Biblioscape user community README first

Welcome to the Biblioscape user community.

Biblioscape user community is for everyone. It includes developers, tech supports, expert users, power users, neophytes, even surfers just looking for the right tool. We all communicate in English, but are not necessarily native speakers. Some power users contribute import filters and output styles, some may help others by answering questions. To build a community of people with such diverse backgrounds, we all have to respect each other. Tech savvy users have to be patient with computer-challenged people and explain things in step by step detail. English speakers may have to ask twice when they don't fully understand a post with broken English. We don't want to make this community like some user groups where novice users are afraid to ask questions.

What you get out of it depends on what you put into it. Biblioscape is a feature rich powerful tool. The drawbacks of such tools is a steep learning curve. The number of modules and the amount of features may be daunting at first. You should start with the basics, learn just the parts that you need, and expand your knowledge gradually. Once you are comfortable with the basics, you may want to learn how to make import filters to import references from different sources, and how to create output styles for different journals. You may then realize that to create a really flexible and powerful import filter, you have to know regular expressions. In order to build a special purpose query, it will help a lot if you know SQL. If you do not have a strong background in software use, it may take a while for you to take advantage of all the things Biblioscape offers. But the good news is that you can grow with such a system.

Ask questions in a proper way in the right forum. The number one purpose of this web site is to provide a place for users to ask questions. But it works very differently from email based tech support. In an email, you can bundle 10 issues in a single email. But in the forum, you should only include one issue per posting. To make the forums a more pleasureable and productive experience for all, be sure to read and keep in mind the forum posting tips.

A user community will not survive if no one jumps in and helps out. The contribute page mentions a number of ways you can help out the community. Once you have Biblioscape installed and running, you are qualified to help others. Actually the best help a user can get is from his/her peers. If you have just figured out a problem, many others may face the same problem. While your memory is fresh, you can write the best help postings. A power user or a developer cannot match that; once they know more about the system they have lost the perspective they had when they'd just solved a problem.