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I have been the author of about a dozen technical manuals for
industrial gas analyzers that used embedded computers/software to run
the instruments. Several were about 200 pages long.
As such, I have heard all of the criticisms about inadequate manuals.
Too long, too short, too detailed, over simplified, too theoretical etc.
Here is my perspective:
1. A "Quick Start" guide is good - patterned after many modern
electronic devices we buy today - tabloid size or larger - everything
on one page - lots of diagrams - fewer words - in the book as a
tear-out section.
2. As a former 2nd year algebra teacher (before I got into instrument
design) - I think large numbers of errors are due to not knowing the
rules of algebra as implemented in software. The users will take
their algebra errors and blame it on the software.
3. Maybe something on 'structured walk thru' techniques (or what ever
is popular now) - to get users to fully think through everything
they are trying to code for.
2. Example code of some relatively simple analysis - Years ago IBM
taught SQL(I think) using 'query by example', so maybe a chapter on
'Coding *.afl by example'
4. Finally, EACH USER of your book will have different expectations -
you will not be able to make everyone happy, so in publishing your
guide, expect a steady stream of 'Don't buy Howard's book - It
didn't help me' kinds of comments.
BTW - I bought QTS (2 copies - I gave one away) - I liked it.
Ed Hoopes
PS
Spending lots of time on the ToC and Index reduces the complaints,
especially if you can direct them to that area to locate their answer.
After a few complaints, they will start to look there rather than post.
--- In amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "chorlton_c_hardy"
<chorlton-c-hardy@xxx> wrote:
>
>
> Hello Howard,
>
> As a reader of your last book, I for one, look forward to reading it.
>
> I have read your last book a number of times now and still keep
> learning new elements!!! Maybe I'm just a slow learner though :-/
>
> Also, as a newbie to Amibroker & its langauge I'm very surprised no
> one has considered writing one before, given the popularity of this
> excellent piece of software, so its good to hear that one is now in
> the pipeline.....
>
> All the best,
>
> Chorlton
>
> --- In amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Howard B" <howardbandy@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Christopher --
> >
> > Since the book is so closely associated with AmiBroker, I'll use the
> > AmiBroker forum groups to announce the book.
> >
> > SO far, there are plans for only a printed version. But that might
> change.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Howard
> >
> > On Feb 11, 2008 4:07 AM, Christopher <chrisjeal@> wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Howard,
> > > I would be interested in a book on how to use Amibroker
> correctly, how
> > > will you let people know when you have published the book?
> > >
> > > Have you thought of selling it as a pdf something like on
> clickbank?
> > > As you will have no costs up front and will sell as many as
> wanted no
> > > more and no less - also you could offer updated pages as needed.
> > > Just an Idea.
> > > Yours
> > > Chris
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <amibroker%
> 40yahoogroups.com>, "Howard B"
> > > <howardbandy@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Greetings all --
> > > >
> > > > What a nice surprise, it looks like there is a new price point.
> I
> > > did not
> > > > think the market would bear so much. (Grin)
> > > >
> > > > " I WILL GET IT but I would pay $120.00 for the very basics in
> afl in a
> > > > minute. "
> > > >
> > > > "Introduction to AmiBroker" is alive and well. I have other
> > > projects that
> > > > are getting done along with writing it. Some days Introduction
> is
> > > on the
> > > > top of the list, other days it is not. But it will be published.
> > > >
> > > > It will be pretty much what its title says -- a book about
> > > AmiBroker. Since
> > > > AmiBroker is a trading system development platform, there will
> be
> > > discussion
> > > > of trading and trading systems. But, readers looking for a book
> > > about the
> > > > design, testing, and validation of trading systems should look
> at
> > > > "Quantitative Trading Systems," which is already available. The
> > > > Introduction book is a separate book, more about AmiBroker,
> less about
> > > > trading systems, and at a more basic level. It is not a new
> edition
> > > of QTS.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks for the suggestions about joint authorship. I have
> already
> > > explored
> > > > that.
> > > >
> > > > The author of a book gets very little compensation -- no matter
> how
> > > it is
> > > > published. Top end compensation for the author(s) -- if there
> are
> > > multiple
> > > > authors, they split this -- is usually about 10% of the retail
> price
> > > of the
> > > > book. A $40 book gives two authors $2.00 each per copy.
> > > Introduction to
> > > > AmiBroker might sell 2000 copies over two or three years. At
> the rate
> > > > Tomasz is expanding the capabilities of AmiBroker, it would be
> unwise to
> > > > make too large a press run, and wise to plan on revised editions
> > > regularly.
> > > > There are several sections I have re-written already as
> AmiBroker
> > > changed,
> > > > and the first edition has not yet gone to press.
> > > >
> > > > There is little reward and a lot of difficulty coordinating
> efforts.
> > > The
> > > > logistics of two people working from different locations on a
> manuscript
> > > > several hundred pages long are very difficult.
> > > >
> > > > It is a one-person job.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,
> > > > Howard
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Feb 8, 2008 12:25 PM, Ronald Davis <xokie7@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Lloyd>>>I, also would like to see a presentation using first
> > > principles.
> > > > > My
> > > > >
> > > > > understanding is that Howard will be completing an entry
> level book
> > > > > this spring as soon as he completes some obligations this
> month.
