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PDF Manual?

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:08 pm
by prunesquallor
Is their a downloadable manual for Field of Glory? I know the info is available from the Help menu but it would be great to have a manual that can, if required, be printed.

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 4:46 pm
by IainMcNeil
At the moment no - its been updated so often it would be too hard to manage a pdf. Maybe once it stops changing and features are not being added so often we can look at that.

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:23 pm
by Surtur
It requires some getting used to, but the instant updates are just a great plus :)

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:41 pm
by welk
I have made a Pdf manual : printable if you want, and usable on pc with links if you want (independant of the game : you can use it in the editor or to read it in adobe reader without to start the game). If Slitherine authorizes it, I can upload this Pdf manual on the forum

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:57 pm
by IainMcNeil
Can you send me a copy so we can have a look first? info@slitherine.co.uk

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 6:57 pm
by prunesquallor
Once I'd downloaded the software from the store and installed it the first thing I tried to find was a PDF manual/guide. Personally I feel it is a required item and was surprised when one wasn't available.

It would be great to have a PDF manual available even if it is an "unofficial" one.

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 7:14 pm
by welk
I have sent the Pdf manual to the given e-mail adress 8)

To build this kind of manual takes only few minutes : I will do this manuel for me after each patch and new features, so I could upload it each time.

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 6:51 am
by papajack
welk wrote:I have sent the Pdf manual to the given e-mail adress 8)

To build this kind of manual takes only few minutes : I will do this manuel for me after each patch and new features, so I could upload it each time.
The is great and many thanks for your initiative :D

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 7:07 am
by 76mm
iainmcneil wrote:At the moment no - its been updated so often it would be too hard to manage a pdf.
?? It would probably take a total of five minutes to create and upload a pdf? Even if it is not 100% up to date, having a pdf manual would be much better than nothing, and you could update periodically.

As others have said, at some point it would be great if some kind of designers' notes were included.

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:15 am
by welk
My own Fog pdf manual may be updated in real time : Less than 3 minutes to build it. You must just have Adobe Pdf in original commercial licence and use the function "combine in Pdf" after selection of all html files in the help directory. Then, you have just to place the html file named "index" at the top of the file and launch Adobe, and finish : you will obtain a big complete Pdf with all help page sin disorder, but with index of links at the top : these links allows you to surf in the file as you do with the "in game manual". The links work ok, the only bad thing is that the "back" function does not work (but the "return index" function is the same and it works ok : each time you click on, you goes again on the top index (list of links). Andyou may print this manual (all pages or just pages you choice).

Image of the top of manual, in Pdf format, with all working html links :
Image

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:25 am
by IainMcNeil
If you think it is a 5 minute job feel free to do it and send it over here :)

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 6:02 pm
by welk
I will upload 1.03 here

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 6:08 pm
by IainMcNeil
I thought you ahd formatted it to be more like a traditional manual but you have done a direct conversion to pdf withteh html layout. I assume we can probably do the same but not sure how - we probably need Adobe Distiller? Welk I'd rather you send any files to me and I'll host them on the site.

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 6:22 pm
by welk
I have sent to you the file (9/02/2010). I though you had received it (I sent the Pdf file to the e-mail adress you have given : info@slitherine.co.uk)

Concerning the file : I am not sure it would be possible to build a sophisticated manual book without special knowledges(that I have not). Effectively, my own manual is just builded with the html files, so it is not a "real formated book", but it works very "ok" with internal links for the simple use a player needs : to be able to read the manual without to launch the game and to be able to print pages.

To build this Pdf document without complexe manipulations, you need effectively to have in your possession Adobe Pdf original/commercial logicial. I have integrated documents html in disorder (excepted the "main index file", placed on the top), but it is possible (with a little more time) to integrate the documents in a special order as user want (alphabétic, or other)

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 12:01 pm
by IainMcNeil
We're now hosting the pdf manual at http://www.slitherine.com/files/fog/man ... manual.pdf