Administrators A new approach to the vb Manual
 

I believe that re-organizing the Manual with an easier How To approach would greatly reduce the requests for advice and assistance. That what I suggest below would make new and especially less-technical forum owners more knowledgeable and independent in their ability to get the most from their forum.

I would like to see the Manual take a more How To approach* and organize the material by administrator topic* e.g. all tools and available options for thread display; or all aspects of permissions. For example all options to manipulate thread display are in many places in the Admin CP and in the Manual* including the Main CSS for color; the vB options (more than one place; ) and usergroup permissions (how much a user can see; ) etc. I would like to see a chapter on manipulating thread display.

I notice on the forum that the same questions often seem to be asked repeatedly. No doubt the same is true in the ticket system. Many of the questions are at the level of concept* not just the tools. If the manual approached a subject like Permissions with a more comprehensive approach* every admin function affecting permissions discussed as to best practice and how they affect each other in one chapter* many questions might not be needed.

The current organization if more like an inventory - it describes each thing in the toolbox* in whatever order it was slotted. But all the tools affecting thread display or permissions are not in one place in either the Manual or the Admin CP. It isn't always easy to find out where all the relevant tools are* and how to build what the tools were provided for. The new admin must be assumed to not to know all that is provided or how it is organized. It is as if one bought a self-assembly furniture item* and the instructions listed all the parts and tools provided* but did not tell you how to build the piece.

It is my opinion that the current Manual is more of an Appendix than a true How-To* and is useful in that context. Although it describes usage of each item* it is very much at the acorn level* with no view of the forest. It does not group and help users understand all the options available for specific forum functions and areas. The Appendix is useful* but the How To topics would help admins and reduce the demands on the vb staff to answer questions.

Thanks for your time.