Survex 1.1.1 test version uploaded

[Jenny Black]

--Olly Betts wrote:
> We could add a "tip dialog"

--Lots of People wrote:
> <tip dialogs are bad>

I think the concept of a tip dialogue box isn't bad, however, they are more 
often than not badly implemented.

I have used the "tip dialogue" feature with several programs, with either 
Corel Draw or Paintshop Pro (I forget which) I found the feature very 
useful, as it alerted me to features I didn't know existed.  Sadly the 
other occasions I have used a "tip dialuge" feature it has annoyed me.  I 
think this is because the tips chosen have included masses of obscure 
features that most users would never need to use.  I suspect that if Survex 
carefully chose the tips,a nd perhaps ahd them ordered not random, it 
wouldn't not necessarily be a bad feature.

-- andrew wrote:
> But why would you want to write code for people who don't read
> manuals ? It is just asking for ignorant stupid people to use your
> software (who aren't the sort of people you want surveying caves
> anyway) and wasting your time with support emails.

The "sort of people you want surveying caves" are people who are reasonably 
intelligent, can read instruments, write down numbers and draw sketches. 
This is not the same as being computer literate.  I think it is important 
that Survex is not just designed for very computer literate users, but for 
anyone may survey some cave.  However, I suspect that it is generally the 
more computer literate users that frequent the mailing list, and so most of 
the opinions and feedback does not come form the "average user".

And, as Olly points out:
>they standardly have
>a checkbox for "don't show me tips on startup" so they won't
>irritate the experienced user.

Jenny

(Someone who isn't especially computer literate, but does use Survex, and 
therefore represents some of people who use Survex but aren't on the 
mailing list, and perhaps people who are put off from using Survex as they 
think you need to be a "computer nerd" to use it)