[WIP] XBMC Beginners Guide (PDF)

Thanks for the offer! but at the moment i don't really want to actively spread it yet. I'm also not going to post any updates to the manual yet. I've set the deadline for February 1st and then is when hopefully version 1.0 of the manual will be released...

Now at that date, I would gladly take you up on your offer

This is just what is needed, the forum and wiki are both fantastic resources but there is far to much information there for a beginner.

Looking forward to seeing version 1.



Steve

What are you using to write the PDF? If it is in a easily tracked file format (eg latex or similar) then we can host it in on our git repository and it can become the official one, assuming ofcourse that it's accurate.

Will check it out in a bit.

Cheers,
Jonathan

Actually I'm writing it in Word 2007 and convert it with Nuance PDF Creater5

Right. The link doesn't work, so I can't really comment on the content.

Try uploading it somewhere else.

Cheers,
Jonathan

I've moved the file to a rapidshare account. Never used that before...
Is it working?

Thanks - downloaded.

I suggest a couple of alterations:

1. Don't mention .nfo/.jpg etc. - the new user doesn't need to know it at that point - it's advanced information.

2. Don't mention skin settings (Movies/TVShows on home). Instead, at the very start indicate there is the "move right" menus on the home page, and get the user used to navigating via that. This way they don't get confused between "Videos" and "Movies".

3. Keep the "preparing your movies + tv shows" bit to a minimum - you can always link out to more detailed information (or indicate there's more info later on in the guide).

4. Don't use that crappy logo - use the one on the homepage.

Nice work!

Cheers,
Jonathan

jmarshall Wrote:Thanks - downloaded.

I suggest a couple of alterations:

1. Don't mention .nfo/.jpg etc. - the new user doesn't need to know it at that point - it's advanced information.

2. Don't mention skin settings (Movies/TVShows on home). Instead, at the very start indicate there is the "move right" menus on the home page, and get the user used to navigating via that. This way they don't get confused between "Videos" and "Movies".

3. Keep the "preparing your movies + tv shows" bit to a minimum - you can always link out to more detailed information (or indicate there's more info later on in the guide).

4. Don't use that crappy logo - use the one on the homepage.

Thanks for your info...

1. I totally agree, in fact, i've already moved the more detailed info to a section further in the end of the manual. I don't think it should be scrapped from the beginners guide, but it shouldn't be in the initial setup pages...

2. You're right again. I remember that in the beginning I got confused myself. Will refer to the quickmenu from pressing "right" key

3. Same as your first point... I just got 'into it' when I was writing so I kept on going...

4. Are you serious on the crappy logo? I totally love this logo above the homepage logo, ... But I guess the homepage logo is the official one now, so I've changed it. I copied one from a post on the mainpage but it's a quite crappy .png file... Any chance I can get a descent copy?

gollumscave Wrote:Any chance I can get a descent copy?

http://downloads.sourceforge.net/xbmc/XB...e_v1.0.zip

Thanks Ronie...

To all skinners, If you want me to include your skin into the manuals too, please send me links to logo's, art packages and manuals please... I know i can spend hours to scrape that off the net myself, but I prefer using that time to write the manual itself ;-)

This doesn't apply to the skins that are downloadable with the standard dharma 10.0 package. Only for skins that have to be installed manually...