Topic: Media Center Wiki (Read 13846 times)

John Gateley · « **on:** December 19, 2006, 01:09:17 pm »

We now have a Wiki to provide documentation for Media Center 12. Take a look at:

http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/

browse around, make a contribution, or several, or talk about where you'd like to see it go.

The current content is rough, based on the latest version of the manual, and I only put about half of it in.

You could add some of the missing pages.

You could update the existing information to be accurate for version 12.

You could add pictures - they improve appearance and promote understanding.

You could add your favorite third party plug-in, especially if you are the author.

You could help decide what the main page should look like.

There's a lot of knowledge and talent in this forum from our users, the wiki will make that knowledge and talent easier to get to.

j

John Gateley · « **Reply #1 on:** December 19, 2006, 02:40:05 pm »

Strange problem: copying the database from the test location to the live location didn't quite work. If clicking on a link gives a URL not found error, just edit the linking page, make a small change, save it, edit and remove the small change, save again, and the links will then work.

j

glynor · « **Reply #2 on:** December 19, 2006, 02:51:55 pm »

This is a great plan guys! I know I will certainly be contributing to it (and I'll finally have to learn how to use a Wiki properly).

Speaking of which.... Is there a "sandbox" area where we can play a bit to learn how to use it?

John Gateley · « **Reply #3 on:** December 19, 2006, 03:04:04 pm »

http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Meta:Sandbox

Enjoy, and thanks...

j

marko · « **Reply #4 on:** December 19, 2006, 03:33:23 pm »

I'm not receiving the validation email?

John Gateley · « **Reply #5 on:** December 19, 2006, 04:05:12 pm »

Try again - go into Preferences and click the confirm e-mail address link to send another confirmation e-mail.

j

jmone · « **Reply #6 on:** December 20, 2006, 01:45:28 am »

Quote from: John Gateley on December 19, 2006, 01:09:17 pm

based on the latest version of the manual

Great Idea but I'd also love the link to the manual but can not find it!
Thanks
Nathan

Mr ChriZ · « **Reply #7 on:** December 20, 2006, 03:37:47 am »

Quote from: jmone on December 20, 2006, 01:45:28 am

Great Idea but I'd also love the link to the manual but can not find it!
Thanks
Nathan

It's there under: Getting Started
Media Center Manual

jmone · « **Reply #8 on:** December 20, 2006, 04:19:41 am »

Quote from: Mr ChriZ on December 20, 2006, 03:37:47 am

It's there under: Getting Started
Media Center Manual

Sorry I must be blind

but I don't see where the manual is on this page or a "Getting Started" section - just the index to the wiki....

hit_ny · « **Reply #9 on:** December 20, 2006, 04:37:43 am »

Interesting development

now to mine the forums.

Mr ChriZ · « **Reply #10 on:** December 20, 2006, 04:52:20 am »

Quote from: jmone on December 20, 2006, 04:19:41 am

Sorry I must be blind but I don't see where the manual is on this page or a "Getting Started" section - just the index to the wiki....

Erm I gave you a direct link to it
http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/Media_Center
That is a direct link to the manual as a set of wikipedia entrys.

The main JRiver MC wikipedia page which John has linked to at the start
of this post has a section called Getting Started, which
also links to the manual, the same link which I've posted.

John Gateley · « **Reply #11 on:** December 20, 2006, 07:16:13 am »

Nathan - the manual it is based on can be seen in Media Center under Help->Contents...

Thanks,

j

dcwebman · « **Reply #12 on:** December 20, 2006, 07:45:58 am »

I think this is a great idea. Hopefully people will add to it often so there's always up to date documentation. Even common Q&A from the forums can be added to help everybody.

jmone · « **Reply #13 on:** December 20, 2006, 01:41:21 pm »

Quote from: John Gateley on December 20, 2006, 07:16:13 am

Nathan - the manual it is based on can be seen in Media Center under Help->Contents...

Thanks,

j

Thanks guys - I was hoping for a standalone manual I could print (eg PDF) as I've a long trip comming up and somehow paper still works!

