Re: Archive summaries Message #8 Posted by Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil) on 16 May 2003, 1:18 a.m., in response to message #7 by Michael F. Coyle
Hi, Michael;
as mentioned, I and Ellis offered ourselves to build "something" related to ease the job of finding literature based on existing contributions. I wrote build "something" because part of our discussion was exactly the way subjects would be found and shown.
I think final documents in plain text with related graphical support (as you wrote) is the best when memory use is also an issue. As an example, if we have specific articles about usage and programming techniques in FAQ format (as Katie mentioned in this thread) mainly based on facts found in posts, these articles should complement already existing Dave's database for each calculator series. You see, how many times I wrote posts (I already have the basic text saved, for instance) when newcomers or even regular contributors ask about how to change comma for period in some models, or how to perform sef-tests, or how to change number format, or... If we have these subjects already condensed in one or more articles (calculator basic operation), it would be easier to add the link. Also, at the Forum's Welcome header, Dave could add a fourth line to the three existing ones ("Classified Adds", Advanced Format Techniques" and "e-mail me") inviting people to [italic]"check for existing FAQ-like articles at the MoHPC site"[/itlaic] for main subjects because maybe the answer for their question is already there, among other important facts. I believe this would be complementary data, and the name of those who contributed would be relevant only when actual addition (something not found in manuals) is made; something like: [itlaic]"According to Peter's researches..."[/itlaic] and the text describing Peter's founds. This would lead to further corrections, changes for additional credits and new material whenever needed.
I think final read-me text with existing MoHPC format is fine, but a more elaborated PDF to be downloaded, with specific TTF and additional text format, would also be desirable. This sort of document could be generated after we have a concise, refined, error-free (or almost) document. And this is what I think that should be a goal, because existing HP related material is available at the MoHPC CD's/DVD's, but MoHPC own PDF's or part of them might be available to be downloaded directly from the site and also available at the CD's/DVD's. And this would lead us to complete documents, with authors and contributors. Something to be thought about.
Well, I had a large plain text with many basic posts (main text) already "set-up" and ready to be refined when I inadvertently overwrote it! I wish I could kick my own a.. for that, but thanks God I have no such ability. More than a month of spare time on reading, collecting, comparing, cutting-and-pasting... thrown away. Tha heck! I'll do it again. I was a lot p... off at the time it happened, now I just need to synchronize watches and start again.
At the time, a brief discussion about finding themes was the starting fire, as we have in this thread. I thought I could show a first concluded task and ask for comments, suggestions, etc., so we could focus on each and every additional suggestion over an existing start point. Sometimes it's easier having a reference so we can build our own concept. In this case, there are already many good suggestions and no place to make them happen; if at least an actual text is ready as a target, shooting would be easier, don't you think?
I'll soon find a way to get something ready.
Thank you all and best regards. I'm willing to read more and more suggestions.
Luiz C. Vieira - Brazil
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