Helpful ReplyIs there no offline help file for CbB?

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John T
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2018/06/01 23:04:15 (permalink)

Is there no offline help file for CbB?

As per the title. I seem to remember there was a way of accessing this previously, but I can't find it in the new program, and it goes to online help automatically.
 
I don't object to help being online, it's just that the UI for it on the website is nowhere near as good or useable as the standard Windows help system.

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#1
Morten Saether [Cakewalk]
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/06/02 00:18:14 (permalink)
The offline help has been deprecated. We are investigating different solutions for the online help, so stay tuned.
#2
John T
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/06/02 02:23:58 (permalink)
Thanks. I can see why it's sensible to streamline the documentation-making processes, so I'm all for that. But yeah, would be nice to see something a bit more elegant and usable.

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#3
Leadfoot
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/06/02 02:30:21 (permalink)
Offline Activation would sure be nice...
#4
pwalpwal
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/06/02 08:48:46 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby dj squarewave 2018/06/02 14:35:23
Morten Saether [Cakewalk]
The offline help has been deprecated.

can't think of any reason for this? properly maintained documentation can be output to multiple types - online, offline, pdf, whatever - from a single source

just a sec

#5
BRainbow
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/06/02 09:00:41 (permalink)
Wow, Morton Saether, I haven't seen your name for ages.  Maybe I haven't been in the forum enough, but did you just rejoin the team or have I been out to lunch too long?

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#6
mudgel
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/06/02 11:29:59 (permalink)
So why dump something that still covers most of CbB before a replacement is ready?

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#7
pwalpwal
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/06/02 11:52:27 (permalink)
mudgel
So why dump something that still covers most of CbB before a replacement is ready?

well, exactly
 
and maybe someone can move the ot "oh wow it's morten" posts to the coffeehouse?

just a sec

#8
pwalpwal
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/06/02 11:53:31 (permalink)
ignoring proper documentation is a standard short-cut in commercial software unfortunately
 

just a sec

#9
pwalpwal
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/06/02 11:54:40 (permalink)
bandlab certainly have the funding to do this stuff right, but do they have the governance/vision/will?
 

just a sec

#10
marled
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/06/02 15:55:18 (permalink)
pwalpwal
Morten Saether [Cakewalk]
The offline help has been deprecated.

can't think of any reason for this? properly maintained documentation can be output to multiple types - online, offline, pdf, whatever - from a single source

100+
I was even happy if there was only a pdf-version of the current contents available. I think a clean up can be done step by step to avoid too much effort at once.

... many years before ...
#11
Morten Saether [Cakewalk]
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/06/02 16:27:25 (permalink)
mudgel
So why dump something that still covers most of CbB before a replacement is ready?


Thanks for the feedback. We will take it into consideration. To clarify, the online help has been the default help system for many years, and we will continue to maintain and evolve the online help in order to provide a good experience and timely updates.

Although the offline and online help were output from a single source, there was still a lot of extra overhead in maintaining and testing multiple help formats in multiple languages. Now that we are a smaller and more agile team, it was a good opportunity to streamline our processes and focus our efforts on solutions that benefit most users. The aging CHM format also has limitations that prevent us from implementing some of the new modern technologies we want to use.

In the future, perhaps a good solution is to let users download the online HTML help for offline use.
#12
scook
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/06/02 17:04:29 (permalink)
I prefer the web-based help although a downloadable html might be useful too. The only problem I have ATM is the inability to search. Right now I get SONAR search results and substitute Cakewalk in the url. Works most of the time. I expect this will be addressed when the help finds a home on the BandLab site.
#13
Keni
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/06/02 17:06:47 (permalink)
Morten Saether [Cakewalk]
The offline help has been deprecated. We are investigating different solutions for the online help, so stay tuned.


That's sad...

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#14
ptheisen
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/06/02 17:17:28 (permalink)
Morten Saether [Cakewalk]
The offline help has been deprecated. We are investigating different solutions for the online help, so stay tuned.

