launchpad-dev team mailing list archive

[William Grant <william.grant@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 12/04/16 15:32, Lloyd Blythen wrote:
> Background
> =========
> 
> Launchpad users needing help are directed (e.g. via 'Read the guide') to
> help.launchpad.net <http://help.launchpad.net>. On that site, clicking
> their username opens the UserPreferences
> <https://help.launchpad.net/UserPreferences> page. (That page doesn't
> list user preferences, just some introductory tips on using
> help.launchpad.net <http://help.launchpad.net>. Confusing for newcomers
> but no real problem ... I guess.)
> 
> help.launchpad.net <http://help.launchpad.net> is a MoinMoin wiki. As
> well as the expected Launchpad-specific help pages, all the generic
> MoinMoin help pages are also available on the site. Mostly that's useful
> because they're relevant to Launchpad - but some aren't.
> 
> Issue
> ====
> 
> help.launchpad.net/HelpOnUserPreferences
> <http://help.launchpad.net/HelpOnUserPreferences> is a generic MoinMoin
> page. (It's basically https://moinmo.in/HelpOnUserPreferences.)
> Apologies (and please tell me) if I'm wrong, but that page appears
> irrelevant to Launchpad users. It lists options they can't access and
> gives instructions they can't follow. There's a link to it at the top of
> the UserPreferences page (see Background above).
> 
> For a help site this seems confusing - especially for newcomers, who're
> likely to encounter it early.
> 
> Suggestions
> =========
> 
> It's a wiki, as a team member I could just change stuff ;-)  That seems
> heavy-handed so I'd rather get some feedback.
> 
> 1) Should all generic MoinMoin help pages be available on
> help.launchpad.net <http://help.launchpad.net>? In the case of this page
> I don't think so. Should we orphan or otherwise remove it?
> 
> 2) If the page is retained, should it somehow be headed/sandboxed so
> it's clearly a MoinMoin page not necessarily relevant to Launchpad?
> 
> 3) If the page is retained, I'd like at least to remove the link "see
> HelpOnUserPreferences <https://help.launchpad.net/HelpOnUserPreferences>
> for help" at the top of the UserPreferences page. Newcomers following
> that link are sure to be confused. (Note: the UserPreferences page isn't
> a MoinMoin one; it seems to be a Launchpad original.)
> 
> 4) If the link described in 3) isn't removed, can we instead direct it
> to a new page giving accurate help on Launchpad user preferences? I
> don't mind creating such a page, and submitting it here for discussion
> before posting it on help.launchpad.net <http://help.launchpad.net>. To
> me, this option would strengthen the case for sandboxing the generic
> MoinMoin help pages.
> 
> I prefer 4) although it would require the most work. Happy to do it if
> the idea's accepted.

UserPreferences isn't meant to exist in the current version of Moin, but
the theme wasn't upgraded correctly when the wiki engine was. I've
updated the theme to link to the new page, so UserPreferences should no
longer be reachable without URL hacking (though the page can't easily be
deleted, for annoying reasons).

That certainly makes the situation less confusing. Let me know if you
think further changes should be made.

> Finally, I'm new to Launchpad and its Documentation Team. Sorry if this
> is cluttering the dev list; it's where we're told to post documentation
> queries, and the documentation list's been inactive for five years.
> Guidance welcome.

The launchpad-doc mailing list was mainly for bug notifications, so it
has fallen out of use since Launchpad bug notifications became more
customisable. Here or #launchpad-dev on IRC is the right place!

Thanks,
William.

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