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       modified: April 23th 2007
       modified: July 9th 2006
       modified: February 28th 2005
  Maintainers:
               Cristian Marchi <cri79@libero.it>
               Chris Lyttle <chris@wilddev.net>
               Neil Williams <linux@codehelp.co.uk>
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               Chris Lyttle <chris@wilddev.net>
  Translators:
               (translators put your name and email here)
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<chapter id="Getting-Help">
 <title id="Using-Help">Using This Document &amp; Getting Help</title>

   <para>This document is organized in two dimensions:
    <itemizedlist>
     <listitem>
      <para>From the GUI (Graphical User Interface) explaining the available options and their functions,
       with links to deeper descriptions and usage.  <xref linkend="GUIMenus"></xref></para>
     </listitem>

     <listitem>
      <para>By classifying Operations, Tasks, or Functions based on whether it is an Account, Transaction,
       Reporting or other oriented operation. <!--Examples are <xref linkend="setup-accounts"></xref>,
       <xref linkend="ch_Common_Trans_Ops"></xref>, <xref linkend="Reports"></xref>  .-->
       Examples are: <itemizedlist>
        <listitem>
         <para> Account Actions - <xref linkend="setup-accounts"></xref></para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
         <para> Transaction/Register Actions - <xref linkend="ch_Common_Trans_Ops"></xref></para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
         <para> Tools and Assistants - <xref linkend="ch_AccRegTools"></xref></para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
         <para> Reporting &amp; Charting - <xref linkend="Reports"></xref></para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
         <para> Customization - <xref linkend="custom-gnucash"></xref></para>
        </listitem>
       </itemizedlist>
      </para>
     </listitem>

    </itemizedlist>
   </para>


  <sect1 id="Help-Window">
   <title>Accessing Help</title>

<!--    -->

    <para>When &app; is running and this documentation is installed, this window is accessed by <itemizedlist>
      <listitem><para>pressing the <keycap>F1</keycap> key or</para></listitem>
      <listitem><para>selecting from the menu
        <menuchoice><guimenu><accel>H</accel>elp</guimenu><guimenuitem><accel>C</accel>ontents</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.</para></listitem>
      <listitem><para><menuchoice><shortcut><keycombo action='simul'><keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>H</keycap></keycombo></shortcut>
        <guimenu><accel>H</accel>elp</guimenu><guimenuitem>Tutorial and Concepts Guide</guimenuitem></menuchoice>
        will open the other part of this documentation.</para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem><para>In most dialogs the <guibutton><accel>H</accel>elp</guibutton> button will lead you directly to the page which decribes that dialog.</para></listitem>
    </itemizedlist></para>
    <para>The complete help menu is explained in <xref linkend="AccTree-help-menu"></xref>.</para>

    <variablelist spacing="compact">
      <title>Operating System and Help Viewer</title>
      <para>Depending on your operating system we use different programs to display this help document:</para>
      
      <varlistentry><term><systemitem class="osname">Linux</systemitem></term>
        <listitem><simpara>Gnome <application>Yelp</application></simpara></listitem></varlistentry>
      <varlistentry><term><systemitem class="osname">MacOS</systemitem></term>
        <listitem><simpara>default web browser</simpara></listitem></varlistentry>
      <varlistentry><term><systemitem class="osname">Windows</systemitem></term>
        <listitem><simpara>Windows help viewer</simpara></listitem></varlistentry>
    </variablelist>
    <para>See their respective manuals to get help about help.</para> 

   <sect2 id="tutorial">
    <title>&app; Tutorial and Concepts Guide</title>

     <para>The guide is the counterpart to this help. It explains the concepts used in &app; and has a tutorial
      that takes you through using &app; to manage your accounts. It will appear if you choose
      <guibutton>Open the new user tutorial</guibutton> in the
      <guilabel>Welcome to &appname;!</guilabel> menu.</para>

     <para>To open this Guide manually go to <menuchoice><guimenu>Help</guimenu>
      <guimenuitem>Tutorial and Concepts Guide</guimenuitem></menuchoice> or press  
      <keycombo action='simul'><keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>H</keycap></keycombo>.</para>

     <important><para>It is strongly recommended to read this guide if you are new to
      &app; or unfamiliar with accounting concepts.</para></important>
   </sect2>

    <sect2 id="wiki">
      <title>&app; Wiki</title>
      <!-- Translators: if wiki pages in your language exist, add or replace the links in this section
          see also https://wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/Special:Categories for your language or region code -->
      <para>An immense amount of less-formal, but often <emphasis>more recent</emphasis>
        documentation, both of &app; itself and its maintenance and development may be
        found in the <ulink url="&url-wiki;">&app; Wiki</ulink> ; the
        <ulink url="&url-wiki-faq;">Frequently Asked Questions</ulink>
        page should be a first stop whenever you encounter difficulty using &app;.</para>
      <tip><para>You should also try its
      <ulink url="&url-wiki-search;">search page</ulink>.</para></tip>
    </sect2>

    <sect2 id="more_help">
      <title>&app; On-line Assistance</title>
      <!-- Translators: if a mailing list in your language exists, add or replace the links in this section
          see https://lists.gnucash.org/mailman/listinfo/ -->

       <bridgehead>Mailing Lists</bridgehead>
       <para>The primary source of user support is the <ulink
         url="mailto:gnucash-user@gnucash.org">user mailing list</ulink>. If English is not your primary language,
         see <ulink url="&url-wiki-ml;#User_Lists">wiki:user mailing lists</ulink> for local lists. If
         you prefer a web forum-like presentation, you can use it via <ulink
         url="&url-mail-nabble;">Nabble</ulink>. One must <ulink
         url="&url-mail-li;gnucash-user">subscribe</ulink>
         before posting, even if using Nabble.</para>

      <bridgehead>IRC</bridgehead>
      <para>Several of the developers and experienced users
        monitor the <ulink url="&url-irc;">#gnucash channel at irc.gnome.org</ulink>.
        They're usually doing something else, too, and of course aren't always at their
        computers. Log in, ask your question, and stay logged in; it may
        be several hours before your question is noticed and responded
        to. To see if you missed anything <ulink
        url="&url-logs-irc;">check the IRC logs</ulink>.
        Requirements, netiquette and other details are explained in the
        <ulink url="&url-wiki-irc;">IRC wiki page</ulink>.</para>
    </sect2>

    <sect2 id="website">
      <title>&app; Website</title>

      <para>The <ulink url="&url-www;">&app; website</ulink>
        has more details on these channels. You will also find pointers there
        to additional useful resources such as the bug tracking system.</para>
    </sect2>
  </sect1>
</chapter>