BartMan01 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 20, 2006, 05:17:35 pm »

This would be a good place to archive useful smartlists, duplicate handling, views, etc.

pank2002 · « **Reply #15 on:** December 21, 2006, 11:36:38 am »

That is great. As it grow it will become a great resource. I am glad you chose MediaWiki. Some of us already know it from Wikipedia.

Cheers,
Rasmus

Alweb · « **Reply #16 on:** December 21, 2006, 11:45:36 am »

Great!!!!!

Tks!

John Gateley · « **Reply #17 on:** December 21, 2006, 12:45:41 pm »

Besides the cool name, I like the way MediaWiki looks, and that Wikipedia has stress tested it.

I'd like to see people's smart lists here too...

j

skeeterfood · « **Reply #18 on:** December 21, 2006, 02:19:37 pm »

Quote from: John Gateley on December 21, 2006, 12:45:41 pm

Besides the cool name, I like the way MediaWiki looks, and that Wikipedia has stress tested it.

I'd like to see people's smart lists here too...

j

I created a User Smartlists category and a first entry at: http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/Category:User_Smartlists

It's linked to from the main Wiki Smartlists page: http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/Smartlists

-John

glynor · « **Reply #19 on:** December 21, 2006, 03:46:33 pm »

Quote from: John Gateley on December 21, 2006, 12:45:41 pm

Besides the cool name, I like the way MediaWiki looks, and that Wikipedia has stress tested it.

Yeah. I also approve of this choice.

John Gateley · « **Reply #20 on:** December 21, 2006, 08:21:55 pm »

Thanks all, especially for the smartlist stuff Skeeterfood. Disc # will be part of YADB soon, too...

j

dcwebman · « **Reply #21 on:** December 22, 2006, 07:02:35 am »

In looking around the Wiki, as previously mentioned, it's based on the help file. The help file is based on "how to" tasks and then other items. Unfortunately at least in the help file, I usually find myself using Search to find what I want. For example, recently I wanted to know what Media Server did because I saw the advanced tools menu item and the Start programs menu item.

My question is in addition to the way the Wiki is set up now, do you think it would be feasible to add 2 main category topics: Menu Items where the entire MC menu system is described with most likely links to existing pages, and something like Programs Installed where the Start programs menu group items would be described? It might be easier for people to find things that way too rather than resorting to searching.

John Gateley · « **Reply #22 on:** December 22, 2006, 07:43:53 am »

Hi dcwebman - I agree about the help file not being the best format for an on-line resource. I hope this will be changed over time.

To answer your question: I'd say "try it". It's a Wiki, just put it in, see if others like it.

Thanks,

j

p.s. Thanks for the changes on Media Server. I was planning on adding a section for that soon, but I've got to get the rest of the manual transferred first.

John Gateley · « **Reply #23 on:** December 23, 2006, 09:04:06 am »

The manual has been entirely transferred. I'm looking for ideas on format changes, structure, anything to make the help easier to get to.

j

rjm · « **Reply #24 on:** December 23, 2006, 09:21:39 am »

Great idea. We now have a structured place to put valuable content rather than having it scattered throughout the forums.

John Gateley · « **Reply #25 on:** December 30, 2006, 09:03:35 am »

Thanks DCWebMan!!!

Looks nice.

j

dcwebman · « **Reply #26 on:** December 30, 2006, 12:37:10 pm »

Quote from: John Gateley on December 30, 2006, 09:03:35 am

Thanks DCWebMan!!!

Looks nice.

Not sure what you're thanking me for because what you saw was just the beginning. Now after spending over 5 hours on it, please go take a look and then you can thank me.

http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/Menu_Bar
Jeff

John Gateley · « **Reply #27 on:** December 31, 2006, 07:42:14 am »

Thanks again!!!! The section looks great. I made a couple of notes in the discussion page (for the manual and for the menu bar).

j

John Gateley · « **Reply #28 on:** January 02, 2007, 04:46:56 pm »

I added a purchase/restore page, take a look please.

http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/Purchase_and_License_Recovery

Due to the nature of the info on this page, it cannot be changed by anyone except a sysop (me). Put your suggestions on the
discussion page and I'll see them there.

