Front- and Backcover for LO 7.0

Hi *,

next month I planned to publish the next Base-Handbuch in German. Is
there any front- and backcover available for the new branding?

Regards

Robert

Howdy Robert,

Nothing final yet.

During the jitsi meeting yesterday Olviier showed off a couple of
front cover options. Two of those are available in the Documentation
Team/English/Contributor Resources/Cover7 folder on the
NC server as .svg files.

There was some discussion about coloring the different covers based on
the module and in that same directory you will find a pdf file with an
example of how that could look (the source svg files are also in a zip
file there) That includes an example for Base also, of course. That is
only English so for a German cover you would need to update one of the
svg files.

Currently there is no start on a back cover, at least none which I've seen.

The subject of covers (front and back) is an item for the next jitsi
meeting, scheduled for two weeks from yesterday.

So, there are 13 days to work on other possibilities - any ideas?

Drew

Hi Drew,

During the jitsi meeting yesterday Olviier showed off a couple of
front cover options. Two of those are available in the Documentation
Team/English/Contributor Resources/Cover7 folder on the
NC server as .svg files.

I'm not the expert with this links. Don't know where to search for it,
because I have edited the documents without using the structure of
LO-documentation. But I will wait a little bit. I hve seen the English
guides haven't the same cover than the German guides. So I will also ask
in the German dicussion mailinglist ...

Regards

Robert

Howdy,

Well, here is a link to the pdf file so you can at least see what is
happening here.
https://nextcloud.documentfoundation.org/s/XkirCBX7QQqjc4p

Quick two updates to the draft covers on the NC server.

For the Base guide only - swapped out the TDF logo (top of the page)
for the community logo with "The Documentation Team" below it, per the
current guides, and added a, currently, blank back cover with the same
theme.
https://nextcloud.documentfoundation.org/s/XkirCBX7QQqjc4p has been
updated with the changes, but the zip file with the svg (inkscape)
files has not yet.

HI Drew
The covers are getting really nice and beautiful... Thank you indeed.

We also need a color/cover for the Getting Started and Math Guide.

In the next LibreOffice Help pages I used a gray for the common (SHARED)
pages and a teal blue for Math.
https://help.libreoffice.org/7.0/en-US/text/smath/main0000.html?DbPAR=MATH

https://help.libreoffice.org/7.0/en-US/text/shared/01/profile_safe_mode.html?DbPAR=SHARED

But nothing is carved in stone.

On the back cover, I think we copy the 6.0 back cover contents, and use
it in the new 7.0 back cover, adjusting releases and dates.

Kind regards
Olivier

Hi Drew,

looks good. I would need the *.svg for changing the English content to
German. I will update the German Base-Handbuch at the end of July.

Regards

Robert

Howdy Robert,

Would you prefer a 'blank' back cover where you add your own text or a
cover with the En text for translation?

Howdy,

One final update for today - added the current text from the Base
guide back cover to the 7.0 back with a couple of changes:
URL for downloaded, changed from documentation page on main website to
extension site. Is that the correct URL?
Reworded the last sentence about downloading a free copy. (minor)
Added two paragraphs about Professional Support services to the end.

Updated https://nextcloud.documentfoundation.org/s/XkirCBX7QQqjc4p
with that change

Full text of Base back cover follows:
Base Guide
Managing your data
About this book:
This book is for beginners to advanced users of LibreOffice Base. If
you have never used Base before, or you want an introduction to all of
LibreOffice's components, you might like to read Getting Started with
LibreOffice first.
This book introduces you to the most common functions of LibreOffice Base:
Creating a database
Input and output of data
Using macros
Maintaining a database
And much more
About the authors:
This book was written by volunteers from the LibreOffice community.
Profits from sales of the printed edition will be used to benefit the
community.
A PDF version of this book can be downloaded free from:
https://extensions.libreoffice.org
About LibreOffice:
LibreOffice is the free, libre, and open source personal productivity
suite from The Document Foundation. It runs on Windows, macOS, and
GNU/Linux. Support and documentation is free from our large, dedicated
community of users, contributors and developers.
You too can get involved with volunteer work in many areas:
development, quality assurance, documentation, translation, user
support, and more.
You can download the free Community release of LibreOffice from:
https://libreoffice.org/download/
For commercial use: You are encouraged to work with a certified
LibreOffice professional for your business needs, from deployment or
conversion off other office suites, staff training, or custom
development needs.
You can find information on professional support services at:
https://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/professional-support/

The back covers of v6.x also contain version number. I think it would look
good in v.7.x also.
Pulkit Krishna

Hi!

One final update for today - added the current text from the Base
guide back cover to the 7.0 back with a couple of changes:
URL for downloaded, changed from documentation page on main website to
extension site. Is that the correct URL?
Reworded the last sentence about downloading a free copy. (minor)
Added two paragraphs about Professional Support services to the end.

Updated https://nextcloud.documentfoundation.org/s/XkirCBX7QQqjc4p
with that change

I find the new covers to be a very important move from the v6 ones. In particular, the graphic is great and colourful.

But as the graphic first attracts view, the eye then goes to the second much contrasted item which is the version number. At that moment, the brains didn't catch what it is all about: just an image and a big 7.0 number.