> > > > >
> > > > > It might be a better book if Howard and Graham were to agree
> to
> > > JOINTLY
> > > > > write the book. The best and most understandable explanations
> that
> > > have
> > > > > been given to me have been those from Graham. Graham seems to
> have an
> > > > > outstanding ability to describe things in a very
> understandable
> > > way. Here
> > > > > is his description of SUM from the user manual. Ron D
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > >
> > >
> ======================================================================
> =====
> > > > > Sum adds up the last "n" number of bars. It sums whatever you
> put
> > > into the
> > > > > first part of the sum formula.
> > > > >
> > > > > Cum(1) adds 1 to the previous value of Cum, so the first bar
> is 1
> > > and it
> > > > > just keeps adding one to the last bar value of cum(1).
> > > > > You can use Cum to add anything, like how many times you get
> > > rising days
> > > > > in
> > > > > the entire chart:
> > > > >
> > > > > Rise = C>O; //this gives results of 0 or 1
> > > > > TotalRise = Cum(Rise);
> > > > >
> > > > > You could limit this as well to time periods, or any other
> condition
> > > > > Example
> > > > > would be one for total rise days since 1995:
> > > > >
> > > > > RecentRise = C>O and Year()>=1995; //this gives results of 0
> or 1
> > > > > TotalRise = Cum(RecentRise);
> > > > >
> > > > > If you wanted to know how many rising days in the last 12
> bars you
> > > would
> > > > > use:
> > > > >
> > > > > LastRises = Sum(Rise,12);
> > > > >
> > > > >
> ===================================================================
> > > > >
> > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > From: "Thomas Ludwig" <Thomas.Ludwig@ <Thomas.Ludwig%
> 40gmx.de>>
> > > > > To: <amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <amibroker%
> 40yahoogroups.com><amibroker%40yahoogroups.com>>
> > > > > Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 1:14 PM
> > > > > Subject: Re: [amibroker] Re: no amibroker book?
> > > > >
> > > > > > brian_z111 wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >> However, I also agree with the others that we need a good
> AFL book
> > > > > >> and IMO Tomasz is the man to write it - yes, even if he
> has to stop
> > > > > >> development to do it - take a sabbatical and get out the
> feathered
> > > > > >> pen Tomasz
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Brian, I agree with Paul and vlanschot that TJ cannot
> afford to
> > > do this.
> > > > > > And quite frankly - no offense meant, TJ!!! - I'm not sure
> if
> > > he's the
> > > > > > right guy to do this. I'm afraid he's frequently thinking
> in quite
> > > > > > different categories than most of us who are non-
> programmers and
> > > > > > apparantly much more simple-minded ;-) He's often made the
> statement
> > > > > > that every AB user should read the manual from the first to
> the last
> > > > > > page over and over again. Yes, true - but that doesn't
> really
> > > help in
> > > > > > many situations.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Examples? The description of Exrem and Exremspan - without
> hints
> > > from
> > > > > > other guys here in the mailing list (who are obviously more
> > > intelligent
> > > > > > than I am) I would never have understood the whole purpose
> of these
> > > > > > functions and when to use them.
> > > > > > Another one: The description of Equity() - my goodness,
> after
> > > all these
> > > > > > years I still have troubles at times to decide which flag I
> > > should use
> > > > > > and with which consequences.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > There are many other examples of functions available in AB
> that
> > > may be
> > > > > > useful for me in specific situations - but I simply don't
> understand
> > > > > > and use them (like Varset). In the past I had very often the
> > > > > > impression - with a "normal" occupation, a wife and two
> children who
> > > > > > sometimes felt neglected - that I'm the wrong target
> customer for AB
> > > > > > and TJ. But, well, over the years the moments of
> desperation have
> > > > > > become fewer thanks to a lot of pasting of infos from the
> list here
> > > > > > (like Graham has mentioned).
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Having said this, I think an AFL book is needed written
> strictly
> > > from
> > > > > > the user's perspective. I think most of us non-programmers
> and
> > > > > > non-engineers are in need of "cooking recipes" that
> organize,
> > > structure
> > > > > > or arrange the vast multitude of possibilities available in
> AB in
> > > > > > order to facilitate everyday usage of this excellent
> application. A
> > > > > > nice example from the AB library as a starter would be
> > > > > > http://www.amibroker.com/library/detail.php?id=547
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Brian, Herman and you are doing a really marvelous job for
> the
> > > UKB. But
> > > > > > perhaps some more of such "cooking recipes" should be
> included. It
> > > > > > would be great if more AB users could contribute them.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Just my 2 cents ...
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Greetings,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Thomas
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Please note that this group is for discussion between users
> only.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > To get support from AmiBroker please send an e-mail
> directly to
> > > > > > SUPPORT {at} amibroker.com
> > > > > >
> > > > > > For NEW RELEASE ANNOUNCEMENTS and other news always check
> DEVLOG:
> > > > > > http://www.amibroker.com/devlog/
> > > > > >
> > > > > > For other support material please check also:
> > > > > > http://www.amibroker.com/support.html
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
Please note that this group is for discussion between users only.
To get support from AmiBroker please send an e-mail directly to
SUPPORT {at} amibroker.com
For NEW RELEASE ANNOUNCEMENTS and other news always check DEVLOG:
http://www.amibroker.com/devlog/
For other support material please check also:
http://www.amibroker.com/support.html
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