Task Topics

[Two Ducks <twoducks@globalserve.net>]

Following are some ideas for task help (described in an earlier
message). Some method of managing these tasks (so that all
docs use the correct task names) should be used (if a substantial
number of people are expected to end up writing these (eg, every
programmer for their own programs??)). This will be discussed at
a later time, if this idea doesn't die earlier.

Any comments?

Ken Duck
twoducks@globalserve.net

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Task Help Topics - Proposal

In order to ensure not only that all help topics are covered, but also
that help for utilities which should mask more complex help tasks use
the same names, a list of file names matched with tasks should be kept.
The same list may also be used to track what help has been written.
Towards this goal the following list of tasks has been started, and will
be expanded upon.

Note that not all packages of help need implement all of the tasks. The
base task help package will contain the task help documents which are
common to all systems. Each software package will contain help tasks
which are installed for executing tasks specific to the software
installed.

Some of these tasks require that other tasks also be performed. For
example:
for installing some hardware the drivers must be installed (the modules,
or
the code in the kernel). This help need not be visible, but may be
placed
in an invisible directory (one outside of the view of the help program)
and just referenced by the actual task help.

Note that most of the tasks listed here are very simple. They can also
go
to the complex side of things too, just in small, task documents.

File Management Tasks

* Copying a directory
* Copying a file
* Deleting a directory
* Deleting a file
* Making a directory
* Making a file
* Moving a file
* Moving a directory

Hardware

* Formatting a floppy
* Formatting a hard drive
* Installing a hard drive
* Installing a mouse
* Installing a sound card
* Mounting a drive
* Partitioning a hard drive
* Unmounting a drive

Help Tasks

* Getting help on...
* Getting programming help
* Running help
* Searching help

Multimedia

* Playing a cd
* Playing midi files
* Playing real audio files
* Playing sound
* Playing wav files
* Recording sound
* Viewing pictures
* Viewing videos

Productivity Application tasks

* Writing html
* Writing text

Program Tasks

* Installing DEBs
* Installing new software
* Installing *.tar.gz programs
* Installing RPMs
* Killing a program
* Listing running programs
* Running a program

User management tasks

* Adding a new user
* Changing a password
* Deleting a user

X-Window Management

* Opening an xterm