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Making manual transfer section easier to follow for less technical readers

  • 23 Replies
  • Last reply by kenptr
  1. kenptr 0 posts
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    Hi!

    I am posting a very preliminary new draft, just offering it for discussion. There are substantial changes to the section about doing a manual transfer. I'm trying to make this section easier to follow for some less technical readers.

    Hopefully, the new approach retains important features of the previous way of organizing the article – or can be modified further to do so. I can eventually put in the formatting, links and screenshots if and when we're ready to move ahead with the new approach.

    Hi! I am posting a very preliminary new draft, just offering it for discussion. There are substantial changes to the section about doing a manual transfer. I'm trying to make this section easier to follow for some less technical readers. Hopefully, the new approach retains important features of the previous way of organizing the article – or can be modified further to do so. I can eventually put in the formatting, links and screenshots if and when we're ready to move ahead with the new approach.

    Modified by kenptr on

  2. Chris Ilias 2447 posts
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    Thanks Ken! My first impression is that it is very long-winded. There are a couple of paragraphs before we get to the first step.

    If I understand the layout, it is:

    • explain what manually copying data is
    • outline the process
    • instructions
      • find profile
      • copy folder
      • run profile manager
      • create profile

    Can you turn the instructions into numbered steps, then cut out what information the user doesn't need? Eventually, I think this would replace the Windows Easy Transfer Wizard section.

    Thanks Ken! My first impression is that it is very long-winded. There are a couple of paragraphs before we get to the first step. If I understand the layout, it is: * explain what manually copying data is * outline the process * instructions ** find profile ** copy folder ** run profile manager ** create profile Can you turn the instructions into numbered steps, then cut out what information the user doesn't need? Eventually, I think this would replace the Windows Easy Transfer Wizard section.
  3. kenptr 0 posts
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    Hi Chris,

    Good suggestions! I'll proceed to modify the draft along these lines.

    Hi Chris, Good suggestions! I'll proceed to modify the draft along these lines.
  4. kenptr 0 posts
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    I've posted a more concise version of the rough draft. Comments?

    I've posted a more concise version of the rough draft. Comments?
  5. Chris Ilias 2447 posts
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    Can you also cut down the section at the bottom?

    Can you also cut down the section at the bottom?
  6. kenptr 0 posts
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    Hi Chris!

    I've posted a draft that replaces the "See Also" section at the bottom with a much shorter section titled "Your Thunderbird Profile Folder".

    Thoughts? Thanks

    Hi Chris! I've posted a draft that replaces the "See Also" section at the bottom with a much shorter section titled "Your Thunderbird Profile Folder". Thoughts? Thanks
  7. Chris Ilias 2447 posts
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    I won't be able to review these anymore, because of new commitments.

    Try asking in the Knowledge base articles forum or the tb-support-crew mailing list.

    I won't be able to review these anymore, because of [http://ilias.ca/blog/2017/01/working-for-postbox/ new commitments]. Try asking in the [https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/forums/knowledge-base-articles Knowledge base articles forum] or the [https://wiki.mozilla.org/Thunderbird/tb-support-crew tb-support-crew mailing list].
  8. Tonnes 63 posts
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    To be honest, I’ve been thinking of reverting this article to revision 132103 for a while. Admitted, the helpfulness rate did go up a bit around the time of approval by Matt (July/August 2017), but it stands out compared to all other Sumo articles with regard to style, type of writing, and more. No other article uses "a), b)" etc, no markup for any menu items was used, there is no such thing as a "Profile app" or "Profile app window", there is no reference to what a profile is (except for the bottom paragraph), and I think it’s still too technical for regular users. For this reason I have not updated it to meet the en-US version for my locale around that time, so there is a mismatch.

    @kenptr: would you be willing to rewrite your changes to match the common style, taking terminology and all you can find in the Writing guide for Knowledge Base articles article and beyond into account?

    To be honest, I’ve been thinking of reverting this article to revision 132103 for a while. Admitted, the helpfulness rate did go up a bit around the time of approval by Matt (July/August 2017), but it stands out compared to all other Sumo articles with regard to style, type of writing, and more. No other article uses "a), b)" etc, no markup for any menu items was used, there is no such thing as a "Profile app" or "Profile app window", there is no reference to what a profile is (except for the bottom paragraph), and I think it’s still too technical for regular users. For this reason I have not updated it to meet the en-US version for my locale around that time, so there is a mismatch. @kenptr: would you be willing to rewrite your changes to match the common style, taking terminology and all you can find in the [[Write articles for the Knowledge Base]] article and beyond into account?
  9. kenptr 0 posts
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    @Tonnes: Sure, I'd be happy to edit the article to address your concerns!

