Simple Machines Wants You To Help With Documentation!

[codenaught]

Greetings to the Simple Machines Community. I would like to reach out to the community here to formally ask for the help of dedicated SMF users who are at all interested in helping to improve the documentation of SMF.

As it current stands the SMF Documentation Team consists of only a few members. As a consequence of limited outside assistance the Documentation Team bears the responsibility of documenting the SMF software by themselves. Occasionally the Documentation Team receives help from other Team Members of SMF, however usually they have their own duties that they need to fulfill so they cannot concentrate extensively on working on SMF documentation.

So what can you do to help?

Well to put it simply...anything!

But to elaborate on what we mean by anything, the following are examples of things you can do to help the Documentation Team:

• You can proofread documents for something as simple as typos.
• You can look through the documents for any content that is unclear or could use elaboration. Even if you do know what the document is conveying to the reader, you can try reading it as if you are a newcomer to SMF and then try to see if you still think you would understand everything you read. You can either tell us where the unclear fragments are, or if you think you are a decent writer, you can come up with a suggestion of what to change the unclear fragments to.
• You can look for out-of-date documents which need to be updated to help the reader understand the content better.
• You can look through the sections of the Online Manual and find topics of SMF that you think are missing. From there you can make a post on the Online Manual under the Document Requests board suggesting a certain document or documents to be written. You of course could offer a hand in writing an unofficial version of the document that the Documentation Team may be able to take and adapt into an official Online Manual document!

A great way to start helping is to join the SMF Doc Helper Group on the Online Manual. From there you will be able to help in a slightly more formal environment, and get to meet and work with other SMF enthusiasts who have pledged to help out with documentation. Resources will be made available to helpers as well as the assistance of members of the Simple Machines Team. Helping us with documentation also provides good experience in the field of writing allows you to expand your knowledge of SMF, as well as providing a good opportunity to get to meet and become friends with many of the members of the SMF Team.

To join the Doc Helper Group you simply need to register for an account on the Online Manual and then send an email to us, and being sure to tell us what email address you used to sign up for an account with. You will then be given access to some special resources available to the Doc Helper Group and will be contacted with details with more information about the program.

Please consider helping us with documentation in anyway that you can. Every small contribution in making the Online Manual a more useful place for SMF users is appreciated!

Thanks.
Jack Thorsen, SMF Document Coordinator on behalf of the Simple Machines Documentation Team and the Simple Machines Team.

[Jade Elizabeth]

Hey guys
I wanted to add a little more about the Doc Helper Group.
I run a training center for those who want to learn to write for the manual, where I interact with these users and help them understand the structure and formatting, wording, etc. that the manual currently uses. Users who enter this center have easy access to docs that need to be updated or rewritten and can be assigned to docs if they wish. They also get daily help and attention from me and other members (including SMF team members), so they can ask a million questions and get the help they need to complete what they're working on. I'm there every day, so you will always have someone around to look over your work and help you with it so you arent alone.

I started out in the Helper Group and I had a lot of fun...I still do now as an official Doc Writer. It's been a positive experience for me, and I've taken away some life lessons and skills to help me. I made a lot of new friends, including team members, and now I'm a part of something bigger. I was afraid to try at first, but now I'm glad I did .

Not to mention, this would look great on a resume. Employers always look for those who have good writing skills (and we can help you improve those) and like to see some volunteer work on resumes.

[RuneGold]

well sir,
i would like to join you as well.

I'm good with typing, I type pretty fast.

If you need helpers, i would like to help you.

Please reply me ASAP.

thanks,
RuneGold

[Jade Elizabeth]

Hey RuneGold

We would love for you to join us
First you need to sign up for an account on the Online Manual
http://docs.simplemachines.org/index.php <Register button is up top

When you have done that let me know your username so I can put you on the Help Squad team .

Thank you for your interest .

[Robbo_]

Would love to help with this as I know SMF 2.0 fairly well. However I just don't have the time :/ Once as I get a bunch of things done for a few websites and have time to work on some SMF mods then I will also look at helping with documentation as much as possible. I also want to make some tutorials on how to make your own mods for SMF, I think they would be good to encourage people who are just starting out in PHP to use SMF to get started.

Hope to help SMF soonish...

[Jade Elizabeth]

That would be great, we have a mod section on the Online Manual which needs some attention. Unfortunately I don't possess the knowledge to fix it.

[shadow82x]

I will probably get back in tune very soon. With helping with the docs and SMF support just been a bit busy the last few months.

[Jade Elizabeth]

Glad to hear Shadow .

[Antechinus]

Hiya. Hey I tried your tip about the SMF default theme but didn't see anything "interesting". However it did remind me what an outdated looking theme it is. I hope using it wont be obligatory.

What am I missing?

[Jade Elizabeth]

It's not obligatory, but it is easier for you.

Should you be missing something?

[Antechinus]

Well for a start it lacks the links to Docs and downloads, etc at the top of the page. 

Hey I'll stick with the site default I think.

[Jade Elizabeth]

Okay. The Default (according to Jack) does not have the "new topic" button, so be aware of that.

[Antechinus]

No worries. Attach the template and I'll edit it for you. 

[Jade Elizabeth]

Cannot do that, sorry. If Jack wants it there he will put it there .

[Antechinus]

ROFL. Ok, if you have anything that needs proofreading how about you shoot that over to me. It's as good a starting point as any. Proofreading I can do.

[Jade Elizabeth]

Well, every doc in the OM need it. Pick any one of them and you're good .

[ascaland]

This look's pretty neat. 

[Jade Elizabeth]

This look's pretty neat. 

I think it is

[jazzbrar]

Dear sir,
I would like to join with you.

I also want to work on some language packs.
I really want to help you here.

Please reply me,

With thanks
jazzbrar

[Jade Elizabeth]

Hey Jazzbrar

Have you signed up to the Online Manual yet? When you have PM me your username and I will get you set up right away!

Thanks for the interest .