English > Feature Suggestions
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CAD:
--- Quote ---I'm not suggesting anyone would want to write a help file,
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The wiki I created for work (pmwiki) has - "Export to PDF" module (optional install)
Perhaps pvd wiki could have an export to PDF module added.
Not sure if tikiwiki has the option - i'm sure it does.
This way you could create a manual automagically from the wiki.
rick.ca:
--- Quote ---Not sure if tikiwiki has the option - i'm sure it does.
--- End quote ---
I don't think it does. It doesn't even have a Print to PDF function.
I see DocuWiki can import TikiWiki, and export PDF and HTMLHelp. So it would be possible to convert the wiki to a PDF manual or a help file. That might work for a one-shot conversion, but is probably too tedious a process for keeping those things up-to-date. Besides, there doesn't seem to be much interest in developing the wiki and keeping it up-to-date.
CAD:
--- Quote ---I see DocuWiki can import TikiWiki, and export PDF and HTMLHelp. So it would be possible to convert the wiki to a PDF manual or a help file. That might work for a one-shot conversion, but is probably too tedious a process for keeping those things up-to-date. Besides, there doesn't seem to be much interest in developing the wiki and keeping it up-to-date.
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Getting users to use a wiki is always going to be tough to start with. It has to have the information in it to start with.
I spent a huge amount of time doing a wiki dump (uploading info to the wiki). Then when people asked me something - i tell them to check the wiki. Now they check the wiki first before asking me.
From experience, to get the wiki going, a data dump is needed, and instead or as well as updating the forum , the wiki is updated.
When someone asks a question they can then be referenced to the wiki. Even if it is unformatted, if the info is there people will start to use it.
Docuwiki is ok. For database stored wiki mediawiki a good choice ( my preference is for pmwiki as i am familiar with it, it has heaps of options and good user base )
Check http://www.wikimatrix.org
The manual could be a link to export to PDF on the wiki. PDF file gets dynamically created.
rick.ca:
We're fortunate to have the wiki we do—cwdean put a huge amount of work into it (and then mysteriously disappeared :'( ). So I'm certainly not thinking we need to be changing the software at this point. Essentially, I agree with you...I was musing about ways we might get the information out of the wiki in different forms so people would us it more.
I'm obviously not a great promoter of the wiki. When users come here with questions, I try to answer them—rather than direct them to the wiki. My main reservation with the wiki has always been there is no good integration with what goes on here. That's why I like the idea of some sort of unified forum/wiki where users could discuss issues and ask questions—right in the same help/wiki topic. The top message in such a topic would be just like a wiki topic, and a snapshot of those topics could be published periodically in a help file. Users would then have off-line access to context-sensitive help. The help topics would be linked to the source forum topics where they could see the current edition, read the discussion for more information, and post a question or comment.
I suppose some wouldn't like such a system. They'd feel obligated to wade through all the answers before they could ask a question. Sort of a naturally enforced "RTFM!" ;D
CAD:
--- Quote ---They'd feel obligated to wade through all the answers before they could ask a question. Sort of a naturally enforced "RTFM!" Grin
--- End quote ---
i'm not suggesting that people shouldnt post here,
but if we know that the answer is already in the wiki - refer them to the wiki rather than referring them to an existing forum entry or typing the answer out again.
This generates interst in the wiki as a source of how to do stuff and the forum as a source of discussion.
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