    @Tonnes: Sure, I'd be happy to edit the article to address your concerns!
  10. kenptr 0 posts
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    I'm starting to work on the changes.

    I'm starting to work on the changes.
  11. Chris Ilias 2447 posts
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    Ken, is your update ready for review? I'd like to add my screencast to this article, but your update needs to be reviewed before I can do that.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywJ6eQwhb78

    Ken, is your update ready for review? I'd like to add my screencast to this article, but your update needs to be reviewed before I can do that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywJ6eQwhb78
  12. kenptr 0 posts
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    Hi Chris, Nice screencast! You're welcome to add your screencast to the current approved revision of the article and get a new approval. I can then proceed to edit the newly approved revision. Will this approach work OK?

    Hi Chris, Nice screencast! You're welcome to add your screencast to the current approved revision of the article and get a new approval. I can then proceed to edit the newly approved revision. Will this approach work OK?
  13. Chris Ilias 2447 posts
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    I've just added the screencast. You can copy your latest work here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer/revision/159185

    I've just added the screencast. You can copy your latest work here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer/revision/159185
  14. Chris Ilias 2447 posts
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    Thanks for the latest draft. :)

    • Do we need the Gmail section? It seems like it's for IMAP accounts. It makes me wonder what the use case for that is.
    • Similarly, I wonder why the last section "Your Thunderbird Profile" exists.
    Thanks for the latest draft. :) * Do we need the Gmail section? It seems like it's for IMAP accounts. It makes me wonder what the use case for that is. * Similarly, I wonder why the last section "Your Thunderbird Profile" exists.
  15. kenptr 0 posts
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    Chris, thanks for the good thoughts.

    I'll plan to delete the Gmail section. (We could always put it back in if it's missed.)

    I'm open to removing the "Your Thunderbird Profile" section, but from my viewpoint as a Thunderbird user I recommend leaving this section there at the end. It has brief background relating to moving and copying profiles. I think this information is important but would get in the way if put at the top or mixed in among the procedural steps. With recent general concerns about email security I especially want to encourage protection of profile names and locations.

    Chris, thanks for the good thoughts. I'll plan to delete the Gmail section. (We could always put it back in if it's missed.) I'm open to removing the "Your Thunderbird Profile" section, but from my viewpoint as a Thunderbird user I recommend leaving this section there at the end. It has brief background relating to moving and copying profiles. I think this information is important but would get in the way if put at the top or mixed in among the procedural steps. With recent general concerns about email security I especially want to encourage protection of profile names and locations.
  16. Chris Ilias 2447 posts
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    Okay, sounds good. :)

    Okay, sounds good. :)
  17. Joergen 36 posts
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    Hi kenptr

    The button 'Open Folder' is called 'Show In Finder' on a Mac.

    Hi kenptr The button 'Open Folder' is called 'Show In Finder' on a Mac.
  18. kenptr 0 posts
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    Hi Joergen,

    Changed it. Thanks! Can you check how the 'Choose Folder' and 'Select Folder' buttons in step 4 appear on a Mac?

    Hi Joergen, Changed it. Thanks! Can you check how the 'Choose Folder' and 'Select Folder' buttons in step 4 appear on a Mac?
  19. Joergen 36 posts
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    Hi kenptr

    I don't use a Mac, so I don't know what the 'Select Folder' button is labeled on a Mac. On my Danish Linux Mint it's labeled 'Åbn' which means 'Open'.

    I have som help for you. Here are the strings used in the Create Profile Wizard: https://hg.mozilla.org/l10n/gecko-strings/file/default/toolkit/chrome/mozapps/profile/createProfileWizard.dtd

    'Choose Folder' Should be 'Choose Folder…' for all platforms (mac, linux, and windows). It looks like the 'Next' button is labeled 'Continue' on a Mac.

    Hi kenptr I don't use a Mac, so I don't know what the 'Select Folder' button is labeled on a Mac. On my Danish Linux Mint it's labeled 'Åbn' which means 'Open'. I have som help for you. Here are the strings used in the Create Profile Wizard: https://hg.mozilla.org/l10n/gecko-strings/file/default/toolkit/chrome/mozapps/profile/createProfileWizard.dtd 'Choose Folder' Should be 'Choose Folder…' for all platforms (mac, linux, and windows). It looks like the 'Next' button is labeled 'Continue' on a Mac.
  20. Joergen 36 posts
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    One more thing. The 'Finish' button is labeled 'Done' on a Mac.

    One more thing. The 'Finish' button is labeled 'Done' on a Mac.
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