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Tech Section Enhancement

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/22/2006 : 11:50:28

I think the National Association has dropped this ball or is work in progress that I don't know about. Can it be picked up again?

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224

N/E Texas and Great Lakes
Arlyn's Sailing Site

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2006 : 22:07:27

Arlyn,

I hope so. I was asked to be a co-contribtor, made a suggesion to my partner as to how I thought we should approach the writing the tech tips, but didn't recieve a responce. The whole thing kind of died after that.

To be honost, I don't think enough guidance came from the board. I believe a lot of us are willing but a process needs to be established that includes a specific format, procedure for publishing, etc. Do we want the existing archives broken up and redone? A whole new tech tips concept initiated? It would be nice if we could all meet in one place to talk this out, but that's not possible. Perhaps a committee of two or three members can come up with recommendations for the board to act on.

Just some thoughts on the subject.

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 01/22/2006 : 22:28:34

The current Technical Tips are bing redesigned as I type this. They will be revealed on the new website.

Over 18 mos ago we (the officers) attempted to have some volunteer members to rework the section and to begin extracting and creating new tech tips from posts on the forum.

The current preferred tech tip will be a PDF; All current tips will be adjusted to a PDF on the new website. Different categoriztion will be done to the tips.

Goeing forward, the individual who takes on the technical tip editing role will be responsible for format, style, editing and updating...

Duane

Edited by - on

existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2006 : 07:21:41

Sorry to hear you are going with PDF format. I find trying to use those documents to be one of the most annoying aspects of my work as an engineer. I convert them to HTML whenever they aren't locked. Displays in my browser without the need for a resource hungry "add-on" and commands/shortcuts are the same as the majority of other software. Just my 2 cents.

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2006 : 12:38:02

Your opinion has been noted. There may be an opportunity for both. The pdf allows for nice export into a printed format that can be created into a book, or other printed means. I will investigate.

dw

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2006 : 14:43:29

Regarding format... are pdf's editable? It seems to me that a requisite format must be editable as it would be easy to lose the source over time.

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mashedcat
Navigator

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USA
194 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2006 : 15:54:18

For what its worth, i agree with Rick about the pdf format. Many times i have wanted to capture an image and store it in my "boat ideas" file. You cant do that from a pdf format, or if you can, i dont know how. I dont know about anyone else, but I'd rather be able to move things around in a way thats better for me to use instead of the person who made the thing up in the first place.

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 01/23/2006 : 16:22:19

Again, noted.

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DanM
Captain

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USA
256 Posts

Response Posted - 01/24/2006 : 09:48:30

I'm with Rick. Stick with HTML. PDF's take a looong time to load for those of us still on dial-up modems. Time is more valuable to me than a "clean" printout for sailing stuff. Thanks.

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 01/24/2006 : 11:52:08

Thanks for your efforts in updating the tech tips section. At the risk of shooting my mouth off after arriving late to the meeting, here are a few thoughts off the top of my head:

PDFs have their place. I prefer simple plain jane HTML for viewing and downloading tech data for the reasons stated by others above. Having both available would be nice, but HTML is my first choice. Also, isn't simple HTML more searchable than PDFs? I recommend puting each tech tip in its own HTML file. That leaves you/us the flexibility to upgrade the user front end (linked table of contents) over time without having to re-edit each tip. Just include some sort of consistant [click here to return to table of contents] link at the top and bottom of each tip file.

-- Leon Sisson

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 01/24/2006 : 16:42:11

Actually, the search features in pdf are equivalent, if not better to HTML. It really depends on what you view your HTML in.

We are contemplating doing both. right now we are definitely sticking with the HTML

Edited by - on

Admin
Forum Admin

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460 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2006 : 07:07:01

Please take a look at the tech tips, I think you all might like the enhancements. As you will see we stuck with HTML.
dw

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2006 : 08:54:16

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Admin
 Please take a look at the tech tips, I think you all might like the enhancements. As you will see we stuck with HTML.
dw
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Excellent job on the tech tips!! I really like the boat menu thingy!

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existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2006 : 15:08:05

Capri 25 Tech Tips are all PDF, but I imagine that's how they were submitted. Chris, if you are reading this, are there any plans to move the rest of the files on the Yahoo group to the tech tips?

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2006 : 18:25:31

I think I might have converted on to a PDF, but it really was the best format in that instance. Some of the other capri stuff around the site is also PDF. Jason kept or wrote code for HTML whenever possible.

dw

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Captain Bill
Navigator

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USA
148 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2006 : 21:45:58

That click on boat thing is great. Again, Thanks for all the improvements,

Bill

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2006 : 21:47:23

Bill, are you thinking about driving up for Nationals?

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existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 02/09/2006 : 03:39:49

Duane,

I realize a lot of Chris's Capri work is in PDF to begin with, I know he took the drawing I made of the flooring in the Capri and converted it to PDF.
I have to use PDF in work, but I won't load it on my personal computers at home. This is a personal choice for me, I don't expect the association to adopt that attitude naturally.
Again, thanks very much for the tremendous amount of work.

Edited to say, Chris really did more than just convert it. After I reread my statement, it struck me as coming across in a way I did not intend it to.

Edited by - existentialsailor on 02/09/2006 03:48:15

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 02/09/2006 : 05:37:36

something against Adobe Rick?

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 02/09/2006 : 10:07:43

I knew I should have taken Computer 101, D U H !!!
What in the deep blue sea are you guys talking about

Val on the hard DAGNABIT Patchogue, N.Y.

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