Dear all,

I am thinking of updating Zenmanual as I see there are quite a few things still missing from the manual. I have some ideas, and I also got some suggestions from the dev team. I would also like to know what the community wants to include in the manual. I cannot guarantee that everything suggested would be included but I will do my best. So let any suggestion come in.

If you are interested in translating the manual, please contact me by PM or by email.

best wishes

The only thing I'm thinking of would not be concerning the content, but rather the container:

If we find a way to make the manual much lighter (in KB) we could probably include a multi-lingual version on the iso.

Why not a very light .txt version ? (browsable in init 3 ) ?
zenmanual_light.en, zenmanual_light.fr, ..., all in /usr/doc/zenmanual_light with a symlink to the desktop (K.I.S.S.)
In it, remove preface, how to burn an ISO, ..., just keep what is specific to zenwalk and can be helpful in case of panic ...

++

what's making it big is actually the pictures... not html. so i suppose we can make a text version, but that probably makes it more difficult to follow. hmmm....

For the "install" part, for instance, maybe the screen prints could be replaced by references to their titles, that are printed in blue in each screen. You could then write something like this:

In the screen titled "Zenwalk Setup", do "X", and click "OK". Next, in screen "Keyboard map selection", do "Y"... and so on.

For the other bigger-sized directories, you could follow a similar approach. Some images should go anyway, because they are obsoleted (gnomebaker), or soon to be obsoleted (netpkg).

It would also make it easier, and more efficient, to create localized versions of the manual, because it removes the necessity to create screen prints for each and every language you want to support.

perhaps, it would be better to have a separate manual for installation. once installed, you don't really need to have installation instruction within your zenwalk boxes.

zenwalk installation manual

and

zenwalk manual

in zenwalk manual, perhaps we can write about ISO programs we have there and how to use them briefly.

so, guess no one else has any suggestions... i was hoping that the community had some good ideas about what they want to see in the manual.

ok, so i will start writing. don't blame me if you won't find your favourite programs or howtos in the manual :p

That sounds good . Would you mind sharing your ideas? That way, people could get triggered to expose their own views, and it could become more of a joint effort. I have seen many good howto's appearing on this forum lately, so in fact the documentation effort is already well under way .

i fully agree with you. the writing bit is perhaps not so much tasking than testing what's written on HOWTOs both in this forum and in the wiki. i would like to spread the manual into some parts.

1. basic installation manual. - since most of us do not really need this once Zenwalk is installed. this section should include how to install zenwalk not only from iso but also from usb or from any other media. I would like to keep the preface by JP in this section.

2. how to set-up Zenwalk - first, i would like to include Fushark's excellent article on how to enjoy zenwalk (viewtopic.php?f=46&t=11751). Basic instructions on how to use Zenpanel stuffs should also come under this section. Setting up network, printers were missing from previous manuals, and again these should also be included. (also Netpkg, xorgconf, etc etc)

3. ISO programs - basic intro and instructions on how to use ISO programs. I would also like to include how to compile programs and install in this section, since i find this kind of information is essential to new users of linux.

with regard to "Zenmanual Lite", i have to see how it goes first with the non-lite version. i will cut down pictures for sure, but for a new user of linux, reading texts only is something not very enticing. that could put off many users from using zenwalk. so i will see first how it goes with the non-lite version first and then if it's concise enough, then i will push it to the lite. :)

and please, do post links to useful howtos you find in this thread. further more, if you are interested in translation, please contact me by email/PM.

Best wishes

Please, keep the Introduction and Help chapters too.

++

I've started on a new chapter. its table of contents are shown below. if you have anything you want to see in this chapter, let me know. i also need someone to write a comprehensive section on how to connect two or more computers by networking etc etc. if you are willing to help me on this, send me an email. best wishes!

Zenwalk Linux Manual (a quick start up guide)

==Table of Contents==

1. How to have a positive experience with Zenwalk by fushark
2. Setting up basics
2.1. Screen resolution / Graphic cards
2.2. Sound system (AlSA)
2.3. Network (LAN, WICD, PPPOE)
2.4. Setting up a printer connection
2.5. Making NSFS and FAT32 writable
2.6. Changing language options
3. How to install and where to get packages from
3.1. Netpkg
3.2. How to compile packages from sources
4. How to make your Desktop look nice
4.1. Xfce Settings
4.2. GDM setup
4.3. Icons and fonts
5. Miscellaneous Tips

Dunno if it's a typo a misunderstanding, but it's ALSA, not AISA .

ooops!

I think (and it's just my 2 pennies worth ) you should include "Basic Commands in Linux". Either one of the links from fusharks's thread or some combo of all those links - taking the best and most Zenwalk relevant parts.

It would be a huge benefit to anyone new to Linux and Zenwalk. When I started I hunted and read through everything until I had a very clear idea of what commands I needed and what they did. If it was all in one place, with entry level explanations, it would have saved me a boatload.

I think that's the biggest turn-off to people coming in from Windows. Linux does tend to be hands on, and the answer to most questions is a bunch of command line mumbo-jumbo. It can be real intimidating, first of all to suddenly have to use the command line; and second, decifier what the hell you're suppose to do with it.

Scott

hi Scott. yes. i agree with you completely. but which commands would you consider 'basic'? mv, cp, rm, su and what else?

i will put a section about basic command lines as well.