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[Bug 504668] Re: Ordering of content might need some tweaking

 

I think the new structure is good, and seems to progress in an intuitive
way. Ie starting with an explanation of the installation process, to
navigating your new system and it's default layout/software, to slowly
learning how to configure and set it up to the way you want, add more
programs, and then get into more advanced stuff.

My only comment would be is that the old chapter 7 - introduction to the
terminal - had some advanced stuff in it, even for an 'advanced' section
of a beginners manual. Will a beginner really need to know how to use
virtual terminals? Even manipulating files (which can be done GUI quite
effectively) might be unnecessary. Just a thought but I think keeping it
simple would be ideal.

At the end of the day, we could probably throw around ideas regarding
tweaks to the structure for weeks. Sure it's important to get it right,
but at some stage we need to settle on it and move on, or we will never
get content written in time! Good work guys and +1 from me.

--JaminDay

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Ordering of content might need some tweaking
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/504668
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Manual Team, which is a bug assignee.

Status in Ubuntu Manual: In Progress

Bug description:
I have been taking a look at our current TOC and am wondering whether it needs to be tweaked slightly. My concern is that we will be asking users to open a terminal and type commands within the first six chapters, however it is not until chapter 7 that we have an 'introduction to the terminal' that explains what it is and what sudo means etc. This doesn't make sense to me and could be confusing/offputting to a beginner.

My suggestion is this:

1. Rename chapter 6 to simply "Updates and Upgrades", and remove the section on "system maintenance".
2. Rename chapter 7 to "System Maintenance", and make the content on system maintenance (that was in chapter 6) a new subsection of chapter 7, following the 'introduction to the terminal' subsection.

That way, I think we could almost get away with not using the command line at all for the entire first part of the manual, as it's mostly gui-based stuff. Then when the reader gets to part II - advanced, the first thing they read is an introduction to the terminal.

Hope that all made sense. Anyone have any other suggestions?





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