Manual to download and print?

BangelOz · April 03, 2009, 09:52:56 AM

I noticed there wasn't an offline manual until now. The online node reference has much detail, but i think a file to download and print would have more benefits. Will there come any?

chefc · April 03, 2009, 09:57:29 AM

http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=5975.0

BangelOz · April 03, 2009, 10:05:02 AM

Quote from: chefc on April 03, 2009, 09:57:29 AM
http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=5975.0

I think this topic doesn't say if there would be a downloadable file or not.

buzzzzz1 · April 03, 2009, 10:07:27 AM

You could print everything from there but it would take you forever. I wish they would have considered a PDF when putting this together. Would have been much more convenient.

AndyWelder · April 03, 2009, 10:29:45 AM

Quote from: buzzzzz1 on April 03, 2009, 10:07:27 AM
You could print everything from there but it would take you forever. I wish they would have considered a PDF when putting this together. Would have been much more convenient.

Whole heartedly agree.

schmeerlap · April 03, 2009, 10:59:46 AM

Quote from: buzzzzz1 on April 03, 2009, 10:07:27 AM
I wish they would have considered a PDF when putting this together. Would have been much more convenient.

I'll second . . . . . er . . . third that.

John

Tangled-Universe · April 03, 2009, 11:10:45 AM

Quote from: BangelOz on April 03, 2009, 09:52:56 AM
....The online node reference has much detail, but...

Is it me or didn't anyone yet take a critical look at the node reference?
It is FAR from detailed and complete. The function-node reference is probably the most complete, but that's already finished for quite some time.
If screenshots of nodes and extremely brief descriptions are called "node references"...?
Some nodes only have a screenshot and some nodes are even competely missing and to name one: surface layer!! (still waiting for decent description of intersect underlying for example)
I don't really need all the references that much, for a couple of exceptions of course, but I expected something way better and especially complete and thus am disappointed.

BangelOz · April 03, 2009, 11:22:26 AM

@Tangled-Universe

OK perhaps i'm wrong with the detail (i'm a beginner). In comparison with the old 0.9 it's a lot and i must say i don't know well these lot of new functions - much to learn, don't know, too if i can manage this in the future...

Tangled-Universe · April 03, 2009, 11:24:28 AM

It wasn't specifically addressed to you actually, although I quoted you, sorry for that.
With everybody buzzing around here these days and posting lots of new stuff I was surprised nobody had yet mentioned the poor new documentation.

If you're already familiar with TG0.9x then it shouldn't be too hard to pick up with TG2.
With enough time and dedication and good help from us here you'll know a vast amount of stuff within a year, maybe even faster.

AndyWelder · April 03, 2009, 11:35:32 AM

QuoteIs it me or didn't anyone yet take a critical look at the node reference?

What, that bunch of incomplete data? Tell me it's not going to be the new manual/help file, please!

BangelOz · April 03, 2009, 11:47:17 AM

@Tangled-Universe

Never mind.. About the online reference my suggestion is that it's very abstract with missing examples. I think for me it's better to start with tutorial/sample files. It has very very much new stuff in it in comparison with TG 0.9 and unfortunately i made the mistake using several render programs additional to TG2 which i have to learn. In comparison of them - TG2 makes it very hard to me when i use similar functions in the others.

Tangled-Universe · April 03, 2009, 12:38:51 PM

Quote from: AndyWelder on April 03, 2009, 11:35:32 AM
QuoteIs it me or didn't anyone yet take a critical look at the node reference?
What, that bunch of incomplete data? Tell me it's not going to be the new manual/help file, please!

I'm afraid it is, but hopefully I'm terribly mistaking

neuspadrin · April 03, 2009, 01:02:34 PM

Quote from: Announcement
Our documentation now includes a complete Node Reference, providing an overview of the functionality of every node, as well as detailed information on specific node settings. The Node Reference is currently being converted to its new online format, which will be completed shortly, but it already includes a great deal of new information.

Now includes implies addition to whatever else they have. Also, they stated its not fully converted over to an online format, which implies it is set up as a document and they are converting it.

I think this is just the beginning phase of getting it out to us. I'd expect full documentation once they do a full release to public.

Tangled-Universe · April 03, 2009, 01:39:46 PM

I stand corrected regarding that quote, however if they plan to keep it at that level of detail then I think for many users (especially the inexperienced) the manual isn't going to be of very much help.

Oshyan · April 03, 2009, 10:00:01 PM

The quote Neuspadrin pulled out from my announcement is *critical*. No, of course we do not plan to keep it at that level of brevity. It would hardly be a very useful resource, nor what we promised. There are technical issues regarding the conversion process that need not be delved into here, but it is certainly in progress and more will be coming quite soon. In the end it should be a pretty complete resource, though it will also continue to be expanded more slowly over time where necessary.

As for printable documentation, the node reference does not lend itself well to that format, but it will be made available that way nonetheless. The expanded User Guide will be available very soon and will indeed be in PDF format, fully suitable for printing.

I'm sorry for any confusion.

- Oshyan