this task sucessfully.
Marios, this is a very good idea ! I fully second that, many resources are not necessarily documented and could be inserted or adapted to fit into the textbook ToC.
.: Retired :.
Offline
Re: [wiki] TextBook Wants You !
Not to keep referring to these fine folk as “old-timers,” but they know who they are, and they know the score with TextBook, if they don’t initiate time/effort to add something to TextBook on their own, then I don’t think there is really anything that could be said or done at this point to encourage them further. The simple fact that Dean has made TextBook the official documentation source for Textpattern should be reason enough (in my opinion). I think what may have to happen is someone else will need to “borrow” existing Weblog articles and rewrite them into TextBook without the authors’ actual involvement (but with their knowledge, of course), and then give their source articles a citation in the References section of TextBook, which is what it was intended for anyway.
Nevertheless, davidm, you are quite the recruiter (I must say) so if you find something that works, by all means pursue it.
Offline
#27 2005-05-18 11:29:36
- davidm
- Member
- From: Paris, France
- Registered: 2004-04-27
- Posts: 719
Re: [wiki] TextBook Wants You !
I am not sure every “old-timer” is necessarily completely aware of the current effort, or I’d rather say the whole community and especially old-timers are “living” on the forums and not necessarily taking the step to also contribute to TextBook or textpattern.org for that matter (but things are changing, as for textpattern.org is concerned. People have started being convinced they can find the info they need there, with the 200 plugins, the mods and tips…).
I think it’s just a matter of these alternative “places” to gain recognition with those forum junkies we all are ;-) This place is great, I very much agree, but the wiki and textpattern.org are the natural places for “core” contributors (a.k.a old-timers) to go to. It’s just hard to attract people there ! Maybe it’s the idea that they don’t have enough time to make a significant contribution, or that they are not convinced yet by the results (many people were in this case regarding textpattern.org, but with alicson and some others, the regular build of content made it earn due respect). I don’t know…
As you say, I am trying to recruit, and maybe an opiniated enthusiast old-timer like me can (with your help, the help of Remillard and others) tip the odds, I don’t know… Wait & see !
The french are starting to answer the call, at least :) I am confident the translation effort will greatly accelerate in the next weeks. What concerns me is the original english version. We have to reach a cruising speed to achieve this, and my POV is that we’re not there yet…
.: Retired :.
Offline
Re: [wiki] TextBook Wants You !
I’ve heard the call and promise to make an effort to get some more texts into the Wiki! Thanks for keeping this on the table. It sometimes takes just the repeated reminders…
Offline
#29 2005-05-18 12:20:48
- davidm
- Member
- From: Paris, France
- Registered: 2004-04-27
- Posts: 719
Re: [wiki] TextBook Wants You !
Thanks for the help :-)
I know that you’re already putting quite an effort to add content to textpattern.org…
As you say, hammering this will maybe payoff, attract attention at least !
.: Retired :.
Offline
Re: [wiki] TextBook Wants You !
davidm wrote: The french are starting to answer the call, at least :) I am confident the translation effort will greatly accelerate in the next weeks. What concerns me is the original english version. We have to reach a cruising speed to achieve this, and my POV is that we’re not there yet…
I agree. If the English version is not up to snuff, then it will not be much of a motivator for anyone who might otherwise want to do translation work.
What would be very nice at this point (besides some focused effort on Chapter 4, which will require the “experts” to contribute to), is to simply see some improvements to the pages that are already there, such as the detailed work I’m slowly doing for the admin panels in Chapter 3 (e.g., Preferences Subtab), and for the TxP Tag appendix pages, particularly with respect to the individual tag pages (read the tag page Editing Notes, and see an example of how each page could be improved to be). Sometimes it’s not just new content, but the quality of content that exists that can be worked on.
Offline
Re: [wiki] TextBook Wants You !
Destry, one thing that occured to me just now: could someone provide the raw screenshots for the explanations of the admin interface? Not with the numbers and all, just screenshots of the English-language interface.
I would have to change the interface to English and switch off various admin-side plugins which is a hindrance to starting in the first place. Someone using an ordinary out-of-the-box admin interface might contribute the screenshots witout much effort. I’d be more than willing to add the explanations to them.
Offline
Re: [wiki] TextBook Wants You !
andreas wrote: …I would have to change the interface to English and switch off various admin-side plugins which is a hindrance to starting in the first place. Someone using an ordinary out-of-the-box admin interface might contribute the screenshots witout much effort. I’d be more than willing to add the explanations to them.
Good point. Adding screen shots and header placeholders is a reasonable first step in many instances. However, in your case, Andreas, why not just start doing the same thing but for the German version of these pages. A true translation would need the German version of the images anyway, so it seems like a good path to take. To encourage you further, I’m knighting you the LGT for the German efforts in TextBook; you basically now serve the same role for the German authors, as <strong>davidm</strong> does for the French community. You’ve been around a long time, always give good input in the boards, I don’t think anyone would object—certainly not me. Welcome aboard.
Offline
Re: [wiki] TextBook Wants You !
andreas, the on-the-fly-knighted, accepts the honour.
Offline
Re: [wiki] TextBook Wants You !
Destry or anyone who can – I’d like an account; I can add some stuff to the fact sheet at least.
Offline
Re: [wiki] TextBook Wants You !
Can’t take care of your account until you provide me with an email address first, which is explained in the new User Accounts page of the wiki.
Everyone else, <strong>please do not request wiki accounts in this thread</strong>. Follow instructions noted above. Thanks.
As far as the fact sheet goes, it’s purpose may now be obsolete (and subject to removal) since TextBook is already linked from the textpattern.com. (The original idea was the Fact Sheet would serve as the first bit of info fromTextBook, but it appears Dean has moved ahead with linking to TxB outright, which is good.) You might focus on something else until that page is determined for certain.
Offline
Re: [wiki] TextBook Wants You !
Destry, I’ve written something last night (“import subtab”) and have some suggestions:
First, I’m not very familiar with wiki editing so I missed a page where all the formating rules are explained.
Secondly, I found it strange the in the nav on the left there are no links to the main sections of the wiki, one has to call the main page to go somewhere else. Is this intentional or forced by the wiki software? I’d find it handy to have some more link there.
Apart from that, it’s fun ;-). I even got the screenshots up. To be continued…
Offline