Offline Help Manual Available!! Version .85 (final beta)

[Saga Musix]

It is already

It is far from that. No need to hype something that's not true.

[Harbinger]

Thanks for the update, Harbinger!
I hope to contribute when you're releasing the source. I find, chm easier to read.

Yes, ultimately i'd rather have a CHM help manual. If i learn how to code it, i will definitely try.

In conversation with Jojo, and after rereading my own work on it, i think i need to rewrite the loop section. To me it's a very confusing subject, but it basically boils down to this:

If you're using just samples, all you need to know is that Sample Loops repeat endlessly between the points. If all you use is Sample Loops, that's all that needs to be known.

When you begin using Envelope Loops is when it gets complicated, which is why i put it in the Instrument Envelope section. But i need to rework the terminology. "Loop" in the Sample page will be renamed to "Sample Loop", which i already have in the OHM. I will go back and rename what i call Envelope Loops to "Sustain Loops". "Envelope Loop" will be renamed to "Instrument Loop" and "Envelope Sustain" i'll rename "Sustain Envelope" to be more parallel with "Release Envelope." All of this of course is only as a teaching method in the manual, and may not be reflected in the application itself. (I'm sure Jojo has got more important things to do than renaming static text! :wink: )

I still need help on other subjects, but i will post those elsewhere in the forum.

Funny that you actually didn't mean that "invert sample" (EFx in .MOD files) does not work in OpenMPT.

Actually i didn't know it didn't work, since i've never actually used it. I think i got the info from one of the .txt docs that Sam_Zen linked to. For the .8 update, i will strike out the description (unless your next release comes out before my update.)

[Saga Musix]

As I wrote in my PM, sample loops are completely independent from instruments when it comes to loops. I think you're thinking too complicated here.

Yes, ultimately i'd rather have a CHM help manual. If i learn how to code it, i will definitely try.

Basically, a CHM file is just a collection of HTML files, so someone with very little knowledge of HTML/CSS would already be enough to create a CHM.

[Rakib]

Or just use a wysiwyg editor like helpmaker or HelpnDoc.
I can make the transformation if needed.

[Saga Musix]

Well, I personally can't really stand those - they usually generate >10 times as much code as needed and editing the code lateron might be difficult...

[bvanoudtshoorn]

I would be happy, when you feel the manual is complete enough, Harbinger, to transform it into a set of HTML documents, with some nice CSS and perhaps a little dab of the ol' JavaScript paintbrush here and there.

[Saga Musix]

Funny that you actually didn't mean that "invert sample" (EFx in .MOD files) does not work in OpenMPT.

Actually i didn't know it didn't work, since i've never actually used it. I think i got the info from one of the .txt docs that Sam_Zen linked to. For the .8 update, i will strike out the description (unless your next release comes out before my update.)

Surprising (and kinda sad) that the new release got out before the new OHM release. Are you still working on this?

[Harbinger]

Went to upload the last beta version of the OHM to our site, but the link provided to me by Mr X leads me back to the download page. Clicking in the upload link sent me an error page from modplug's site. Anyone know what's going on?

[LPChip]

Possibly related to this topic: http://forum.openmpt.org/index.php?topic=3626.0

[Rakib]

Why not use a temporary link, like zippyshare or something?

[uncloned]

I have more than enough room to host it.

no need for a zillion advertisements.

[Saga Musix]

Yeah, I also beg to not use such a file hoster.
File hosters à la zippyshare et al. are one of the worst things ever invented. while they might seem comfortable at first, they're just horrible - and getting a FTP or web server these days is so cheap, if not free.

[Fireblade]

First of all, hello everyone.

I'm thinking of learning the basics of OpenMPT. Therefore it would be handy to have the manual as a reference/learning guide.

I want to ask if there is eventually a temporary alternative download available, now that the download server is offline?

Thanks in advance.

[TheEagle]

Hi & welcome to this forum, Fireblade.

Maybe this one could help to learn the basics until Harbinger's manual is back online somewhere...

[Really Weird Person]

The concept of a manual for Modplug Tracker is great. Perhaps, since the program is changed [relatively] often, the most recent version of the manual can be bundled with the program. Although it is stillr in its beta stage, having the screenshots would render it more helpful than a readme.

Or just use a wysiwyg editor like helpmaker or HelpnDoc.

Yep, like Notepad, WordPad, or Dreamweaver, depending on how the manual is formatted. Of course, depending on what operating system your computer runs, you may use AppleWorks or some program similar to that other than Notepad or WordPad. Do keep in mind that those would count because WYSIWYG is actually an acronym standing for What You See Is What You Get. Perhaps you would not use Notepad and WordPad simply because they are Microsoft (or, as some people put it, Micro$oft because they figure that they do not do enough accounting and/or that their employees make way (or, as some might write or type it, WAY) too much money, so they make much use of the dollar sign by placing it where the S would be in the word Microsoft) products.