I am another person that would hate to see all options for offline help permanently eliminated. I do understand the need to streamline, so I'm not asking for a completely separate system, but having the ability to download something would be a big help (pardon the pun) for those who keep their DAWs offline most of the time.
#15
Uncle John
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/09/05 01:14:25 (permalink)
I feel there's a valid argument for offline help. Some of us spend a small fortune building custom computers for audio recording and editing. The last thing we need is some hacker/spoofer/whatever crashing our expensive beasts and potentially losing many hours of creative work. I prefer to work offline as much as possible and actually would disable my network adapter while I'm working just to ensure no internet connection and free up computer resources. If it wasn't for having to download software occasionally I don't think I'd even plug the ethernet cable in.

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#16
Skyline_UK
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/09/05 07:58:01 (permalink)
Something odd here. Virtually 100% of the Sonar offline help is still relevant and will be so for a long time yet. Is the real reason it's now unavailable something to do with download bulk? Surely it should still be included, even with a caveat like "Please be aware the current offline help files are not being kept up to date for now as we develop more up to date solutions for maintaining and delivering these." Full story please.

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#17
Wibbles
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/09/05 08:28:01 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby Skyline_UK 2018/09/05 15:17:21
Skyline_UK
... Virtually 100% of the Sonar offline help is still relevant and will be so for a long time yet. ...




If I need to refer to the last Sonar offline help, I open up SONAR.CHM in Program Files\Cakewalk\SONAR Platinum. The pdf of the SONAR Reference Guide is there too.
#18
tobiaslindahl
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/09/05 12:30:02 (permalink)
Wibbles
Skyline_UK
... Virtually 100% of the Sonar offline help is still relevant and will be so for a long time yet. ...




If I need to refer to the last Sonar offline help, I open up SONAR.CHM in Program Files\Cakewalk\SONAR Platinum. The pdf of the SONAR Reference Guide is there too.




I do the same for Sonar and from what I understand 99% of the stuff is valid for CbB too so not an issue yet imo? 
#19
pwalpwal
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/09/05 12:33:00 (permalink)
Skyline_UK
Something odd here. Virtually 100% of the Sonar offline help is still relevant and will be so for a long time yet. Is the real reason it's now unavailable something to do with download bulk? Surely it should still be included, even with a caveat like "Please be aware the current offline help files are not being kept up to date for now as we develop more up to date solutions for maintaining and delivering these." Full story please.


agree... if the help is being kept up to date then why not publish it in multiple formats?

just a sec

#20
pwalpwal
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/09/05 12:33:57 (permalink)
or maybe they're analysing which online help stuff is used most, in order to improve that stuff so less help is needed

just a sec

#21
Cookie Jarvis
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/09/05 18:05:22 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby smoddelm 2018/09/05 22:13:51
Personally I detest online help and prefer .pdf files... I can read them on the PC, phone, tablet...print if I want...and no browser lag or connection loss. I think the good people at Harrison do a good combination of online and offline help using this- https://www.manula.com/ Maybe give it a look :)
 
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gmp
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/09/08 05:26:02 (permalink)
Well I must say it's great to see Morten Saether back on the Cakewalk team. The news gets better and better. CbB is in very good hands with a strong capable team. Welcome back Morten!

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#23
Anderton
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/09/09 16:55:09 (permalink)
My biggest problem with the online help is the index...for example, I couldn't find an index entry for "dither" or "dithering."
 
The help I find the most useful is the Help button on dialog boxes. It will not only take you to a full explanation of the dialog box offerings, but often includes links to additional material.

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#24
scook
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Re: Is there no offline help file for CbB? 2018/09/09 17:17:51 (permalink)
Anderton
My biggest problem with the online help is the index...for example, I couldn't find an index entry for "dither" or "dithering."

I found an index entry for Dithering using the search function in FireFox



it links to this page
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