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diff --git a/doc/C/preface.sgml b/doc/C/preface.sgml new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..05129eb550 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/C/preface.sgml @@ -0,0 +1,149 @@ + + <preface id="introduction"> +<!-- =============Introduction ============================= --> + <title>Introduction</title> + + <section id="what"> + <title> What is Evolution, and What Can It Do for Me?</title> + <para> + The idea of evolution as a process of improvement and + development is a strong influence on the developers at Helix + Code. We named our <glossterm>groupware</glossterm> suite + "Evolution" because we knew that it would be able to survive + in the wilderness of the software marketplace for one reason: + it's better. + </para> + <para> + <application>Evolution</application> is a suite of groupware + applications within the GNOME desktop environment that you can + use to send, receive, and organize email, manage address and + other contact information, and maintain a calendar. It + enables you to do those things on one or several computers, + connected directly or over a network, for one person or for + large groups. <application>Evolution</application> can handle + almost all your communications tasks with the power and + flexibility of the GNOME desktop environment. + </para> + <para> + We built <application>Evolution</application> with three groups of + people in mind: everyday users, system administrators, and + developers. + + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para> + For <emphasis>everyday users</emphasis>, we made + <application>Evolution</application> easy to use without + sacrificing power. We made the interface familiar and + intuitive, but also allowed users to customize it to + their liking. We made the setup and configuration as + easy as possible. For any confusion, we wrote a + comprehensive manual and help system. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + For <emphasis>administrators</emphasis>, we made sure + <application>Evolution</application> met and and + exceeded the standards set by currently available + groupware products, and we developed support for most + major network protocols so that it can integrate + seamlessly with existing hardware and network + environments. All of our efforts have made + <application>Evolution</application> both easy to use + and easy to support. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + For <emphasis>developers</emphasis>, we built in + support for open standards and protocols to turn + <application>Evolution</application> into an advanced + development platform. From the simplest scripting to + the most complex network and component programming, + <application>Evolution</application> offers developers + the ideal environment for cutting-edge application + development. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + For all three groups, we did our best to ensure the + safety of data. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + </para> + <para> + In action, <application>Evolution</application> makes most + daily tasks faster, because we built it to work with you + instead of against you. For example, it takes only one or two + clicks to enter an appointment or an address card sent to you + by email, or to send email to a contact or appointment. + <application>Evolution</application> makes displays faster and + more efficient, so searches are faster and memory usage is + much lower. People who get lots of mail will appreciate + advanced features like <link + linkend="usage-mail-organize-vFolders">vFolders</link>, which + let you save searches as though they were ordinary mail + folders. + </para> + + </section> + + <section id="aboutbook"> + <title>About This Book</title> + + <!-- ************** FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH FOR DRAFT ONLY ************* --> + <para> + This is a DRAFT of the <application>Evolution</application> + User's Guide. Please send comments on it to + <email>aaron@helixcode.com</email>. Items that are known to + need action are indicated as such, often with notation like + (INSERT CONTENT HERE). If you have content to add, please + contact me. This paragraph will be removed in later versions + of the manual. + </para> + <!-- ************* END DRAFT ONLY PARAGRAPH ************** --> + + <para> + This book is divided into three sections. The first section is + a <link linkend="usage">guided tour</link>— it will + explain how to use <application>Evolution</application>. If + you are new to <application>Evolution</application> or to + groupware in general, this is the section for you. The second + section, covering <link linkend="config">configuration</link>, + is targeted at advanced users and administrators. If you are + a network administrator, you may find yourself referring to + this section frequently. The third section is a quick <link + linkend="devel">developer's guide</link>, for power users and + hackers. If you want to add advanced scripting to + <application>Evolution</application>, write your own + embeddable components, or simply want to find out just how + powerful <application>Evolution</application> can be, this is + the section for you. + </para> + <para> + Throughout the book, you'll find examples, tips and warnings + to help you along. Most of them are decent, hardworking + pieces of information, and genuinely try to be helpful. Some + of the tips, entitled <emphasis>Bad Ideas</emphasis>, + are, in fact, out to trick you. Please don't follow their + advice, no matter how appealing it may sound. + </para> + <formalpara> + <title>Typographical conventions</title> + <para> + Some kinds of words are marked off with special typography. + It's listed below: + <simplelist> + <member><application>Applications</application></member> + <member><command>Commands</command></member> + <member><guilabel>Labels</guilabel>for menu items and buttons</member> + <member>Other text treatments</member> + <member>more info here</member> + </simplelist> + </para> + </formalpara> + </section> + </preface>
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