Re: [be] How to sync with Paratext

[Teus Benschop]

Hi Denis,

When the topic is about ease of use for the computer novice, one can
notice that programs like Thunderbird, Firefox and Skype are good
examples of programs that new users will easily master, even on Linux.

Yet all of these programs have their data stored in their own hidden
folder (.thunderbird, .mozilla, .Skype). It seems therefore that the
hidden location of their data files is not a hindrance for ease of use
for novice users. The key here is that all three programs mentioned do
not normally need the computer user to have access to their data. All
their data is operated through the menu. The advantage of using hidden
folders is that is is not easy for a computer user to erase this data by
accident. If for example Thunderbird would store their data in the
folder ~/thunderbird, then the data would be visible in Nautilus. It
would take a simple press on the Del button to loose all the data. In
order to give better protection to the data, many programs have decided
that on Linux they store it in hidden folders. It takes much more effort
in these case to loose the data by accident.

Bibledit too has decided that normally users do not need to access its
data, so it was protected by putting it in hidden folders. In
Thunderbird if one wishes to save an email, one has to use "Save As". In
Bibledit, similarly, if one wishes to save the USFM files, one has to
"Export" these.

I believe that the model described above to protect the data is one that
strikes a good balance between the needs of the novice user, security,
and the needs of the advanced one.

Having said this all, I do like your idea of making it easier to "ln -s"
to the new directory of the user's choice where he will store his data,
and invite you to submit a task for that. By default Bibledit will then
store its data hidden so protecting it, but if the advanced user wishes
to take the risk, and knows what he is doing, well, let him have the
option to do so. Thunderbird too allows the user to change the location
where it stores the data. And yes, if book files are needed, rather than
chapter ones, (and I do see the point that you make), pls. go ahead to
submit this task too.

Thanks for the points your brought up, and reading thus far...

Teus.