All this to say that I find the actual guide names not to be prominent enough. Sure, the font type is nice and elegant (I do love it) but there's not enough contrast there.

I'd suggest having the title "boldified" and the version number "deboldified", if you see what I mean :slight_smile:
At the same time, make the title font grey more blackish, while the version number could be smaller in size (was the v6 guides defect already).

Sure, the enhancement for v.6 is a big step forward and, again, I do love it. Though, the respective weights of the graphic and text items should be reworked to make important things more visible (the title!).

HTH,

Howdy Pilkit, Jean

A version number of the back cover? Yes - I went with one option with
the white 7.0 upper to the right of the logo at the top of the page.
As you can see in the pdf example of the covers that is problematic
with the current Draw cover.

Then as for a font for the Title (and what about using the sub-title
also on the front cover?)

Actually fonts in general as open for some review also. For example
the original SVG files Olivier sent over use a Font which I do not
have, so right from the bat it was a case of using a nearly identical
replacement.

Anyway - I've gathered the text from the most recent Writer, Calc,
Impress, Draw, and Base guides for a place to begin.
Again the file https://nextcloud.documentfoundation.org/s/XkirCBX7QQqjc4p
is updated with all of those.

What is not done for these first drafts is
- update all the covers to use the proper logo at the top of the page
-- in that Base cover set I just used a bitmap of that community logo,
needing to find or make a vector drawing instead as part of that since
I assume if the covers are used for other languages they would want to
translate the 'The Documentation Team' line also.
- covers for the GS and Math guides
- fix the Version number on back cover (move or color it) given the
problem with Draw cover

Otherwise general feedback as this goes along is good.

Also - the svg files, as they are at this moment, and the ODG file
which currently adds the text for the back covers and produces the pdf
are on the NC server as file Cover7_colors_draft1_DJ18062020.zip

Hopefully that early email didn't post..

- the current svg files and the ODG file which adds text and generates
the PDF file are in the file Cover7_colors_DJ21062020.zip

Howdy,

HI Drew
The covers are getting really nice and beautiful... Thank you indeed.

We also need a color/cover for the Getting Started and Math Guide.

In the next LibreOffice Help pages I used a gray for the common (SHARED)
pages and a teal blue for Math.
https://help.libreoffice.org/7.0/en-US/text/smath/main0000.html?DbPAR=MATH

https://help.libreoffice.org/7.0/en-US/text/shared/01/profile_safe_mode.html?DbPAR=SHARED

Alright - I created the first cut for the Getting Started and Math
guide overs - now in the pdf file
https://nextcloud.documentfoundation.org/s/XkirCBX7QQqjc4p

Grabbed the color setting from the two help web pages you linked above.
Also - for these two I left the Version number in place on the back
cover and altered the placement of the text - so folks can see if that
is preferable.

Drew

Drew and others,

You probably are not aware that IF anyone wants the print books to be
available through Amazon and other retailers, several requirements must be
met. These include:
1) The “author” (LibreOffice Documentation Team) must be given on the front
cover as well as the copyright page.
2) Enough space must be left at the bottom on the back cover for the ISBN
block.

We can continue publishing print books on Lulu and selling them only
through the Lulu store without meeting those requirements or even having an
ISBN. That’s certainly easier, and means the books are cheaper (about 60%
of the price).

Jean

Howdy Jean,

Drew and others,

You probably are not aware that IF anyone wants the print books to be available through Amazon and other retailers, several requirements must be met. These include:
1) The “author” (LibreOffice Documentation Team) must be given on the front cover as well as the copyright page.

The 'LbreOffice Documentation Team' as part of the logo on the page
has been mentioned a few times in this thread as a requirement, yes.

2) Enough space must be left at the bottom on the back cover for the ISBN block.

True

Also, the current 'covers' are sized for A4 and expected to be part of
a PDF file. You're right the layout didn't account for an ISBN block
per se.

Not to mention the other differences for a print job:
Page format changes (at least as I look to the books currently printed
there) to US Trade (smaller than A4)
Bleeding edges for full page graphics
Single cover file (front, spine, back)
ISBN block
etc

This is really, really, early for covers here I know - none the less
- accounting for the printer's needs now wouldn't hurt - but it is too
soon to try and generate the actual printer cover file IMO.

I am not sure, but I believe that you have been stuck handling all
that conversion from what was good for the PDF file to what was needed
for a commercial printer, so please keep up the nudges on that.

I think instead of giving a link to the extension website homepage, we
should give the link of the extension page with the documentation tag:-
https://extensions.libreoffice.org/?Tags[]=53
Pulkit Krishna
Pulkit Krishna

I think instead of giving a link to the extension website homepage, we
should give the link of the extension page with the documentation tag:-
https://extensions.libreoffice.org/?Tags[]=53

That's kind of ugly for typing it in - isn't it?
Maybe we could use the TDF URL shortener to generate a more legible
URL for this purpose.
Also - maybe add a QR code graphic for, and in addition to, one of the
URLs on the back cover?

Yes, that is a nice idea. The QR code would be great. Maybe add a little
text beneath it - generated using LibreOffice.
Pulkit Krishna