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Documentation rant (slightly) -- no user manual in PDF?!?

I realize that in this day and age, manuals are bulky, extraneous and heavy. Oh, and not to mention they are also made out of paper. No big deal, honest.

I'm okay that there are no paper manuals, but why why WHY did they not include a standard PDF version of the user manual?

It's not even an option in the help menu anymore.

In looking at where the L8 manual is supposed to be, nested deep within the contents of the application package -- and voila -- instead of a simple, easy to use (and print) PDF file there are loads and loads of ... HTML files?!?

Does Apple really think that opening Safari (or Firefox) is going to be any faster than using Preview?

Who signed off on this? 😉

Sorry, it's a rant I know. If there is another solution, like buying bound copies of the manuals, I will do it. But why did they take away the pdf?!?

G5 dual 2.0, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Jul 25, 2009 5:20 PM

203 replies

simon66

Level 1

39 points

Aug 8, 2009 1:41 PM in response to alancurtis

When a person is relying on an app (particularly in a professional context) I think support and the general attitude of the developer is almost as important a consideration as the performance of the app itself. Maybe not if you're just sitting in your bedroom.

Aug 8, 2009 2:01 PM in response to simon66

That (with respect) is reasonably obvious.

However, if Apple's lack of presence is any indication of service (or rather lack thereof), then no-one would buy anything from them.

What I was trying to get the poster to explain was how their lack of presence here made the slightest difference as to whether one would buy something. Presumably he/she has indeed bought something ergo his/her very presence here.

I wanted the poster to answer rather thank initiate a quiz for everyone but the poster :))_

The fact is, we all buy their products because they are basically ****** good. However, we do so (in many cases), despite the service.

Having employed many 3rd party service providers, I do speak from experience on this one.

Aug 10, 2009 3:06 PM in response to extensivegroup

Apple listened and released a PDF version:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2111428&tstart=0

Thanks to everyone filling out the form and requesting Apple do this.

Aug 10, 2009 3:36 PM in response to Brent Daniels [Free]

Woohoo! Looks like it's the User Manual -- anyone know if they plan on releasing the Plug In Guide as well?

Aug 10, 2009 3:41 PM in response to extensivegroup

They're all available; go all the way into each manual at http://documentation.apple.com/
and there is a link at the top of the TOC for the PDF.

-Wayne

Aug 10, 2009 3:41 PM in response to extensivegroup

Just answered my own question -- they are available as PDFs from the second link!!

So ... with this topic at close to (over?) 10,000 views ⚠ I will reluctantly be closing it down tonight or tomorrow, now that it has been adequately "answered."

I do believe that there is strength in numbers, and I do believe that Apple listens. Thanks to everyone for pitching in and keeping this topic going.

jeffd55

Community Specialist

Aug 10, 2009 4:04 PM in response to extensivegroup

I would like to take this opportunity to inform everyone here that PDF versions of the Logic Studio (2009) Manuals are now available on http://documentation.apple.com/
Select the product from the list and then click the "View as PDF" link available below each manual title to view the PDF manual.

Ben R

Level 1

14 points

Aug 10, 2009 5:47 PM in response to extensivegroup

Awesome. Thanks for listening, Apple.

(Now, let's just hope a point update puts them back in the application bundles and links them to the Help menu again!)

Eriksimon

Level 6

15,422 points

Aug 11, 2009 1:53 AM in response to jeffd55

Great! I'll broadcast it a bit louder... thanks Jeff!

Mxytplk

Level 1

0 points

Aug 11, 2009 4:38 AM in response to Eriksimon

OK! One down! Now Apple, please let us at least purchase a printed manual (the aspect I liked best and found most useful about Logic 8 when I recently switched to the software!)

What are the chances?

Aug 11, 2009 7:09 AM in response to jeffd55

Thanks very much. An index would have been useful--yes, I know you can search by terms, but sometimes an index more quickly cuts through to exactly what you're looking for. Still, I'll take this! 🙂

Aug 11, 2009 8:38 AM in response to AtomHeartUncle

Without further ado, my question has been answered.

I'm also hoping that somehow a point upgrade can link the PDFs to the help menu as they did before, but we'll see.

Thanks for everyone's "Help" here...!

Bee Jay

Level 6

10,900 points

Aug 11, 2009 11:46 AM in response to extensivegroup

I'm also hoping that somehow a point upgrade can link the PDFs to the help menu as they did before, but we'll see.

You can do this yourself if you want to.

Open /Applications/Logic Pro.app/Contents/Resources/English.lproj/HelpMenu.plist and add/edit whatever menu entries you want. If you want the PDF's in the app bundle, you'll need to put them in there.

Remember that any updates will break this, so keep a copy of the changed files to reapply after an updates.

Aug 11, 2009 1:20 PM in response to extensivegroup

Thank you, Apple! I will upgrade now.

Aug 11, 2009 6:13 PM in response to Bee Jay

You can do this yourself if you want to.

Open /Applications/Logic Pro.app/Contents/Resources/English.lproj/HelpMenu.plist and add/edit whatever menu entries you want. If you want the PDF's in the app bundle, you'll need to put them in there.

Remember that any updates will break this, so keep a copy of the changed files to reapply after an updates.

Excellent - Works perfectly.

Thanks for saving me time discovering this!

Documentation rant (slightly) -- no user manual in PDF?!?