Re: Why people don't use the manuals (was Array question)

["Eric N. Wilson" <doulos1@xxxxxxxx>]

I think the whole issue is that the White Books are written as reference
materials and that IBM could do all of us a great service if they were to
write more manuals in the tutorial style. I'm not saying that the reference
materials should be done away with (G-d forbid). I know that quite a few Red
Books address this desire, but I think that the examples in the White books
could/should be expanded.

Again the White Books are wonderful reference materials but they are not
tutorials.

Just my $.02
Eric

______________________________________________
Eric N. Wilson
President
Doulos Software & Computer Services
2913 N Alder St
Tacoma WA 98407


----- Original Message -----
From: Scott Klement <infosys@klements.com>
To: <RPG400-L@midrange.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 1999 7:57 AM
Subject: Re: Why people don't use the manuals (was Array question)


> I have to say that I think the problem with the manuals is the way
> that things are worded.   I remember when I first learned this stuff,
> I just got confused by the way things were worded in the IBM manuals..
>
> They're also very "dry", which makes it hard to just sit down and
> read them.  I think this is why the "dummies" series of books has
> become so popular -- the way they word things, and the humor they use.
>
> As for the Books vs. the CD, vs the Web...  I find that the CD and
> web are easier for "reference".   Such as looking up a specific topic,
> (especially if you dont know where it is and need to search)
> If I need to know the positions in the File Info Data Structure of a
> specific thing, for example, its easier to whip out the CD and search
> for INFDS, and follow links from there.
>
> The Web, to me, is identical to the CD, except it loads a lot slower.
> I use it when the CD isn't convieniently available.  I'm a bit at a
> loss to understand how its any different from the CD.
>
> The printed manuals are much easier if you're going to sit down and
> read whole chapters.   I don't often do this, unless I'm learning a
> whole new skill, which is unusual.   For new programmers, however,
> this is a much bigger deal, so when I'm training people I tend to
> start with printed manuals (we have a few of the common things) and
> then teach them how to use the CD for reference.
>
>
>
> "Joe Teff" <jteff19@idt.net> wrote:
> > That wasn't the case (or not as much) when manuals were manuals.
> > I beleive that the softcopy manuals have contributed greatly to this
> >  I
> > actually prefer the web over the softcopy (finding and accessing the
> > info using the web manuals is faster and easier than using the CD).
> > The only problem is developers do not have web access at work in
> > many cases. I do only because I carry my laptop and use my phone
> > connection to dial into my personnal account with my ISP. I find tha
> > many sites do not use Infoseeker because of disk considerations and
> > thier manuals are several releases/versions old.
> >
> > >Definitely agree with you there. Many people are scared of the
> >  manuals,
> > >for some reason?
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