A Conversation for Converting from Plain Text to GuideML
Editorial Feedback
SEF Started conversation Mar 8, 2003
I don't think the edit link says "Edit entry" on any of the skins for one's personal space (unless its different for a blank page). On most skins it says "Edit Page" and in plain it says "Edit this Page" (NB tell them it's on the right hand side too).
I think it's a bad idea to put "Add Entry" into this context. Many newbies already accidentally create new entries which they didn't want when they were trying to edit an existing one. If you want to mention it, make it clear that that is for making a new entry in Guide-ML rather than switching an old one (NB this is on the left hand side).
It is rather misleading to put " and " instead of " and " which is what they will actually see and is important for nesting (even though that is explained elsewhere).
I don't like "to, for example, Askh2g2" where the example splits off the object. "to Askh2g2, for example," would be better (but see later point).
Since you have carefully avoided claiming the first link example is exactly the same as plain text ones, you should use "would create a link like:" for the second example.
You've only got one not two Guide-ML examples at the moment. You could have 3 with these as well:
Link to h2g2 help article.
Link to someone's personal space.
The word "create(d)" is getting a bit repetitive (like the journal? ). How about rethinking that whole paragraph into bullet points to match the plain text one. Otherwise you could do with a line break before the existing example.
I take it the other ways of adding Smileys are restricted info (until the flashy section on marquee and table bgcolor perhaps).
This is the point to which I referred earlier. You could avoid repetitive use of "for example" inserts by stating that you are using Askh2g2 or as the examples at the top of each section, eg with text like "Using Askh2g2 as an example:".
Oh yes, I almost forgot: "You're all doing very well." _@o" (perhaps we need a Little Old Man smiley!)
Editorial Feedback
SEF Posted Mar 11, 2003
Much tidier but:
There should be an "or" rather than a comma between "Edit Entry" and "Edit this entry".
"would create Askh2g2" really ought to be "would create a link like Askh2g2" or similar as before since this one is _not_ the same as plain text.
Why does your first example use "insert" when all the following ones are "create"? This is either English (in which case they should all differ for variety) or it is coding/listing (so they should be as identical as possible for comparison).
I suppose you've run out of headings/sub-headings but you've separated the 2 lots of plain text examples into the same status/level as the following GuideML ones. Someone might think the middle ones were GuideML.
See Yahoo about links...
Editorial Feedback
Rho Posted Mar 11, 2003
Thanks for the comments! I've made all of the changes that you suggested.
> Why does your first example use "insert" when all the following ones are "create"?
It was a mistake - the article was written over a few updates and I forgot which verb I used! However, I've now deliberately used "create" for links and "insert" for smileys.
RhoMuNuQ
Editorial Feedback
SEF Posted Mar 11, 2003
Yes that's much better!
Time to get an innocent victim ...er tester over here?
I take it you've decided the other link stuff is too secret/fun/useful.
Editorial Feedback
Spelugx the Beige, Wizard, Perl, Thaumatologically Challenged Posted Mar 11, 2003
'secret/fun/useful'? like the discussion I had with Rho today on exactly why I would end up dead if I added a webbug to my page?
Editorial Feedback
Rho Posted Mar 11, 2003
Thanks SEF!
I think I'll wait until some other entries are complete before inviting the testers to look at it.
I haven't included the other link style because, although it works, it is likely to stop working in the future and isn't approved GuideML.
RhoMuNuQ
Editorial Feedback
SEF Posted Mar 11, 2003
Spelugx, for added menace Rho should have explained instead exactly _how_ you would end up dead - in excruciating detail just to make sure you got the message...
Editorial Feedback
SEF Posted Mar 12, 2003
Rho, even ignoring the sneaky stuff, you didn't include the self-closing versions of LINK unless I missed them (eg somewhere else).
Editorial Feedback
SEF Posted Mar 12, 2003
Oops - I've spotted one now but not the other. Interestingly bugfinders has one of each! One with a genuine nickname is probably better than a default one as an example.
Editorial Feedback
Hathornefer (ACE) Near miss - isnt that what you'd call a hit Posted Apr 13, 2003
OK it has shape and is looking good... but should it not link back to the overall document and (if being really clever) to the next section?
Hath
x
Editorial Feedback
SEF Posted Apr 13, 2003
I agree. I gave up reviewing this set of articles when I couldn't get to the other pages from here. It will be a long time until an update now though.
Editorial Feedback
Hathornefer (ACE) Near miss - isnt that what you'd call a hit Posted Apr 13, 2003
Hmmm been thinking about your comment SEF and I still cant see why it will be so long before an update. I must be extremely dense tonight.
Hath
x
Editorial Feedback
Hathornefer (ACE) Near miss - isnt that what you'd call a hit Posted Apr 15, 2003
Editorial Feedback
Hathornefer (ACE) Near miss - isnt that what you'd call a hit Posted Apr 15, 2003
Key: Complain about this post
Editorial Feedback
- 1: SEF (Mar 8, 2003)
- 2: Rho (Mar 10, 2003)
- 3: SEF (Mar 11, 2003)
- 4: Rho (Mar 11, 2003)
- 5: SEF (Mar 11, 2003)
- 6: Spelugx the Beige, Wizard, Perl, Thaumatologically Challenged (Mar 11, 2003)
- 7: Rho (Mar 11, 2003)
- 8: SEF (Mar 11, 2003)
- 9: SEF (Mar 12, 2003)
- 10: SEF (Mar 12, 2003)
- 11: Hathornefer (ACE) Near miss - isnt that what you'd call a hit (Apr 13, 2003)
- 12: SEF (Apr 13, 2003)
- 13: Hathornefer (ACE) Near miss - isnt that what you'd call a hit (Apr 13, 2003)
- 14: SEF (Apr 13, 2003)
- 15: Rho (Apr 15, 2003)
- 16: SEF (Apr 15, 2003)
- 17: Rho (Apr 15, 2003)
- 18: Hathornefer (ACE) Near miss - isnt that what you'd call a hit (Apr 15, 2003)
- 19: Hathornefer (ACE) Near miss - isnt that what you'd call a hit (Apr 15, 2003)
More Conversations for Converting from Plain Text to GuideML
Write an Entry
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."