I am utterly amazed.
|
sgodun
Joined: 2003-11-28
Posts: 7 |
Posted: Sun, 2004-07-25 01:18
|
|
Recently installed Gallery on my web site. It's a nice program; that's not what I'm amazed about. What amazes me is how popular this program is, considering the incredibly poor documentation available for it. For example, I really just want to know two things: How to set up a watermark in Gallery, and how to customize Gallery's appearance to match the rest of my site. Simple enough, right? The documentation says that Gallery CAN watermark, but never actually gets around to saying HOW to make it work. And I haven't been able to find any comprehensive documentation on specifically what needs to be modified in order to affect cosmetic changes within Gallery. I would say "congratulations on a fine piece of software" but a program that can't be used (by someone who isn't a programmer) for lack of documentation isn't very useful. |
|
Posts: 16
Oh do shut up. Have you noticed its free???
I am amazed by the fact that this is the ONLY program I have ever come across that is completely customizable, even if you are *NOT* a programmer. No annoying "You're not allowed this, that and the other".
But of course, individuality requires brains, and a willingness to investigate, it's not for everyone...
Linda
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To race, you need to tune. If you want the limo, go beg Bill Gates...
Posts: 13451
sgodun, thanks for the feedback.
1) Watermarking is a (relatively) new feature, and proper documentation on how that works is still lacking. There is some info in http://gallery.menalto.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=GalleryDocs&file=index&page=gallery1-user.watermark.php though.
2). Customizing to make it look like your existing site, have a look at the sticky posts in the Customizations forums. Gaile has made a great tutorial that should push you in the right direction ( http://tutorials.eclecticpixels.com ).
Also, as lcmg, noted, this is free software developed by people on their own free time and without compensation. The amounts of time and energy put into this by the Gallery team is truly amazing, and most of us have full time jobs, families and relatives we need to spend time with too. If you feel you have anything to contribute, please do, as we'll include it in the documentation as soon as possible.
Hopefully you'll find that Gallery fits your needs and continue using it. If not, feel free to explore other options, after all no one is holding a gun to your head
Posts: 7
So is dog manure. Which rather reminds me of your useless response to my sincere and open query. But being free doesn't make dog manure, or your response, any more friendly or useful now does it?
Then you obviously haven't come across a whole lot of programs, free or otherwise. I've used dozens and dozens of programs -- mostly free, some not -- that are completely or almost-completely customizable, and even includes detailed and specific documentation on precisely how to do it. Even if you are *NOT* a programmer.
Oh, I guess this is your attempt at sarcasm or wit. *shrug* Keep trying.
And if you have anything truly USEFUL to say, and not just angry or hostile rhetoric, please divert it to /dev/null where it really matters. Thanks.
Posts: 7
Yes, I've seen that before. It contains absolutely zero information on how to get watermarking actually enabled and working in Gallery. The URL you provided tells me that only visible watermarking is supported; that watermarking is permanent; which file types are supported; and some information about the size. To which I say: Yes, AND???
Consider: I tell you that you have the opportunity to win $1000 from me. I tell you that the money is in US currency. I tell you that it will be paid out as ten $100 bills. I tell you that the bills all have images of Ben Franklin on it. And I tell you that it's very easy to win the money. Now, you need to use that information to actually win the $1000 from me.
Go for it. Tell me exactly what you need to do in order to win that money from me. Except that you can't; I haven't given you that information. Likewise, the URL you pointed me towards doesn't give me any information on how to actually set it up and use it.
I'll look at it, thanks.
I have no doubt about any of that, and if I had any clue as to how watermarking actually worked in Gallery I might actually write a tutorial or something. No clue = no results, no results = no documentation. I had imagined -- perhaps wrongly? -- that the people who had actually envisioned and written the software would have provided a means for people to actually take advantage of it.
Posts: 13451
sgodun, getting the documentation updated is one of the tasks ahead for the 1.4.5 release. I totally agree with you, that part needs an update badly. No need to convince me of it, we agree
I'm sure you have figured watermarking out by now, so if you have anything to offer documentation wise, please add it as a note to the appropriate section of the docs.
Posts: 7
Once again: How, praytell, am I supposed to figure out watermarking when your documentation doesn't offer a single clue as to how to go about it?
Posts: 13451
sgodun, praytell?
Anyway, the watermarking section has been extended a bit:
.
Please tell me what you really want to know, besides bitching about it being lacking.
Posts: 27300
sgodun,
Have you used the search function of the forums:
http://gallery.menalto.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&p=68924#68924
It should get you started and if you have any questions let us know.
Dave
Posts: 7
Yeah, I'd really love to donate to people who equate "bitching" with "pointing out shortcomings which desperately need to be addressed".
Nice people you've got here.
Posts: 13451
sgodun, thanks. We have nice users here too.
To end this I'm not posting any more to this thread, as it serves no purpose at all.
Posts: 7994
I think this thread has gotten a little bit out of control. Let's all take a deep breath and try again.
sgodun, you're absolutely right. Our documentation is certainly not as good as it can be. We do our best, but most of the people on our team have strengths other than in technical writing so we simply haven't been able to come up with something good enough to help everybody. But since we're doing this for free, in our fairly restricted free time, there's a limit to what we can reasonably accomplish.
I'd like to see our docs improve considerably. But we don't have any resources to make that happen. The best thing that we can do is to keep trying to attract technical writers to the project while we do what we're good at: improving the product. If you'd like to help the project improve then stand next to us and donate some of your time and energy to helping us. Talk to us to understand how the watermark feature works then help us improve the documentation. We gladly accept any form of contribution. Or help us by recruiting some tech writers who will actually stick with us and make the docs better.
Otherwise, you're berating people who are already stretched to the limit to and telling us to work harder. Sadly, that's not going to accomplish much of anything, except to piss people off.