Making information easier to find

[mcsmom]

This morning I was looking for instructions, specifically how to upgrade from 1.0.12 to 1.0.13. Now, i know how to do it because I have done patches before, but I just wanted to be sure that there wasn't anything special that I had to do. If you just go to the download link, there are no instructions since that is just joomlacode.org (though maybe it is possible to have something there?).  There is no readme in the zip file. So then, I thought, maybe look at the help site? Nothing there (install instructions, but no upgrade instructions). Finally, I went where I knew the information was, which is in the BOTTOM sticky of the  upgrading 1.0 forum. 

Now, imagine that in June I installed Joomla! 1.0.12 for the first time to make my first website. I just noticed that I should upgrade. Is it really reasonable to expect that I'm going to find this?

[infograf768]

hmmm.. do not forget this one too
http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,200725.0.html

[mcsmom]

Yes,  this should be referenced or included in the upgrade instructions maybe?

See what I mean about needing to check for anything special? Fortunately for me, I already knew that from the virtuemart site.

[MMMedia]

http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,33226.0.html

This FAQ is a sticky in the upgrade forum?  Does it need to be more prominent perhaps?

[mcsmom]

well, personally, i think at a minimum it should be the top sticky.

But I also wonder if there is some other way to make it more prominent.

[infograf768]

The only way I know to put it on top is to copy the content and post a new one.
Until next sticky, it would stay on top.

[mcsmom]

This is the problem with using a standalone.  If it was Joomla! you could have a module with links to key documents in the order you want.

FYI I added a copy of the instructions to the FAQ in the administration upgrading and installation categories. 

[MMMedia]

There are some stickies in that forum that most likely should be unstickied that reference out of date or older issues.

[AmyStephen]

...and then, there is that minor issue of getting people to actually *read* the stickies...

[mcsmom]

The information should be at the point of contact, you shouldn't have to go digging around for it.

[AmyStephen]

The information should be at the point of contact, you shouldn't have to go digging around for it.

Yes - you are right, Elin. This is a good idea and most will take good advantage. I was being silly. Should have added one of these -> 

Amy

[MMMedia]

The information should be at the point of contact, you shouldn't have to go digging around for it.

Perhaps then a link on joomlacode.org where the upgrade files are located, a link to the upgrade sticky? 

Which place would you describe as the actual point of contact?  Is it joomlacode.org, forum.joomla.org, the main site?  Wouldn't that point of contact change drastically depending on the person and how they were funneled to the sites?

[mcsmom]

Yup, good point. That's why you need to think about user pathways. Different people will go about it different ways. I wonder if anyone has ever really looked at how users typically go through the sites.