Robert Kakos
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| 8/10/2006 12:48 PM |
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I plan on creating a technical guidebook to help users of the News Article Module and as a way to demonstrate my appreciation and support for Scott’s brilliance. Below is a draft table to contents that I plan to include in the guidebook. If anyone has any suggestions of topics to include please help.
The guidebook will be loaded with images and by-the-numbers instructions for novice to advanced users. I am a novice user so if any of the more elite or advanced members wish to join in and help (from coding, design theory, suggestions, etc..) please do so at anytime.
DRAFT TABLE of CONTENTS
Installing the Ventrain (DNNForge) News Article Modules
Logging in as DNN Host
Uploading Module Zip File
Overview of the News Modules
Latest
News Article
News Archives
Inserting the News Article Module in your DNN Page Pane
Creating a Page
Inserting a Module
News Article Control Panel
Creating a New Article
Admin Options
Main Options
Article Settings
Categories
Adding / Editing Categories
Email Templates
Customizing Email Distribution
Creative Suggestions for Email use
Site Templates
Customizing Article Listing
Creative Templates & Source
Creative Uses for News Article Uses
Feature Sites Using News Article
Interesting Tips and Tidbits
Glossary
Appendix
Resource Reference
Index
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y01nk
Registered Users
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Posts:201
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| 8/10/2006 1:17 PM |
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perfect timing, Trebor- I am just now browsing about, looking for some documentation for how to take advantage of the online template editor.
I applaud your effort in this endeavor. |
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Robert Kakos
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Posts:88
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Robert Kakos
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Posts:88
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| 8/10/2006 4:37 PM |
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| Okay, formating sucks when you copy and paste. Expect raw text with a PDF file attachements for comments from readers. Sorry for the ugly paste. |
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Scott McCulloch
Administrators
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Posts:12450
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Scott McCulloch
Administrators
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Posts:12450
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| 8/10/2006 7:17 PM |
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| I've tidied up that post |
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Scott McCulloch
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Robert Kakos
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| 8/11/2006 7:47 AM |
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Thank you for the clean-up Scott. Sorry about the mess and added work, won't happen again.
Have you considered setting up a wiki for the documentation. This way your focus remains on creating modules while the rest of us can help with documentation. As the Master you can always peek in and see how things are coming along as well as add some insight. The wiki does not necessarily have to be integrated into your site but can be any one of the hundreds of free wiki services.
If you are considering an online help manual let me know where to send the .doc file so that you can pull and upload whatever you feel would be helpful.
Until then I will continue marching.
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Robert Kakos
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Posts:88
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| 8/11/2006 7:51 AM |
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Your help document is great Scott! ( Now that sounded like it came straight out of a superman comic book?)
Can you e-mail me the .doc file so that I can pull content from the help document that still applies to your latest version. I can follow your TOC (Table of Contents) and order.
Thanks,
Up UP and Away! |
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Pål Grønstad Solheim
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Posts:7
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Scott McCulloch
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Posts:12450
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| 8/12/2006 4:02 PM |
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Thanks for the directory website, it's exactly what I need.
What do you guys think about a WIKI or maybe the help module that is on the DNN site?
I would really like something like this:-
http://www.instantasp.com/Products/InstantKB/Default.aspx
That way a lot of How-To's could be added. |
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Scott McCulloch
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Robert Kakos
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Posts:88
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| 8/14/2006 9:31 AM |
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I agree a KB application of sorts is needed. InstantKB.NET v1.3 End User License $119 USD License includes 90 days guaranteed ticket based support, unlimited online support, free minor updates & full code-behind source code seems appealing for the cost.
I like Scott's idea of creating an automated FAQ / Knowledge Base. I tried finding a similar tool as InstantKB.NET with comparable features and price. Not much luck.
I did find this:
ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus
Freeware and includes more than just a KB module.
http://manageengine.adventnet.com/products/service-desk/knowledge-base.html
I think the guidebook is helpful but to manage the ongoing improvements that Scott constantly is making we are going to need something more flexible and adaptable. A guidebook is much too static for all the modules and features.
Readers are encouraged to post any inexpensive knowledge management or FAQ online tools that we can integrate with Ventrian to make collaboration and knowledge sharing of the modules easier.
Post your suggestion to this thread along with comments for the guidebook. |
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Robert Kakos
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Posts:88
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| 8/14/2006 9:31 AM |
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I agree a KB application of sorts is needed. InstantKB.NET v1.3 End User License $119 USD License includes 90 days guaranteed ticket based support, unlimited online support, free minor updates & full code-behind source code seems appealing for the cost.
I like Scott's idea of creating an automated FAQ / Knowledge Base. I tried finding a similar tool as InstantKB.NET with comparable features and price. Not much luck.
I did find this:
ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus
Freeware and includes more than just a KB module.
http://manageengine.adventnet.com/products/service-desk/knowledge-base.html
I think the guidebook is helpful but to manage the ongoing improvements that Scott constantly is making we are going to need something more flexible and adaptable. A guidebook is much too static for all the modules and features.
