[scribus-dev] online docs

[Gregory Pittman]

I think the biggest issue with online docs is what should be covered and 
how.

In my view they should not be comprehensive, but mainly focus on the 
basic considerations of how to use Scribus. As we know from the mail 
list, these basic considerations include some topics quite foreign to 
many users, like color management.

In this context, the perspectives that usage of the docs come from will 
answer questions such as "How do I...?" where the genesis is some design 
concept and its invocation in Scribus, or "I know I can do this ....... 
but I forget how", "How can I understand this complex dialog regarding 
......... that pops up when I click this icon?", or "I know how to do 
this in x.x version, but how do I do it in y.y version?

To a large extent, the docs must be self-contained. In other words, we 
can't assume internet connectivity for users at all times. Any links to 
outside sources should be considered to be additional background info, 
explanatory concepts, and information outside of simply using Scribus.

We do not need to show many if any examples (and this marks a contrast 
with the printed manual), but rather present whatever it takes to allow 
the users to experiment intelligently on their own. This presentation 
must allow for those who are well-versed in design, layout, and 
commercial printing, but also those who may be naïve to some or all of 
these.

The next layer of skill comes from making this accessible in the most 
intuitive, rapid fashion possible. Like programming, this is the job 
that is never as good as you would like, but requires a sustained effort 
to work toward a goal.

Greg