Printing and Saving Changes to Installation Manual

[DonFromTX]

I have an installation manual "For use with firmware version 3.3, March 2012" I would like to print out all the changes or updates, but cannot find a way to do that. The only option seems to print out the entire 326 page manual, then try from memory to see what pages are changed.
Is there not a simple way to be sure I am using a manual that has all the latest information without printing the entire manual every few months?

 

[dynonsupport]

Unfortunately, there isn't a good way to track changes. In an effort to constantly improve the manuals, we make changes everywhere, not just by adding a section at the end for what new thing we added. We also often need to add something to a section that already exists for a new feature.This means that basically every page changes as things get longer and everything flows down.

We do wish we could provide our users with a nice list of changes, but we haven't found a good way to that is not prohibitively time consuming.

 

[DonFromTX]

Thanks for the response. Do you think it would be feasible to just publish an abbreviated summary of changes at some time? Even a list of pages changed would be helpful.

 

[swatson999]

Unfortunately, there isn't a good way to track changes. In an effort to constantly improve the manuals, we make changes everywhere, not just by adding a section at the end for what new thing we added. We also often need to add something to a section that already exists for a new feature.This means that basically every page changes as things get longer and everything flows down.

We do wish we could provide our users with a nice list of changes, but we haven't found a good way to that is not prohibitively time consuming.

This has been recommended before, and it's standard aerospace industry practice, so I don't know why you guys don't do this:

change bars

Granted it won't show changes from versions prior to the most recent previous one, but it'd be a start.

I find with every new software version that I have to go to the change log, and then try to cross-correlate with the sections that were listed as updated and the actual wording changes, etc.

Change bars are a "best practice" (and required in many instances). Strongly suggest you start using them...

 

[dynonsupport]

I've stared at a lot of manuals for various equipment over the years and never seen a manual in general aviation with "change bars" or any kind of change tracking except for the release notes. Can you point us to a GA manual that has this so we can see how it's done?

And the simple answer always is that we only have so much time to devote to manuals. We already have the most detailed, up to date manuals in the experimental industry and we have to balance customers asking for more features with customers asking for more time to be spent on the manuals. At some point there is a reason a certified device costs 10X what our stuff does or does 1/10th what our stuff does.

 

[swatson999]

I've stared at a lot of manuals for various equipment over the years and never seen a manual in general aviation with "change bars" or any kind of change tracking except for the release notes. Can you point us to a GA manual that has this so we can see how it's done?

And the simple answer always is that we only have so much time to devote to manuals. We already have the most detailed, up to date manuals in the experimental industry and we have to balance customers asking for more features with customers asking for more time to be spent on the manuals. At some point there is a reason a certified device costs 10X what our stuff does or does 1/10th what our stuff does.

No reason to get snarky with me.

Depending upon what tool you're using, and assuming your documents are under configuration management, it's usually pretty easy to set up "Track Changes" in the tool itself. e.g., MS Word has it under the Review tab, completely customizable to show insertions/deletions, colors, CHANGE BARS, etc. Any modern word processing tool will have the same capability.

It's a minor thing, to be sure, but I'll give you one:

Lycoming's Operators Manuals for their engines.

 

[DonFromTX]

None of us want you to spend a lot of time on it, but I feel there is probably an easy solution out there. Currently the only solution for us is to run off a new one, that is 652 pages with a typical printer, and then compare it to the old manual to find what changed.
Rather than have us all in the dark and guessing about changed material, it would seem to me that a happier, better informed user would be an advantage to you.
I suppose we could just buy a new manual periodically, but I don't see them for sale on the site either, and we STILL would not have a clue of what changed..

 

[larrynew]

Creating and tracking paper updates to manuals is a BIG job. I was responsible for it at both a 121 airline and a military squadron. I would rather Dynon focus on other priorities.

I much prefer the new digital way of doing things. I keep all my manuals on an ipad and in the cloud (Google Drive). It's a huge improvement being able to search for a specific topic rather than spend valuable build time looking through a paper manual and not knowing if I've found every reference to it. I attribute part of my success installing a moderately complex panel and electrical system with no prior electrical experience to having all digital install manuals and being able to search for every mention of what I was working on, especially the Garmin 430W manual. Plus, Dynon lists all the update changes in Skyview going back to V1.0 at http://dynonavionics.com/docs/WhatsNew_SkyView.html.

I DO NOT miss the paper updates and wouldn't use them as long as I have digital copies.

 

[NASA515]

Here are some LSA POH Manuals, in addition to the Skycatcher, that describe the revision changes, mark the changed content on the page, and - of course, have a List of Effective pages - the Carbon Cub pages 0-3 to 0-5 is excellent:.

Carbon Cub:

http://www.cubcrafters.com/pdfs/ccss/ssc10000afm.pdf


Flight Design:

http://documents.flightdesignusa.com...%2002000_7.pdf

Pipistrel:

http://www.pipistrel-usa.com/manuals...er-LSA-POH.pdf

Piper Sport Cruiser

http://czechsportaircraft.com/pdf/POH-R3.2_V7.pdf

Also check Rotax Revisions.

Easily done by the person making the revision - I used to do that for some years at Boeing. Little added time or expense.

Bob Bogash
RV-2
N737G

 

[thibault]

I also vote for what Mr Bogash says. The military uses that method also and makes it easy to see what changed.

Looking it up electronically is preferred. Having that "List of Effective Pages" and the change bars is what makes it work.

 

[Dynon]

7.0's just been released, and we're trying something new by having redline versions of the core manuals. Download the docs at:

http://docs.dynonavionics.com

and the software update to SkyView 7 at

http://downloads.dynonavionics.com

 

[swatson999]

7.0's just been released, and we're trying something new by having redline versions of the core manuals. Download the docs at:

http://docs.dynonavionics.com

and the software update to SkyView 7 at

http://downloads.dynonavionics.com

The new software features look *terrific*!

The "redlined" manual...not so much. I see where what you've done is turn on MS Word's Track Changes feature, but that's not really what we're after here. I don't care about spelling and grammar changes, or uppercase to lowercase conversions, etc.

Take a look at the CubCrafters document for an excellent example of the use of redlines.

 

[Bubblehead]

I don't think the revision tracking is that big an issue. Dynon does a good job listing what things have changed. I take a look at that when I download the new software and manuals. If something significant changes that affects me, like the expert setting for the autopilot, I study that in the new manual and then jot some notes of things to try in the air the next time I am flying.

I would rather they keep on working on features like graphing CHTs and/or EGTs over time like GRT and Advanced do.

The changes in the last year have been awesome. I love it all and I am looking forward to uploading v7 and all the chats Saturday. Data logging was a big one for me and now plates and airport diagrams! I've got all of what I need and most of what I want.

Hopefully this winter Santa will bring the Dynon Mode-S transponder and maybe an ADS-B receiver too.