Readers are encouraged to post any inexpensive knowledge management or FAQ online tools that we can integrate with Ventrian to make collaboration and knowledge sharing of the modules easier.
Post your suggestion to this thread along with comments for the guidebook. |
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y01nk
Registered Users
Nuke Master
Posts:201
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| 8/14/2006 2:00 PM |
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Posted By smcculloch on 8/12/2006 4:02 PM
What do you guys think about a WIKI or maybe the help module that is on the DNN site?
The advantage that a wiki has over the help module is the aspect of community collaboration.
The trick then becomes finding the right wiki.
I am not sure that the core wiki (still in beta?) is quite up to the task.
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Scott McCulloch
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Posts:12450
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| 8/15/2006 6:14 AM |
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| I agree the key is community participation, the thing I really like about the KB is that people can "ask a question" and you can refer to kb's when answering posts. (or write one to answer a post). |
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Scott McCulloch
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Robert Kakos
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| 8/15/2006 7:02 AM |
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I am on the same page with both of you Y01nk & Scott. I think the wiki would help in extending the opportunity for community collaboration. However, I have been on projects like this in the past and sad to say, community participation is often apathetic.
In short, and I am sure Scott can attest to this, the ratio of involvement to the number of users is remarkably low. Thus, if we can get a small group of users to take the lead on the wiki that would be better than opening it up for everyone to offer their 2 cents. Not to mention, the jumpers (those that jump in and out inconsistently) become a big distraction and hurt morale.
The reason this site impressed me was the consistent and vigilant attention that Scott gave. Most developers push out their stuff with little care or attention in ongoing improvement or community involvement. Not the case with this site.
If anyone is interested in joining us in building a wiki (probably going to use PBwiki if no objections or alternative suggestions are offered) please make us aware in this thread.
We just need people to review the document, screenshots, suggest ideas, add content if they like, etc… we will later define more accountable roles and performance expectations.
Module Documentation Sign up Sheet:
Trebor (News Article Module)
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Robert Kakos
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Posts:88
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| 8/15/2006 7:12 AM |
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Scott, I am sure you get enough Module Request. However, rather than investing in a KB module why not consider building one as a DNN module.
If you’re up to the task we can begin a forum on the KB module and start getting some ideas for the module. There would be no rush since we still need to build guidebooks and collect FAQs that we can harvest through the forum threads.
I will post the KB request in the forum for new module suggestions as well.
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Robert Kakos
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Posts:88
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| 8/15/2006 7:23 AM |
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Hold on a sec. I moved to fast.
I just remembered Scott. I would prefer your expertise be used in developing new modules the DNN community has not seen but has a need for and will further enrich DNN. Rather than work on a KB module I suggest we keep looking for one that integrates.
I found this DNN module from onyaktech
SigmaPro Draconis v5.0
http://www.onyaktech.com/OnlineStore/AllOnyakTechProducts/tabid/373/CategoryID/0/List/1/SortField/0/catpageindex/6/Level/a/ProductID/48/Default.aspx
This is what they say no their site (in short):
SigmaPro Draconis is perfect for...
Help Desks
Projects
Software Support & Releases
CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
Incident Tracking
Knowledge Base
Time Tracking
File Revision Management
Configuration Item Storage & Tracking
and anything else ticket based.
If someone in the DNN community has used this tool we would appreciate your input and insight.
TIA |
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Georg Baumgarte
Registered Users
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Posts:7
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| 8/21/2006 3:08 AM |
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We tried to use Draconis (SigmaPro 5) for CRM but it is very project-based, not customer-based. Has some limitations with searching and editing articles but may do the trick in the first place.
You can create projects with a help-desk for users. Users post a ticket issue which you can reply to with a comment. You can post an issue to the KB afterwards.
SigmaPro uses the Help-Desk on their site. Just register, hit "support" and give it try.
For project-based issues this will help maybe. As I said, on a client-based usage it has a lot of limitations. |
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Robert Kakos
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Posts:88
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| 8/22/2006 6:03 AM |
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| Thanks for Sharing GB. I am checking out other sites to see what they use for an ongoing documentation system. I think Scott's suggestion of InstantKB.net is looking more and more appealing. Anyone have any other suggestions for an online KB system please enter it here. |
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Barry Sweeney
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Posts:134
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| 8/22/2006 6:52 AM |
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My view would be to use a wiki, I started a wiki project using OpenWiki at http://7faq.com and found it very easy to "structure" it if necessary.
It has a few restrictions and I'm sure that wiki technology has moved forward, but sadly I haven't seen anything in the dnn sphere that I would consider changing it for yet, and when I last looked at flexwiki the code it produced appeard to be worse than that generated by dnn 
Any chance of you kick starting the dnn wiki project Scott? |
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