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 >> >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most >> engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot >> _______________________________________________ >> Inkscape-docs mailing list >> Inkscape-docs@lists.sourceforge.net >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/inkscape-docs >> > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most > engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot > _______________________________________________ > Inkscape-docs mailing list > Inkscape-docs@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/inkscape-docs > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot _______________________________________________ Inkscape-docs mailing list Inkscape-docs@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/inkscape-docs
