From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: "Thomas S. Dye" Subject: Re: A shorter manual Date: Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:45:57 -1000 Message-ID: References: <096F60B3-65ED-464E-8CDC-1041CA69B706@gmail.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v936) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Return-path: Received: from mailman by lists.gnu.org with tmda-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1O7AVF-0003W0-JL for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:52:49 -0400 Received: from [140.186.70.92] (port=42586 helo=eggs.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1O7AVB-0003Vj-72 for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:52:48 -0400 Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1O7AV9-0005Qn-DU for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:52:44 -0400 Received: from oproxy2-pub.bluehost.com ([66.147.249.254]:35910 helo=outbound-mail-360.bluehost.com) by eggs.gnu.org with smtp (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1O7AV9-0005QS-4O for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:52:43 -0400 In-Reply-To: <096F60B3-65ED-464E-8CDC-1041CA69B706@gmail.com> List-Id: "General discussions about Org-mode." List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Errors-To: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org To: Carsten Dominik Cc: emacs org-mode mailing list On Apr 28, 2010, at 5:46 AM, Carsten Dominik wrote: > Dear all, > > with the Org-mode manual moving toward 200 pages, I am > starting to worry that people with stop in their tracks > when considering Org-mode, just because of the sheer size > of the manual. > > So I did a little experiment. I took the manual and stripped > everything which could be considered advanced material, but > keeping all features and all basic commands and customizations. > > What remains are about 50 pages. A document with the same > structure (even the same chapter numbers) as the manual. > I am wondering if it would be useful to have this as a beginners > document - or if the existence of this document would lead > to more confusion than relief. > > http://orgmode.org/orgguide.pdf > > I don't see this a an alternative for the manual - just > as an additional, rather static document, with little need for > updates. The manual would continue to be the comprehensive > and constantly updated document. > > Comments are welcome. > > - Carsten > Aloha Carsten, I think this is a terrific idea, immediately useful. The addition of hyperref links back to the advanced material in the manual might be useful and shouldn't require much maintenance. A section at the end of each chapter, "Additional Reading," with links to Worg articles, etc. might also prove useful, but could be a pain to maintain. All the best, Tom