Thanks,

j

John Gateley · « **Reply #29 on:** January 02, 2007, 04:55:34 pm »

And a brief blurb on the trial version of MC (again, because of the sensitive nature of this data, put suggestions on the discussion page).

http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/Trial_Information

j

Link · « **Reply #30 on:** January 02, 2007, 05:11:19 pm »

The Main page seemed like it needed a little more structure, so I added some.....

Thoughts?

(I still think the main "Manual" link needs something more.... descriptive)

John Gateley · « **Reply #31 on:** January 02, 2007, 09:50:05 pm »

Looks much nicer - I like the organization.

Yes, the manual page needs work, I've got some ideas but I need to put more thought into it. Hopefully tomorrow...

Thanks!

j

Link · « **Reply #32 on:** January 03, 2007, 03:59:38 pm »

I have started pulling over the FAQs from these boards into the Wiki....

I set them up a their own category, and for now just populate the page with the link as it is currently presented on this board.

I envision that we would want to pull the relevant text out into the page proper, bring it all up to date, etc,.... But I tought this was a first good step to get structure in place.

Mr ChriZ · « **Reply #33 on:** January 03, 2007, 04:06:27 pm »

It would be nice for the developers zone to be converted into
a wiki too.

John Gateley · « **Reply #34 on:** January 03, 2007, 04:15:20 pm »

The Media Center Manual page (http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/Media_Center) has this big huge more section (which was basically the table of contents of the old manual). I've come up with an outline to replace it:

http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/Media_Center_Manual_Beta

Take a look and post any comments in the manual discussion page:

http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/Talk:Media_Center

j

marko · « **Reply #35 on:** January 04, 2007, 12:41:27 pm »

biggest drawback for me is that my eyes kind of glaze over when I realise that I need to learn more markup language to create professional looking wiki pages.

while poking around, I came across a 'word to wiki' convertor, which I hope will do what it says on the tin. Should hopefully find some time to play over the weekend.

-marko.

John Gateley · « **Reply #36 on:** January 04, 2007, 01:00:05 pm »

It's one of the simplest markup languages I've used. I get by with very little extra baggage.
Links, numbered lists, bullet lists, titles, only 4 things and you've go 90% covered.

j

John Gateley · « **Reply #37 on:** January 05, 2007, 03:18:27 pm »

I've changed the Manual page, so that instead of a "More" section with a long list of topics afterwords, there's a Table of Contents with a real structure. It should make things easier to find.

Please take a look, and leave feedback on the discussion page.

Also, feel free to patch up the holes - there's a few sections that don't exist yet, and the entire Media File section could use some support.

Thanks again,

j

John Gateley · « **Reply #38 on:** January 09, 2007, 02:44:15 pm »

I need a little help with the Library Manager page:

http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/Talk:Library_Manager

and the page to be modified is:

http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/Library_Manager

Thanks...

j

marko · « **Reply #39 on:** January 10, 2007, 07:00:44 am »

played with this a little this morning.
any idea why <ref>blah</ref> .... <references/> wouldn't work for me?

dcwebman · « **Reply #40 on:** January 10, 2007, 07:46:03 am »

Quote from: marko on January 10, 2007, 07:00:44 am

played with this a little this morning.
any idea why <ref>blah</ref> .... <references/> wouldn't work for me?

What exactly are you trying to add? I use this page for what I can and can't do: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Formatting

Quote from: John Gateley on January 09, 2007, 02:44:15 pm

I need a little help with the Library Manager page:
http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/Talk:Library_Manager
and the page to be modified is:
http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/Library_Manager

I added one multiple library use.

marko · « **Reply #41 on:** January 10, 2007, 07:56:53 am »

hmmm, I was referencing from this page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Wikitext#Organizing_your_writing

See the last entry in the "organising your writing" table.

perhaps mediawiki doesn't support those?
No biggie really, my page has now been added!

dcwebman · « **Reply #42 on:** January 10, 2007, 08:57:43 am »

That's weird that the ref doesn't work. It's even listed on this page which is from the Wikipedia site: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Wikitext_reference

The other examples on that page that I tried work. Wikipedia is using MediaWiki so you would think it would work. It would be nice to know why. At work we're thinking of using a wiki for our internal website and would probably use this same one.

