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I am pleased to release a trial version of the new MUSHclient help file. You can download it from:
http://www.gammon.com.au/files/mushclient/mushclient_help.zip (452 Kb)
Inside that file will be two files: MUSHclient.hlp (the help file) and MUSHclient.cnt (the help contents file). Unzip them into your main MUSHclient installation directory, replacing the two files there of the same name.
Features
This help file is basically a rewrite of the old one, with (hopefully) all the new features in recent versions covered. In particular, you should find:
- Every dialog box explained (excepting simple ones with a Yes/No question in them)
- Every command explained (eg. Connection -> Quick Connect) with a link to relevant dialog boxes
- Every script function documented (this is virtually identical to the script functions pages on the Internet)
- Extensive cross-referencing - for example, related script functions refer to each other, and various topics refer to relevant script functions.
General organisation
To help understand the help file better, I'll explain how it is organised. Basically there are four types of things in it ...
- Command reference - this documents each menu command. Commands (which are different from script functions) are things (generally from a menu) like File -> Open, View -> Status Bar. Where relevant, they are cross-referenced to the dialog box that the command will show you.
- Dialog reference - this explains each dialog box, describing what each field means, what the check boxes do, and so on. The only exceptions are the occasional small box like "do you want to delete X?" which are not implemented internally as individual dialog boxes.
- Function reference - this documents each script function, like the current script function pages on this web site.
- General topics - this describes things (like what triggers are) which are not related to a specific command or dialog box.
Please report any problems
Please let me know if you have any problems with the help file, like:
- An error message appearing for any dialog box or menu item
- Any help page appearing that is incomplete. The help pages were initially generated automatically from the program dialog boxes and commands. A handful might not have been filled in yet.
- Any problems with general structure (eg. it is too confusing)
- Any cross-referencing that you think could be improved (eg. X should cross-reference Y).
- Help topics that could explain more (eg. explain plugins better)
- Missing general topics (eg. describe what an alias script sub should look like). It would be helpful if you can point to existing descriptions (eg. on the forum), so I can just copy and paste them.
In each case please be specific enough so I know where to look. Here are some possible example suggestions (these are examples, they do not necessarily apply):
"Pressing F1 when adding a trigger shows an error dialog box that the help topic is missing"
"The help topic for the plugin wizard has only the checkbox names but no explanation"
"The help for triggers does not mention what 'keep evaluating' does".
"Plugin callbacks are not documented"
"A link to the example colour names on the web page xxx would be helpful"
"The description of speedwalks should cross-reference the mapper"
I will be pleased to get your feedback. Once I have incorporated it, I will release an updated version, and then use the new version in future releases.
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- Nick Gammon
www.gammon.com.au, www.mushclient.com | top |
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