Do we need Massoth Documentation

M

Mililani Man

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I was wondering how many other Massoth users are frustrated by the lack of truly Anglesiced manuals there are from Massoth considering their markets include many English speaking countries, Where a manual has been translated to English, it seems they forget to put English screen shots into the documentation making it extremely diifficult to follow, Massoth Service Tool documentation as just one example.

The documentation for the new Decoder Service Board does not even reference the selector switch which needs to be set for the board to work. Looking at the back fitting instructions, there are far more in German than in English.

Additionally, the Newsletters seem very spasmodic even though they are produced in German nearly monthly, I think the last English one was May 2015. When there are important newsletters, like the back fitting of destination boards in Allegras, this has never been translated to English even though it was promised many times on the old Massoth Forum.

Was wondering how many other users feel the same?
 
Whilst I've found for most things the manuals that come with Massoth products cover the straightforward situations OK (with the occasional amusing mis-translation), I agree it would be helpful to have access to an accurate English version of all of the same Massoth product information provided in German.

Appreciate on-line translators can usually give a good sense of what's being described,but as someone whose German is "conversational" at best, there's always that nagging doubt I've missed something vital that could dramatically simplify what I'm doing.
 
In general I find their documentation okay, although I am an experienced user. As Phil says they cover the basics but not all advanced use cases. These tend to be covered in their wiki pages, so it would be nice to have all the wiki articles in English as well, as there are many more in German than on the English page e.g.
http://wiki.massoth.de/index.php/Kategorie:Umbauberichte/en
I'm not one of those "why doesn't everyone just speak English" brigade and I give the native language a go when I am abroad, but I find technical German is quite difficult to get to grips with due to their love of compound words! :-)
 
idlemarvel said:
technical German is quite difficult to get to grips with due to their love of compound words! :)
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Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz
 
beavercreek said:
Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz
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Exactly. Freetranslation.com turns this into "Beef labelling monitoring tasks transfer law" which I doubt is what the actual meaning is.
 
Thanks Phil & Dave, like yourselves, I do try and translate the German, and have even been able to break down the compound words sometimes .Coming out of the software side of things, I believe Massoth have fallen into the basic trap of having the engineers write the manuals, really, they need to involve a professional Tech Writer who will play with the software and then ask the engineers for details where there are holes and ensure these are covered, as well as an English translator.

As I mentioned, I do feel short changed where we have all paid more than our German counterparts for Massoth components (exchange Rates, etc.), but we are not entitled to the same documentation, the newsletters are very intermittent in English and as I originally said, even though the manuals refer to things in English, many of the screen shots etc. in the documentation are the German ones.

I agree with you Phil that there is always a nagging feeling that you may have done something wrong. Is there a Massoth User Group in the UK, and if not, what would be the thoughts of setting one up?
 
Best person for Massoth is Munns of this parish - can't remember his website, but he's a Massoth stockist :nod::nod:

Edit - Garden Rail Outlet
 
Who me? I did have a bash at translating some of the old German back fitting plans in the old Massoth Forum days. I also have provided feedback regarding some of their manuals.
 
Mililani Man said:
I was wondering how many other Massoth users are frustrated by the lack of truly Anglesiced manuals there are from Massoth considering their markets include many English speaking countries, Where a manual has been translated to English, it seems they forget to put English screen shots into the documentation making it extremely diifficult to follow, Massoth Service Tool documentation as just one example.

The documentation for the new Decoder Service Board does not even reference the selector switch which needs to be set for the board to work. Looking at the back fitting instructions, there are far more in German than in English.

Additionally, the Newsletters seem very spasmodic even though they are produced in German nearly monthly, I think the last English one was May 2015. When there are important newsletters, like the back fitting of destination boards in Allegras, this has never been translated to English even though it was promised many times on the old Massoth Forum.

Was wondering how many other users feel the same?
Click to expand...

Massoth Service Tool, latest version is 2.1.29.0, install and download one *.exe file, and everything within the program is menu driven and the user can set the language in English, the manual is largely irrelevant.

Once installed and set up with an interface, by and large most manuals can then be used as a visual aid, most of the setup information for various items is contained within the program, and using the online update, the latest revisions are updated within the program.

Back fitting instructions, ok, somewhat more perplexing if you don't happen to use Google Chrome, which has the ability to set a second language to be translated to English, therefore parts of Massoth WiKi which would normally not be seen now appear.

Allegras fitting instructions, using the above these can now be seen and read, granted the translation is tad hit and miss, but they are usable, as with most "back fitting" instructions there are number of photographs, diagrams, so even with the hit or miss translation, the instructions can be followed.


Decoder Service Board, latest manual is here http://wiki.massoth.de/images/e/ec/991088_BDA_8176001_2016_03.pdf,
screen shots from the manual.

Switch.PNG Switch Two.PNG


So as a Massoth User, guess you could say I'm a "happy bunny"!
 
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idlemarvel said:
Exactly. Freetranslation.com turns this into "Beef labelling monitoring tasks transfer law" which I doubt is what the actual meaning is.
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Actually that's pretty much correct as I understand it. However that word is out of use now (used to be listed as the longest German word).
 
ntpntpntp said:
Actually that's pretty much correct as I understand it. However that word is out of use now (used to be listed as the longest German word).
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Now, as we are talking technical, and trains....
My guess would have been something to do with back-emf!!
:giggle::giggle::giggle:
 
"Back fitting instructions, ok, somewhat more perplexing if you don't happen to use Google Chrome, which has the ability to set a second language to be translated to English, therefore parts of Massoth WiKi which would normally not be seen now appear."

That I didn't know. I've been a Firefox user for many years and, whilst I've made a lot of use of the Google Translator add-on, I've not tried Chrome as Firefox does what I want. However, the "second language" capability sounds interesting; thanks for the tip.
 
If you go for a ride in a German tram a Strassenbahnfahrkartenverkaufer will sell you a ticket. :)

If anybody gets stuck with some German text please contact me. I will gladly help out.
 
Yes is the short answer to the question.

I prefer paperwork to "net" manuals, but I am a luddite.
 
Gavin Sowry said:
Blasted EU Regulations. :banghead:
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Actually a German regulation. A few years ago some bright spark decided that the dictionary was old fashioned and needed to be re-written, there now exist words with a triple S.
Oddly some cunning linguists traced back the Old High German and found the closest modern fit was Luxembourg and the surrounding areas of France, Belgium and Germany (we speak platt)
That's your fairy story for today, children. :nerd:
 
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