Help for new users

[Kim Rowden]

Id like to provide some feedback on help and pointers for new users... please don't take this in a negative way, I'm simply trying to see if we can improve the ramp-up time for new users.

I eventually found the HelpViewer. I now realise it is listed on the main download page - but I didn't see this link as relevant at the time I was downloading the product. Then, once I was using the product and needed help, I used the Doc and the Forum.
- perhaps it might be an idea to add a comment about the HelpViewer towards the top of the list on the Documentation page (there is not a single mention of the word "Help" on the doc page).

The Doc is good as a Reference Guide but lacks a bit as a User Guide - ie it has few examples. It would be good to have a simple usage example at the end of each Reference item.... plus maybe a link to the more usage detail in the Forum or elsewhere.

The Forum is good as a User Guide - due to the many tutorials... but it is sometimes hard to find them using the "Search" box.. I have looked for a "messagebox confirmation" dialog to find a "yes, no, cancel" type option to no avail. Knowing the the correct search keyword seems to be a bit of a black art at times.

The "messagebox" statement doesn't seem to have formal listing in the Reference or Tutorials anywhere... yes? no?

Sometimes the search results show a "Wiki" entry - but I don't see from the Doc page how to get to the Wiki home page. Of course, I can work backwards to it - but is there a link to the Wiki somewhere else that I am missing?

Thanks for any pointers, I hope this has been constructive,
-Kim

 

[Erel]

Have you tried the Beginner's guide:Download Android Development Tool - Basic4android?

The wiki is accessible from the yellow "Documentation Wiki" link in the top of the forum pages.
I also recommend you to try the site search feature (upper right corner). It is a more advanced version of HelpViewer.

 

[Kim Rowden]

Have you tried the Beginner's guide: Download Android Development Tool - Basic4android?

No ... but I have now! Thanks - it's sometimes a challenge to know where to look, my experience so far is that the answer is certainly out there somewhere. Plus some.

 

[nfordbscndrd]

Sometimes the search results show a "Wiki" entry - but I don't see from the Doc page how to get to the Wiki home page. ...is there a link to the Wiki somewhere else that I am missing?

I have to smile since the "Documentation Wiki" is actually highlighted at the top of each forum page, but I know from experience that when you are new to something, your senses get overwhelmed by all the information there is to take in and you can miss what seems like should be unmissable.

Also, when you see references to Wiki pages in the forum, they are almost always clickable links which will take you there. Then on any Wiki pages are links on the left which include the Wiki home page.

The Wiki software has a pretty good search engine (search box is also on the left of every page), and because the info in the Wiki is more concise than the forums from where the info is taken (obviously), the hits you get on a Wiki search are fewer and thus more likely to be relevant. The only bad thing about the Wiki search is that it will take you to a page, but then you have to look for the target text, though usually the page's Contents box helps.