[kde-doc-english] Documentation Format

[Mark Shelby]

Well, I am going to assume that

a) either everyone associated with kde-doc-english is very busy
writing for 4.0 or
b) No one seems to want to step forward and assume leadership of this group.or
c) Everyone is on vacation/holiday...

Either way, I'll just throw out the questions I have and hope that
someone can answer them. I ask them in the hope that someone can point
me in the direction of being a productive member of the group.

1) How does one start writing documentation? I looked on the
"techbase" website, but the info there is a little sketchy. Techbase
talks about using "EBN" to check your documentation once it's written,
but there don't seem to be any documentation suggesting:
              a) What software to use to write the documentation
              b) What format / template the documentation needs to follow
              c) What to do with the documentation once it's written.

2) Shouldn't there be a page devoted solely to the development of
kde-documentation? I've seen the wonderful page at http://docs.kde.org
that allows you to search documentation, but that page needs to be
combined with the info on the main documentation page on
http://www.kde.org/documentation.

3) One of the reasons I love KDE is because of it's consistency of
'look & feel' across the spectrum of the user interface. Unless I am
missing something, I don't see the same continuity in kde
documentation. There should really be an app (maybe in koffice?) which
allows one to write documentation (or suggested revisions) and upload
it to the kde-doc team for review and inclusion in kde releases and
updates. That app should include some type of template for writing
documentation.

4) Maybe one should have the option to never download documentation,
but view it online from within the kde helpcenter.

I think more people would contribute if the process were made more simple.

Look at me, I am trying to contribute but can't really seem to get
answers on even where to start.
I have been trying to get involved for a week now. Someone really
should have contacted me indiviidually by now and told me what tools I
needed and assigned me a document to edit and submit for
consideration.

I as a new member to this group, I certainly don't mean to rant, but
these 'new' observations from a fresh perspective might just help the
doc team improve in what has to be a thankless task.