[OSM-talk] Potlatch for Newbies

[Graham Jones]

Hi,
I think improving the documentation for new users (and experienced ones
too!) is a really good idea - I think we lack information for the casual new
user.

The disadvantage of directing this group to Potlatch is that they need to
understand quite a few concepts before they can really do anything (nodes,
ways, tags, the fact that there is no definitive list of approved tags etc.
etc.).

Michael Daines has made really good progress in his Google Summer of Code
project to develop a 'Simple Map Editor', which is a simple web based editor
with (intentionally!) very limited functionality - it only deals with a
defined list of node and way properties.   This means that people can "add a
pub here" rather than 'add a node tagged amenity=pub' or 'correct that
street name'.
He has a wiki page at http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Simple_Map_Editor.
  There is a demo (using the development server) at
http://simple-map-editor.heroku.com/.   I wonder if pushing the development
of this along and advertising it to new users with a "if you want to do
more, you need a more advanced editor like Potlatch, with a link to a
Potlatch howto might be a good way to go?   I do not think it is very far
away from being in a state it could be made live (a few Quality Assurance
checks required).

An other alternative that I like is to use the Simple Map Editor concept (in
fact the same code!), but make it very specialised - you could have a map
targeted at specific features, such as pubs, supermarkets [e.g
http://maps.webhop.net/supermarkets], toilets etc, and invite people to
review it and add ones that are missing - that way the editor would just
present a very limited subset of pre-defined tags (name, operator, website
etc.) - there would just be an 'add' button on the map which would bring up
the editor dialog box. Again you would include a 'if you want to do more...'
link.

What do you think?

Graham.


On 21 August 2010 11:55, NopMap <ekkehart at gmx.de> wrote:

>
>
> Hi!
>
> I am currently writing a How-To for people who have heard about OSM five
> minutes ago and whish to contribute some specific POI information. Getting
> to the point where they open Potlatch and need to click the Save or Live
> mode buttons, I have become painfully aware on how this is inviting
> desaster
> to happen.
>
> I am trying to interest new people. But that means sending absolutely
> clueless folks here and one wrong click at that point and they can mess up
> the area for good without even knowing it.
>
> So my questions are:
> - Why don't we disable that Live edit feature for good? I vaguely remember
> the question has been raised before, but I just can't think of any use case
> where I' need to mess up the data directly with no undo.
> - If it is holy for some historic reason, why can't we put it away into a
> power user menu that is well hidden from the newcomer that definitely
> always
> wants and requires a way out if things go awry?
> - Is there a way to call Potlatch with a parameter or different URL that
> directly goes into save mode and does not show the save-or-sorry selection?
> - is there any alternative if you need an editor that works online without
> the need to install anything locally?
>
> Pleas help me put my consience at rest :-)
>
> bye
>         Nop
>
> --
> View this message in context:
> http://gis.638310.n2.nabble.com/Potlatch-for-Newbies-tp5447342p5447342.html
> Sent from the General Discussion mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
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>



-- 
Dr. Graham Jones
Hartlepool, UK
email: grahamjones139 at gmail.com
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