Re: Info Center

This is a multipart message in MIME format.
--
[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
Lest we think all the paper manuals were heaven, remember how many manuals
you had to have in order to grasp OPNQRYF?  I know there were at least
two:  Database guide and one other.  And that doesn't even begin to count
the intricacies of the SQL involved.

I suppose someone with a $hit eating grin is going to say: 1 - that
OPNQRYF book authored by so-and-so and published by such-and-such company.

Rob Berendt
--
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Benjamin Franklin




Adam_Driver@kaz.com.au
Sent by: midrange-l-admin@midrange.com
05/06/2002 10:28 PM
Please respond to midrange-l


        To:     midrange-l@midrange.com
        cc:
        Fax to:
        Subject:        Re: Info Center


Sorry Anne, I agree with Jeff.

Just one example. I was looking for info the other day on importing
digital
certificates and setting up SSL for classic HTTP server at V5R1. Some
information was under the "Webserving" section while the rest was under
the
"Security" section. In some cases the documents blatently contradicted
each
other, neither of them exactly matched what you see on the screen under
V5R1, and neither section provides any kind of checklist so you know where
you're up to. It just seems to keep following links round and round in
circles.

I have noticed other examples, this is just the recent one that's still in
memory.

Personally, I was fan of the online library that was available up to V4R5.
It was logically structured, easier to read, and iSeries network have a
search utility that makes finding individual manuals and topics fairly
easy.

Just my $0.02

Thanks

Adam Driver
Technical Consultant
Kaz Computer Services
Level 7
66 Wentworth Ave
Sydney NSW 2010
Australia
Phone: +61 2 9844 0386
Fax: +61 2 9844 0333

A division of Kaz Group Limited - visit our website at www.kaz.com.au


Message: 11
Date: Mon, 06 May 2002 14:35:31 -0500
From: Jeff Crosby <jlcrosby@dilgardfoods.com>
Organization: Dilgard Frozen Foods
To: midrange-l@midrange.com
Subject: Re: Info Center
Reply-To: midrange-l@midrange.com

Anne Lucas wrote:

> Please provide me, in separate email to alucas@us.ibm.com, specific
> problems on Info Center.  I have a list, but would like to get the
details,
> please.... have already forwarded your comments to date to the owner of
the
> program....   Thanks!

With all due respect, I think that's impossible.  To me, the problem is
systemic.

Ever compile an RPG program and misspell a file name?  This causes a
level "40" error and causes umpteen field names to be undefined and so
many other errors via the domino effect that it's scary.  To try to find
any other typos or errors at that point is a complete waste of time.
Your only productive recourse is to correct the file name misspelling
and compile again.

That's where I believe the Info Center is.  It is so disorganized,
unintuitive, and convoluted that it's useless in it's present form.  I
have to spend all my time and brainpower trying to figure out how the
%@*# I'm going to find what I need instead of being able to focus on my
problem.  If and when I ever find _anything_ that applies from the Info
Center, I have lost all train of thought on what I was originally trying
to do.

It's scary to me to believe the infocenter people don't already know the
problems after all these years of us complaining.  I am really tired of
being repeatedly asked to document the problems to no avail.

Until recently I thought I was the only one who was still using the V3R2
Library Reader for reference.

I know you asked for the email to be to you, but I want to know whether
others on the list think my response is out of line.

--
Jeff Crosby
Dilgard Frozen Foods, Inc.
P.O. Box 13369
Ft. Wayne, IN 46868-3369
260-422-7531

The opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily
the opinion of my company.  Unless I say so.


_______________________________________________
This is the Midrange Systems Technical Discussion (MIDRANGE-L) mailing
list
To post a message email: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change list options,
visit: http://lists.midrange.com/cgi-bin/listinfo/midrange-l
or email: MIDRANGE-L-request@midrange.com
Before posting, please take a moment to review the archives
at http://archive.midrange.com/midrange-l.