S h i v wrote: > One gap I have always seen to be the case with a non-Windows system is > a good help system. > > Indiana over a period of time should consider to have a good help framework. > > [1] It should allow the user to *discover the solution* instead of > making the user reach out for mailing lists, IRCs, 1000page docs. > A. *Good/functional search* > B. Indexed > [2] The document & tool information should be accessible > Correct interlinkages : Context sensitive, See Also, Related > Tools, Related Tasks, Examples, etc. > [3] Mechanism for developers to integrate help content for their app > into the main help system > Content generation becomes responsibility of the software developers. > [4] Mechanism for people to contribute content (not always allows > display, but allows edit and upload for authenticated users) > (Google earth community built the bookmark for the entire globe > in no time) > [5] Have facility for user feedback > Helps make content relevant, especially when user doesn't get > the information he needs from the help system. > > See the thread at desktop-discuss for detailed comments > http://mail.opensolaris.org/pipermail/desktop-discuss/2007-August/010456.html > > And no, man pages do not satisfy the requirements. > > We can consider these met the day when we stop seeing requests for > help on opensolaris list for tasks such as > - Changing computer name > - Changing ip address > - Rebooting/shutting down a system as non-root user > - Configuring wifi/ethernet > (A person being able to send a mail to opensolaris.org should be > sufficient enough skill to do the above tasks using the help system).
I think we all see the same issues, but I am not sure I agree on the proposed approach. Wouldn't an intuitive or discoverable GUI meet the same requirements, and won't a substantial knowledge-base available on the internet help this too? If, for example, there was a button in the top right or bottom left that, when clicked, offered you the ability to shut the machine down (even as non-root), I don't think you would need a help page. I accept that it may not be obvious that changing the host name is a function of network administration etc., but I think the first priority should be to have the user environment as discoverable as possible, and that the best place to go for detailed information on using the system should be OpenSolaris.org. Help menus have their place too, of course, but addressing the things you list above can happen in a number of ways. Patrick > ps: openoffice.org has a pretty decent help system. But it is a bit > slow(in java) though. > _______________________________________________ > indiana-discuss mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.opensolaris.org/mailman/listinfo/indiana-discuss _______________________________________________ indiana-discuss mailing list [email protected] http://mail.opensolaris.org/mailman/listinfo/indiana-discuss
