Just looked in the S drive discussion section but there is no reply function so I'll put the question here re thread: http://www.coffeecup.com/forums/s-drive … e-helpful/

Are there any video demos of the s drive functionality?



A manual is useful for people who do not have time to spend randomly testing a piece of software on the off-chance that they might discover that it meets their needs. The manual should document features and functions so that users can refer to in order to save production time. The program is not there to be tested, it is there to be used.



The idea that someone should just randomly potter about with a program as a way to learning its features and best methods of use is perhaps one approach but certainly not an excuse to avoid providing a useful manual.



A manual is not redundant in the slightest. It is a way for people to familiarise themselves with what a program does, how it might be used and best methods for achieving those ends.

Whilst some people prefer tutorial videos and others prefer to dive straight in, this in no way removes the need for proper documentation that details all functionality.

The term RTFM exists for a reason - the manual is there to help users avoid mistakes and time wasting errors. it also acts as a sales device in that high level content pushes the features and sales points whilst low level detail provides instructions to core functionality.

The suggestion that software does not need instructions because 'you can just use it' is like crime in multi-story car parks - it is wrong on many levels!

For example - the VSD help pdf file accessed from the program could benefit from more information - for instance - doing a search on the menu function 'add files' the help pdf contains info on using this to add an swf file and the next entry is for the keyboard shortcut. Unless I have made a mistake, it appears to omit the add folder feature that is also hidden under the add files option. If this is the case, not only is basic functionality not covered, there is no explanation of why and how the add folder feature might be useful. Doing a search in the pdf for 'add folder' returns no results. Going to the support articles on the website does not immediately help either.

How does not having a manual and just playing around with the software improve this situation? It is one thing for an engineer or coder or person with extensive experience to leap in because they bring a wealth of knowledge with them - but a manual is important for those people who do not have that experience and knowledge.

Oh - and while I'm on a roll (sorry) - the F1 function opening a pdf file is not an efficient way of implementing help - why no context sensitive help or at least menu/screen level links?

Plus - trying to open the pdf file generated an error message saying that no pdf reader was detected on my system - I don't use adobe acrobat but foxit, so this necessitated navigating through the C drive to the program folder to locate the help pdf and open it from there.

Sorry for the rant - but the seeming suggestion that a help manual is a waste is bizarre - detailed instructions as part of a knowledge-base not only form a useful part of customer help but also part of sales and marketing and shows a professional approach.

I agree for the most part, detailed manuals should always be included with programs or links available to download them on your own. I usually find that link on a menu in the Help area of most programs if a manual is available for downloading. On the other hand, other than manuals for devices, I very seldom see a manual available for software outside of the purchase. Usually those manuals are included with the software (I fully agree with you that the Help should be a full manual) for you to open at your leisure or are included with your download links after you purchase. Sure there are some that have the links on their sites for anyone to download regardless of purchase, but that is not the norm. Most trial versions include a Help File or starter manual of sorts which is there for CC software.

If your PDF reader Foxit is not working, that's not the CC software that's doing that, that would be Foxit I think. I'll installed VSD and check the PDF opening from within the program in just a bit (making an assumption here that VSD is the program Help file you're trying to open with Foxit so let me know if that's not the case and I'll check the program that isn't working for you on the PDF). I don't use Adobe's PDF programs either, I use Nuance PDF Converter 7 which I've not had to do anything at all to make it open the PDFs and it's doing it from the HTML Editor Help menu just fine so it might be that Foxit isn't associating correctly. Just a thought there.

Hi Jo Ann,

The foxit pdf reader opens the file fine when i navigate to the file in the program folder.

The issue is when I use F1 or try to open the help file from the help menu from within VSD and I get a message saying that I don't seem to have a pdf reader and would I like to go to the CC website (image hopefully attached)

not sure if the image uploaded there...

Error message is:

"Ooops, we couldn't find a pdf viewer on your computer. Would you like to open your browser to the CoffeeCup website for information about how to open the Help file."

Hiya KG,

I've installed VSD just now and then I hit the Help menu and hit the Help (PDF) choice on that drop down and it opened the PDF with my PDF Converter program without any issues. Check your settings in Foxit and see if it has properly added the associations to make sure. If it has, then this could be a bug with the VSD program that just isn't recognizing that particular program (Foxit) for a PDF viewer. I've had that happen with programs over the years that don't always recognize other programs as defaults for opening things so it could just be that. Works fine for me with my chosen program though and I didn't need to do anything to make the associations, choosing to make it default at install was all I had to do with the PDF Converter program.

Check your settings and then put in a support ticket on it so the CC team can take a look at that for you and anyone else using Foxit.

Thanks Jo Ann.

It looks like it was neither VSD or Foxit - just good old windows - file icons in explorer showed correct association of pdf with foxit but checking file types dialog the system was not showing any pdf files at all!
So just had to add it again and F1 is functioning okay.

From above, do you know if:

"Are there any video demos of the s drive functionality?"

Cheers.

You're quite welcome KG, glad it was an easy fix.

Although I don't know of any actual videos themselves, there is a site here:

http://progrower.coffeecup.com/

Where a user has a large wealth of information of how to's for VSD. He was primarily a VSD user for quite some time and has now started working as much with HTML Editor as VSD so he's got a lot of knowledge on the how to's of things for VSD. Lots of great info there.

You can also search the articles here on the CC site by hitting the Support button at the top menu. Click it, don't mouse over it and it will take you to a page with all the software listed and links to their various areas for articles and help.

Hope that helps some, Eric's site is definitely a great place to check out though for what can be done with VSD.