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Different Propeller Manuals online — Parallax Forums

Different Propeller Manuals online

bill190bill190 Posts: 769
edited 2010-09-06 00:30 in General Discussion
This one...
http://www.parallax.com/dl/docs/prod/prop/WebPM-v1.01.pdf

Is different from this one...
http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Downloads/docs/prod/prop/WebPM-v1.1.pdf


Shouldn't just the most current manual be online?

Comments

  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2010-09-03 00:25
    bill190 wrote: »
    This one...
    http://www.parallax.com/dl/docs/prod/prop/WebPM-v1.01.pdf
    Is different from this one...
    http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Downloads/docs/prod/prop/WebPM-v1.1.pdf
    Shouldn't just the most current manual be online?
    IMO, absolutely not! There are often different versions of things, sensors, projects, even entire sections of a manual that are vital to the projects we are working on. Some of these projects are based on earlier information only found in an earlier manual. If you're an avid BASIC Stamp 1 enthusiast like me, where will you find that manual from years ago? For example, if you have the first Penguin robot and want to consult that schematic for your project, you'll need the "old" manual. If you have a new Penguin, and want to consult that schematic, you'll need the new manual. Having all versions of manuals available is a great service (because of a viable need) provided by Parallax and other sources.

    Humanoido
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
    edited 2010-09-03 09:21
    Humanoido wrote: »
    IMO, absolutely not! There are often different versions of things, sensors, projects, even entire sections of a manual that are vital to the projects we are working on. Some of these projects are based on earlier information only found in an earlier manual. If you're an avid BASIC Stamp 1 enthusiast like me, where will you find that manual from years ago? For example, if you have the first Penguin robot and want to consult that schematic for your project, you'll need the "old" manual. If you have a new Penguin, and want to consult that schematic, you'll need the new manual. Having all versions of manuals available is a great service (because of a viable need) provided by Parallax and other sources.

    Humanoido

    I'm pretty sure that the referring page doesn't mention which manual is being referenced - the old one or new one. This could be the problem pointed out by bill190.

    I'll have our web team take a look ASAP. Thanks, Ken
  • BumpBump Posts: 592
    edited 2010-09-03 10:08
    Ken Gracey (Parallax) wrote: »
    I'm pretty sure that the referring page doesn't mention which manual is being referenced - the old one or new one. This could be the problem pointed out by bill190.

    I'll have our web team take a look ASAP. Thanks, Ken

    I'm not sure, but I know who to ask in order to receive the information I require as to the lifespan of these documents.

    It appears here: http://www.parallax.com/tabid/832/Default.aspx
    The older manual remains as well, which does lead me to believe the authors asked for both to exist as a source of reference, perhaps. Whatever the reason I'll figure it out.

    However if you stumbled upon the older less-correct document in an area other than what I'll lackadaisically refer to as 'the archive' of Propeller manuals, then we might have an issue. It would be more prudent to only have the most recent version of the download available in that case for sure lest someone be lead astray.

    Bump is on the case! I'll respond again once I have a more suitable answer.
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
    edited 2010-09-03 10:15
    Bump (Parallax Inc) wrote: »
    I'm not sure, but I know who to ask in order to receive the information I require as to the lifespan of these documents.

    It appears here: http://www.parallax.com/tabid/832/Default.aspx
    The older manual remains as well, which does lead me to believe the authors asked for both to exist as a source of reference, perhaps. Whatever the reason I'll figure it out.

    However if you stumbled upon the older less-correct document in an area other than what I'll lackadaisically refer to as 'the archive' of Propeller manuals, then we might have an issue. It would be more prudent to only have the most recent version of the download available in that case for sure lest someone be lead astray.

    Bump is on the case! I'll respond again once I have a more suitable answer.

    Bump is going to be doing it all for most of September - nice job Bump. Our marketing department is usually 3-4 people, but between vacations, maternity and sabbatical leave he's on his own. If he can't get somebody to make a decision then he'll find the right person just by looking in the mirror. Go Bump go!
  • BumpBump Posts: 592
    edited 2010-09-03 13:03
    This topic opened up further discussion about archiving, so for now it will remain as is; however how Parallax deals with older documentation might change, when it does we will make our intentions known.

    Favours vs concerns, benefits vs hindrance, and pros vs cons.
  • John R.John R. Posts: 1,376
    edited 2010-09-03 13:24
    Disk space is cheap!

    (Although the cabinets and infrastructure for said disks are not necessarily so.)\\

    John R.
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2010-09-06 00:30
    Bump (Parallax Inc) wrote: »
    This topic opened up further discussion about archiving, so for now it will remain as is; however how Parallax deals with older documentation might change, when it does we will make our intentions known. Favours vs concerns, benefits vs hindrance, and pros vs cons.
    Speaking of archiving, it sounds like a solution. The current manuals can remain on the current product page to avoid any confusion. Others can be archived. I have kept a lot of the older CDs just for that reason, of archiving older manuals and information. It has made several of my projects possible. But the CD is not a complete archive. As you know, we hobbyists must recycle some of our projects, and papers become lost from years ago or moving from home to home or traveling. A place to download all the individual old manuals would be spectacular. One could choose what's needed without downloading an entire CD or going from place to place endlessly in the search twilight zone.

    Humanoido
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