John Gateley · « **Reply #43 on:** January 10, 2007, 08:59:49 am »

References are an add-on. I'll see about getting them installed, I'd like them too.

Thanks...

j

dcwebman · « **Reply #44 on:** January 10, 2007, 09:04:09 am »

John, what/where is the best place to put things we think should be in the wiki that we find from the forums? For example http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=38121.msg259713#msg259713 sounds like a useful entry. In the FAQ? Somewhere else?

John Gateley · « **Reply #45 on:** January 10, 2007, 09:21:21 am »

In general stuff should go in the manual. This case is kind of borderline, but I chose to go with the manual:

http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/Saving_DVDs_on_Your_Computer

and a little discussion at:

http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/Talk:Saving_DVDs_on_Your_Computer

But part of the fun is that you get to put it where you think is best, it's a group effort...

j

John Gateley · « **Reply #46 on:** January 11, 2007, 12:12:39 pm »

I added a DevZone section, and began moving the DevZone stuff over. Take a look at the MJP package stuff, it is new.

http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/DevZone

j

John Gateley · « **Reply #47 on:** January 18, 2007, 10:46:01 am »

I could use some help in 3 areas:

The DevZone stuff: Copy-and-paste the old web pages into the wiki, and add the wiki code. I did some of these as examples.

The frequently asked questions: Most of these are just links to web pages. I'd like 2 things:
1) Copy the information into the wiki instead of linking to a web page
2) Make the information part of the manual (and also linked to the FAQs).
Right now, all the pages are "orphans". I've fixed a few: I take the data from the web page, add it to the manual and then put the Category:... at the bottom of the wiki page. Then I delete the original page I was working off of. We shouldn't have any orphans except the main page when finished, and the info in the FAQs should be available by browsing the manual OR browsing the FAQs. Make sense? I'm not sure I explained it well.
(Note: I'm not very careful about phrasing the subjects for FAQs as questions - it is very awkward).

The Handheld stuff. This has changed a lot in MC12. Pank put up some links (next to the manual on the main page).
1) These links need to be moved to inside the manaul.
2) They need to be pulled in to the Wiki.
3) The broken link needs to be fixed.
Lalittle or blueglow - y'all would be perfect for this if you can lend a hand...

Thanks for all contributions, past and future...

j

dcwebman · « **Reply #48 on:** January 18, 2007, 12:58:14 pm »

Quote from: John Gateley on January 18, 2007, 10:46:01 am

The frequently asked questions: Most of these are just links to web pages. I'd like 2 things:
1) Copy the information into the wiki instead of linking to a web page
2) Make the information part of the manual (and also linked to the FAQs).
Right now, all the pages are "orphans". I've fixed a few: I take the data from the web page, add it to the manual and then put the Category:... at the bottom of the wiki page. Then I delete the original page I was working off of. We shouldn't have any orphans except the main page when finished, and the info in the FAQs should be available by browsing the manual OR browsing the FAQs. Make sense? I'm not sure I explained it well.
(Note: I'm not very careful about phrasing the subjects for FAQs as questions - it is very awkward).

I'm not sure I understood this correctly so I left the old link. Please take a look at http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/How_Playing_Now_Works and if I did it right, then the bottom link can be removed.
It seemed to me in this case that the page the FAQ pointed to could be the page for the manual and that the link to this page could be added someplace in the manual which I did. I assumed the Category: you mentioned was back to the FAQ.

John Gateley · « **Reply #49 on:** January 18, 2007, 01:29:06 pm »

Quote from: dcwebman on January 18, 2007, 12:58:14 pm

I'm not sure I understood this correctly so I left the old link. Please take a look at http://wiki.jrmediacenter.com/index.php/How_Playing_Now_Works and if I did it right, then the bottom link can be removed.
It seemed to me in this case that the page the FAQ pointed to could be the page for the manual and that the link to this page could be added someplace in the manual which I did. I assumed the Category: you mentioned was back to the FAQ.

In cases like this, what I do is make the "Thanks to ..." message a link back to the original page in Interact. This both does the "thanks" to the original author (Glynor in this case) and the original material. I changed it a little on the wiki...

j

INTERACT FORUM

Author Topic: Media Center Wiki (Read 13846 times)