[scribus] write and save a document

[Ronald Wiplinger (Lists)]

On Fri, 2009-06-26 at 09:33 -0400, Gregory Pittman wrote:
> Ronald Wiplinger (Lists) wrote:
> > Christoph,
> >
> > I brought that to the attention of the company, but they refuse to pay
> > for the book with the reasons:
> > 1. The program is free, but how to use it we should pay?
> > 2. The program and the documentation seems to be independent, means
> > there is no guaranty that the information is correct nor a chance to get
> > it fixed.
> > 3. If we have to pay, then we pay to a commercial product.
> >
> >
> > For me it is also not understandable that the documentation is a
> > different project and extra to pay. I understand that the effort should
> > be awarded. BUT a good programmer will make the documentation at the
> > same time, otherwise nobody can use the program.
> >
> > Therefore, where are the docs, that lead to the book?
> >   
> I guess if there are many companies out there who feel this way, we 
> could change the way that Scribus is available just for them, and charge 
> for the program, thus, this would be in keeping with charging for the 
> manual and apparently be OK then. Of course, we would need to charge a 
> per user licence, and you cannot really own the program but just have a 
> licence to use it.
> 
> I big reason why the printed manual exists is based on various users 
> wanting a printed manual as opposed to the free online help available. 
> Unfortunately, we could not find a publisher, a printer, and supplier of 
> materials who would bring out this book at no cost (or for that matter, 
> some commercial concern who would donate to the Scribus project so that 
> the manual might be available for free). Money that does trickle its way 
> through this making-publishing-printing process goes back to the project 
> to be used to help advance the software. We apologize if this seems to 
> be mercenary and offensive to the commercial world out there.
> 
> In the end, I guess your company is an example of how commercial 
> concerns really don't understand the FOSS concept. It's probably just 
> never going to make sense that people would work this hard on a project 
> without monetary compensation.
> 
> Greg


Greg,

I know it is a difficult act of balance. I understand that the work
should be compensated. However, you need to understand also the side of
the company. They do not see the value of the book separated from the
product.
In this particular case, I was asking if and how it is possible and get
an answer (which I forwarded to  the company) that we should buy a book
to GET the answer. That is not going to work! Nobody will buy a book to
see if it is working or not. Better buy a book PLUS product, where the
description and the support states that it is working.
Scribus is a great product!
We need to find a way to get fundings in a different way. By hiding
features into an extra book the great value of the product is not
visible for the user and so the product loses value.

Unfortunately the company is comparing Scribus to OpenOffice. It is
free, has a great community, has documentation where you get all
information and yes you can buy additional documentations.

I am not sure if it would be of help, but I start a banner service and I
could need some banners at the beginning, which are also not paid, just
to get variety out here. I can offer the community to put such banners
into my system pointing to a Scribus web site.

GOAL from that should be that somebody of the big players (Sun, ...)
will get aware of Scribus and add it to their program and fund it.
Wouldn't it a great addition to OpenOffice, already offered by Sun?

Just a thought!

bye

Ronald
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