HelpMenu

2009-03-31T21:12:46Z

Niels: /* Help Menu Content + Reorganization */

== Help Menu Content + Reorganization ==

I would like to have a notes section in the help menu. So I can write myself some notes on things I almost commonly do, like how to insert a special character (ctrl-u + unicode value from a lookup table). [[User:Niels|Niels]] 21:12, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

The "Help Menu" in the [[GlobalMenuBar]] in Inkscape needs to be organized and filled with good content. As of inkscape-20031202, Inkscape has only two items displayed in the Help Menu:

* About Inkscape
* About Modules
** SVG Input
** SVGZ Output
** Dia Input
** Roundhole
** Dropshadow
** AI Input
** SVG Output Inkscape
** SVG Output
** SVGZ Input

Obviously, the above is not acceptable for a good Help Menu. We should all start putting our thoughts here about the Help Menu's organization and content. We need to add some items like (please add to or refine this list):

* [[KeyboardShortcuts]]
* tutorials
* manual
* man page
* [[Release Notes|Release notes]]
* contents (like evolution)
* Inkscape FAQ (like evolution)
* Submit Bug Report (like evolution)
* [[TricksAndTips]]

Not only do the "About Modules" need to pop-up a dialog saying what they are about when selected (as they currently don't), but they should also probably be rearranged like so:

* About Modules
** Input
*** SVG Input
*** SVGZ Input
*** Dia Input
*** AI Input
** Output
*** SVG Output
*** SVGZ Output
*** SVG Output Inkscape
** Filters
*** Roundhole
*** Dropshadow

----

See

* [http://www.g2meyer.com/usablehelp/lastreso.html Help is the Last Resort].
* [http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/magazine/technical/embeddedhelp.html Embedded Help: Background and Applications for Technical Communicators]
* [http://www.kavasoft.com/iConquer/help/iConquer%20Help.htm iConquer Help] for an example of help menu. Note that you cannot compel people to use (play) a game. If it is unfriendly and/or unusable people will simply [http://www.needcoffee.com/html/lit/lecturehall/lecture3.htm stay away in droves].
* [http://www.stepwise.com/SpecialCoverage/WWDC2001/501.html Help is a basic building block] Online help is a companion to the computer and is used as the "last resort" by most users. It is where they turn when they reach an impasse and should be a springboard back into accomplishing real work. Good online help, therefore, will focus on describing real world tasks and how to accomplish them. It will emphasize troubleshooting and acknowledge prior experience.
* [http://www.asktog.com/columns/017ManualWriting.html How to Publish a Great User Manual]
* [http://developer.gnome.org/documents/style-guide/usability-non-objectives.html Things You Are Not Trying to Do]
* [http://www.creativepro.com/story/review/17454.html Surprisingly Agile Photoshop Elements] Another example

Some of these are not very relevant to this page's 'mission' I wanted to include the first, and added the rest to provide some balance for it. I will prune this list in due course.

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HelpMenu