[Plone-docs] Re: Documentation: the next phase

[Andy M. <an...@ag...>]

Hi Marco,

I've cc'd plone-docs to keep it on the list.

>  > - Marco, do you have any plans for the book and giving it a wider
>  > audience? Is there a way we can bring the two together?
> I am planning to extend my user manual as follows:
>  
> - much more detailed guide to CMFTypes (to be updated once the new Plone 
> ships with CMFTypes as an integral component);

Hmm this is being covered in the CMFTypes book and the API docs, I 
skipped it in chapter 9 because CMFTypes aka ArcheTypes is a moving 
target at the moment and too much effort to document.

> - a chapter on creating a new style (we need to incorporate our logos 
> and colors throughout);

This is being covered in the plone.org book.

> - a chapter on using the Zope database, and using it in parallel with a 
> MYSQL database;

Hmm curious, for storing content objects, or other stuff. I don't see 
this being covered elsewhere. There is of course the excellent RDMBS 
Chapter in the Zope Book.

> - a chapter on membership and workflow, both of which we are having to 
> change (creating new roles, and relating them to the creation and 
> approval of certain types of documents);

This is being covered in the plone.org book.

> - something on version control (I still have to start using PloneStaging);

This will be added to the plone.org book when Plone ships with it.

> - expanding the sections on news (creating different types of news and 
> archiving them in dedicated folders), events (developing the calendar as 
> a diary system) and add a bit on CMFForum or Neoboard (if I remember the 
> name correctly);

Custom content type creation, good stuff. We have some of these.

> - a chapter about migrating pilot sites to different servers and about 
> using ZEO;

Excellent I'd love to see that in chapter 9, again I mostly feel this 
would be go look at the Zope book :)

> - finally, something about forms (particularly for registration of users 
> into a MySQL database).

Hmm again something unique there.

> That about sums it up. I don't know what others are doing and I agree 
> that we should avoid duplication. If you let me know which parts are NOT 
> being done by others, and also if there are topics outside my list that 
> nobody else is covering and you think should be covered, I can give both 
> a high priority. I will have two more p[eople working on this from 
> mid/late April (as well as on testing, something I have neglected so far).

Great.

For me there is a HUGE, HUGE value in having the docs easy to find and 
in one place. You tried to find docs on Zope.org recently ;)

Could we in a few places for the plone.org book, lift content from your 
book, with appropriate credit and what have given. Since both these 
books are under the Open Content License, I know the answer is yes, but 
I want to ask :)

Some of these topics are relatively stand alone and specialized, would 
they be better suited to the How to section? "How to use the calendar as 
diary system" for example?

Just some thoughts, and thanks for the docs so far!

Cheers.
-- 
   Andy McKay