Hi,

12.12.2007 18:13,, Kern Sibbald wrote::
> Oh, by the way the "Concepts and Overview Guide" is current 356 pages, which 
> compares to the approx 769 pages in the current manual.  So there is still 
> more work to do, but I think it can well be cut down (e.g. the Tutorial can 
> be moved out, ...).

Oops... quite a chunk.

I'm not sure if the current state of what you do is in svn... is it 
possible to have a "preview" available?

Arno

> 
> 
> On Tuesday 11 December 2007 18:39, Arno Lehmann wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> 08.12.2007 11:53,, Kern Sibbald wrote::
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> This is to let you know that over the next couple of weeks, I will be
>>> making a major reorganization of the manuals, and so request anyone
>>> wanting to make changes to the English manual to contact me first --
>>> otherwise any changes you make risk being lost, which would be a pity.
>>>
>>> The changes I foresee are the following:
>>>
>>> 1. Reorganization of the manual directory structure to more easily
>>> accommodate multiple languages, multiple manual versions, and multiple
>>> manuals.
>>>
>>> 2. Divide the current 900+ page manual into a number of smaller manuals. 
>>> I haven't yet decided exactly how many manuals to create, but at a
>>> minimum, I expect to have the following:
>>>
>>>  Installation and Configuration
>>>  Catalog database (installation, configuration, maintenance)
>>>  Console  (all types ...)
>>>  FAQ
>>>  Developers' Guide (already separate)
>>>  Reference manual
>> I mainly agree, but I think this:
>>
>> - Introduction (overview, concepts and terminology)
>> - Installation and Configuration
>> - Catalog
>> - Console and Operators Overview
>> - FAQ (we should collect them...)
>> - Developer's Guide
>>
>> would be even better.
>>
>> References should be included where they belong, i.e. all
>> configuration stuff into the "Configuration" manual, and all console
>> commands etc. into the "Console" manual.
>>
>>> The problem in breaking up the manual is that there is a fine balance
>>> between one gigantic manual as we currently have and too many little
>>> manuals.
>> I'd approach this like this: Try to create a manual that explains
>> everything to a specific audience.
>>
>> The Introduction obviously would be necessary to everyone, from
>> managers deciding to have their staff try Bacula to tape operators.
>>
>> The Install and Configuration one should have all you need to set up
>> Bacula, from the basic OS requirements and supported hardware to
>> testing and troubleshooting.
>>
>> The Console manual should have everything a backup operator needs to
>> know (possibly separated into sections for simple tasks - like running
>> jobs, doing restores, etc. and advanced topics explaining the complete
>> commands, not requiring the menus).
>>
>> The Catalog manual should explain the setup of the catalog database in
>> some detail, the queries in the queries.sql file and how to adapt them
>> to special needs, and finally the catalog maintenance (dbcheck,
>> database-related tools for error recovery and maintenance (vacuum
>> under PostgreSQL)).
>>
>> The FAQ should also be separated into several sections, applicable to
>> distinct audiences.
>>
>> There will probably be many cross-references...
>>
>>>  Where
>>> the happy median is, I am not sure,
>> I'm also not sure, but each manual should have less than, say, 200
>> pages IMO. The main problem is to find a really qualified technical
>> writer, I believe... ;-)
>>
>> Arno
>>
>>> but once the process is started and I
>>> have the new file structure, it should be relatively easy to split
>>> manuals in the future if we need to.
>>>
>>> I expect to make the same changes to the German and French manuals after
>>> completing the work on the English manual.  Once I start that work
>>> (probably much later), I will send another email ...
>>>
>>> Best regards,
>>>
>>> Kern
>>>
>>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> SF.Net email is sponsored by:
>>> Check out the new SourceForge.net Marketplace.
>>> It's the best place to buy or sell services for
>>> just about anything Open Source.
>>> http://sourceforge.net/services/buy/index.php
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Bacula-devel mailing list
>>> [email protected]
>>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bacula-devel
> 

-- 
Arno Lehmann
IT-Service Lehmann
www.its-lehmann.de

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SF.Net email is sponsored by:
Check out the new SourceForge.net Marketplace.
It's the best place to buy or sell services
for just about anything Open Source.
http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;164216239;13503038;w?http://sf.net/marketplace
_______________________________________________
Bacula-devel mailing list
[email protected]
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/bacula-devel

Reply via email to