http://drupal.org/handbook/customization/tutorials/beginners-cookbook

Where should I begin...
Maybe this will make some people mad or crazy but I need to tell this. =)
The drupal cookbook is for new drupal guys and girls.
99% of them wont make super fancy sites within the first months.
So all they need is a basic setup.
Drupal 7 is all they need :) (and not D6 or D5)

I believe (my opinion) is that they ONLY need basic information of the latest version of drupal.
So in 5 days drupal 7 will be released and I think we have to redo the cookbook.

Some pages like common errors for D6 should be in the documentation but NOT in an absolute beginners guide.
Maybe link to D6 specific mini basic error and tips handbook??
(D5 support should be killed because the handbook is getting unreadbale if we try to support unsupported versions)

What should be done:
- Remove the background info on the frontpage: there isn't any newbie interested how the handbook is rewritten over the years
- Let the terminology link to 1 page (issue of jhodgdon)
- Remove all the crap like "in drupal 5 this and drupal 6 that..." Just make clear that this tutorial is based on the latest version of drupal (drupal 7) in the first sentences.
- Change screenshot and drupal 6 text on http://drupal.org/node/120613
- Create content has to be rewritten completly http://drupal.org/node/120635
==> this is a beginner page so please use some screenshots and make use of the shortcutbar for adding content
==> Also use a screenshot for the vertical tabs
- "Teasers" - short summaries of node content (http://drupal.org/node/514318)
==> Screenshot off add article where you show where to click to create the summary + small explenation, current page is to big + not D7 accurate
- Yet another solution for editing media content on a Drupal-site (http://drupal.org/node/817550) should be renamed to "Using a WYSIWYG editor." or something like that
==> again needs a screenshot
==> needs to be edited for drupal 7
- Setting up your home page ==> d7 tweaking (links)
==> we have to be consistent use '<' or use '<<' to express going deeper in the menustructure, not both
- Users, roles and permissions "http://drupal.org/node/120614"
==> remove D5/D6 part. But I agree D6 users would like to have this information somewhere. So maybe find a place for the D6 part. After next week we don't support D5 anymore :p
- Adding modules and themes
==> explain that we have a UI installer for modules + explanation how it works
==> Topic for themes + if UI installer fails
- Adding a contact form
==> change paths according to D7
- Blocks - adding extra information
==> update screenshots + info
==> again use toolbar links to explain
- Setting up cron
==> poormans cron is in core
==> kill this page?
- Tracking module status (http://drupal.org/node/124933)
==> in core in D7, just explain where to find
- Common problems http://drupal.org/node/120622
==> remove the D6/D5 specific stuff (at least move it away from here)
- Add a page about fields?
- Remove glossary link (see merge with terminology)
- http://drupal.org/videocasts (move D7 things to the top, remove D5)
==> now we have a clutter of topics for lots of versions, I would like to see 3 parts:
====> part 1: D7 topics
====> part 2: D6 topics
====> part 3: (if needed a general part for cross version topics)

Yes we will have different theming (as an example) topics but they will contain only videos of 1 version.

Lots of ideas, I would love to see the answers :)

Comments

arianek’s picture

Issue tags: +cookbook

i agree aspilicious, the cookbook needs a ton of work and updating. this is high on the priority list after the main core docs are sorted (along with cleaning up the views docs section online). would you like to help out with it?

i'd like to get a small group (2-4 people) together who want to tackle this updating, and get a bit of a plan of what we actually want there in place before diving in. we may need to break this into smaller issues, but please add any more notes you have here in the meantime! or post on http://groups.drupal.org/documentation-team if you want to try and find helpers!

(tagging with cookbook, pls tag to track any related issues)

thanks for all these notes!

kimmel’s picture

I would be willing to work on making the cookbook Drupal 7.

We should start by making a draft outline for the new version and break it down by adds, updates and removes.

MScheinhaus’s picture

Question here from a new person wanting to contribute (and who has already started using Drupal 7) - Why is it called a "cookbook" and not simply a "Beginner's Guide?"

kimmel’s picture

A solution for this issue is being developed here: http://groups.drupal.org/node/161644

leehunter’s picture

I don't think "cookbook" is the best name for it, since that implies a collection of discrete recipes. However, "beginner's guide" is also not quite right since it's actually more of a tutorial.

cleverington’s picture

Status: Active » Closed (duplicate)

This entire issue is under review for issue #497574: Clean up The Drupal Cookbook (for beginners), and is discussion should be continued in that issue.