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Hi Jeff- I reviewed the new user guide- like the ability to navigate and quickly find topics- very helpful. I do have a comment- it does not seem to have the number of topics or detail that the old user guide has.
For instance- there is nothing to cover the topic of backing up BD- for that one would need to use the older version which seems to have been "set to the side". Are there plans to incorporate the topics from the previous guide into the newer format?
Thanks
Hi Tom,
Thanks for posting. Very interesting that you commented on this new user guide. Because I just made an example of it in another post about how I cleaned up the old web site when I built this new one 2 years ago. The old one was cluttered, with far too much information that no one read. It had everything, but no one ever found it or read it. The exact same with the User Guide. No one ever looked at 95% of the information in there. Answers to 95% of all questions I got asked were in the User Guide.
The new modus operandi is clean and simple - the most commonly asked questions and info. And then I am here to fill in the remaining 5%. Much easier.
The old user guide was of the standard of explain every window, every button, checkbox, text field, etc. No one has done that for 2 decades now. In fact, no one even bothers to write a User Guide. The user is assumed to understand and know how to navigate the programs main menu and toolbars to find logically organized features and function. It's basically the same with every program in the World nowadays.
The new User Guide focuses on the more complex concepts such as How To... create SPUHs, Slashes, etc., Special Features explained, Quick Start Guide, etc. The rest is handled here in the Forums.
This is all explained in the home page of the new User Guide here. There is also a link to the older (not updated since before v6.0) User Guide, that you mention, on that page.
With that said, on to your question at hand...
For instance- there is nothing to cover the topic of backing up BD- for that one would need to use the older version which seems to have been "set to the side". Are there plans to incorporate the topics from the previous guide into the newer format?
Backup/Restore functionality is where one might expect it on most Windows programs, under the File menu in the program. The window that pops up should be mostly self-explanatory.
I do include a little Info blurb about the only two options (filename and attachments) on that window. Otherwise fairly straightforward. And anything not covered there can be answered here.
If you have something more specific, please let me know and I will be sure to assist.
I also wanted to mention, that these Forums contain a wealth of edge-case information about questions not commonly covered in the User Guide or elsewhere.
When I rebuilt this site using the latest technology, a lot of time was spent shopping for the best Forums functionality available. These forums are amazing.
So, many times, simply Searching in these forums will find the information you are looking for. Already 1,278 replies in just 2 years. So you know there is info in here.
fyi
Thanks Jeff- totally understand and support your strategy- and I do use the forums.
I guess I am one of those individuals that likes to better understand the theory of the program, and over the years have used the old guide numerous times in better understanding BD and from the old guide, have learned to access and use the incredible functionality and features.
I did find and use the new guide and the old guide as you described.
My request would be that if you do consider retiring the old guide, perhaps make a pdf of the old guide, so those of us that are so inclined can download and use.
My request would be that if you do consider retiring the old guide, perhaps make a pdf of the old guide, so those of us that are so inclined can download and use
Therein lies the problem that eventually forced the retirement of the old guide and the creation of the new. That software died, and hasn't been available anywhere for over a decade. So there is no ability to produce it in any other format or update it, and it only lives on in HTML format on my web site. Ugggg.
