Smal correction: a chapter for Copy/Duplicate exists. Could be extended
by deletion options.

Maren

Am 20.05.2017 um 13:49 schrieb Maren Hachmann:
> Hi Brynn,
> 
> I think we should probably get a good overview about the book's current
> structure first, before we venture into making major changes.
> 
> The current sections are meant to gently guide people from drawing
> *with* geometrical shapes (as a scaffolding), to drawing complex shapes,
> to using extras.
> 
> This is a very different approach from the one I use in my intro
> tutorial, for example, where I explain some basics first, then go to
> trying them out.
> 
> The book we are working on is thought out in a different manner. It
> doesn't teach theory so much as it allows people to explore on their
> own, and only introduces the concepts when they are needed. It's like
> you would do it when you explain Inkscape to kids, or to people who want
> to learn in a less intellectual way.
> 
> I like this approach a lot, as it doesn't require people to understand
> everything before they can start creating their first drawings. I find
> it would be a loss, if we turned this concept upside down, by adding
> /all/ the theory to the beginning.
> 
> That said, I think it could be useful to quickly explain how to use the
> palette, so beginners can color their drawings, and to ask people to
> tweak some of the more badly chosen default settings (the four 'scale
> with...' buttons and the Autosave feature), which will bite them in the
> behind if not set to a useful value right from the start.
> 
> I agree that a new chapter for the Align+Distribute dialog (in the
> advanced section), as well as one for Copy/Duplicate/Delete make a lot
> of sense.
> 
> I would not include the transform dialog in this book at all. Its sheer
> amount of options is a bit frightening.
> 
> You will find it easier to discuss this, though, when the translation
> part is mostly done and you have all the relevant info available (which
> is why I am currently concentrating on translating, one or more chapters
> every day).
> 
> Anyone who can translate French -> English is welcome to join - there
> are 43 (mostly short) chapters left to work on, as of today, May 20th 2017.
> 
> Kind Regards,
>  Maren
> 
> Am 18.05.2017 um 19:24 schrieb brynn:
>> Hi Friends,
>>         First I just want to thank Maren again, for getting this manual set 
>> up, 
>> so that we can move forward with translating and editing.  3 Cheers!!!
>>
>>         During our early discussions, I had mentioned, and she agreed, that 
>> since the Docs list covers kind of a lot of territory (website, new manual, 
>> various other documentation) we might want to identify discussions 
>> pertaining to 
>> the manual by something in the title of message.  That's why I put [Manual] 
>> at 
>> the beginning of the title of this message.  I'm not sure if it should maybe 
>> go 
>> at the end of the title?  Or maybe should be [Man]?
>>
>>         My main reason for this message, is because I want to start a 
>> discussion 
>> about overall organization of the chapters.  To me, it makes sense to get 
>> that 
>> ironed out in the beginning.  Because as it grows, it could become harder 
>> and 
>> harder to change how it's organized.
>>
>>         (Note that in this message I'm more describing the chapter and 
>> section 
>> titles, because right after this, I want to send another message on the 
>> subject 
>> of possibly improving section and chapter titles.  Eventually, they'll come 
>> together, but for getting everyone's ideas out, it's probably better to have 
>> separate threads.)
>>
>>         So here are some thoughts I'm having on organization.  If everyone 
>> else 
>> wants to wait, that's fine too.  Just speak up  :-)
>>
>>         To me, the Selection tool is a global tool and does not belong under 
>> Geometric Shapes.  That implies either it can only be used with the shape 
>> tools, 
>> or used best with them.  And that's not the case at all, in my view.
>>
>>         I'm thinking we need a new major section, that would go between 
>> Introduction and Geometric Shapes.  Maybe it would be called something like 
>> The 
>> Basics or Getting Started?  The purpose of it would be to quickly make 
>> newbies 
>> productive, while linking to the relevant parts of the manual, at each step. 
>> Then the rest of the manual would by and large be about the same (except 
>> I'll 
>> probably suggest a different order for some of chapters later).  This could 
>> really almost be in the form of a tutorial, although not necessarily.
>>
>>         This section I'm proposing would include the following
>> -- the current Interface chapter
>> -- the current Managing the Workspace chapter(which appears to be about 
>> Document 
>> Properties dialog)
>> -- the current Selection tool
>> -- the current Fill and Stroke dialog
>> -- a new chapter which explains the difference between raster and vector 
>> (unless 
>> this already exists and I haven't found it yet?)
>> -- current Importing raster images
>> -- current exporting PNG
>> -- current Copying/duplicating
>> -- current Saving your work  (these last 3 are currently way down the list, 
>> in 
>> advanced section) (see discussion below)
>> -- a new chapter introducing transparency, but linking to deeper 
>> applications in 
>> Fill/Color and/or Advanced sections
>> -- current Align and Distrib from Path section to here
>> -- maybe Transform dialog? (not sure if currently exists)
>>
>> (not in that order - we can discuss the order later, if everyone agrees to 
>> this 
>> new section)
>>
>>         I'm having a hesitation about including the Fill and Stroke dialog 
>> in 
>> this section.  Most of it is about color and transparency.  But because of 
>> the 
>> Stroke Style tab, it becomes more of a global tool.  I generally have it 
>> open 
>> always.  Other comments?
>>
>>         The reason I would include Importing here, is because many newbies 
>> start 
>> out with Inkscape by needing to trace a raster image (auto-trace or manual). 
>>  I 
>> tend to think of importing as part of setting up my document.  Any other 
>> thoughts?
>>
>>         To me, you can't get more global than copying/duplicating (except 
>> maybe 
>> selection tool).  For Saving Your Work, it just doesn't make sense (to me) 
>> to 
>> have that in advanced section.  I realize for many formats, it is advanced 
>> material.  But I'm thinking -- have a simple explanation in this new 
>> section, 
>> but then have links to the more advanced info, which most newbies won't 
>> need, 
>> just to get started.
>>
>>
>>         For the section on Paths, I would suggest moving Strokes, Markers,  
>> and 
>> Custom Markers, out of the Fill/Colors section, into Paths section.  That 
>> seems 
>> obvious to me, but I'd be interested to hear reasons for keeping them with 
>> Fill/Color.  Ordering of fill/stroke/marker here too.
>>
>>         Is the Transform dialog covered anywhere?  I don't see it by 
>> browsing 
>> the chapters, but maybe is there somewhere?  If not, I would put either in 
>> the 
>> Geometric Shapes section, or maybe even the new section.
>>
>>         After some discussion, we can propose a good order for the chapters. 
>>  Of 
>> course, I can only read those which have been translated.  So maybe the 
>> current 
>> order will make more sense when I can read them.
>>
>>         But for now, what do you all think about the idea of a new section?
>>
>> All best,
>> brynn
>>
>>
>>
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