Help:Uploading service manuals
| 📄 Uploading Service Manuals |
|---|
| How to Scan, Prepare, and Upload Technical Documentation |
Service manuals, schematics, and technical documentation are among the most valuable resources on the RTC Wiki. This guide covers how to prepare and upload them properly.
Before You Upload
[edit source]Copyright Considerations
[edit source]- Read the Service Manual Reproduction Policy first
- Most vintage service manuals are out of print and no longer commercially available
- We host these documents for preservation and repair purposes
- If a rights holder requests removal, we will comply
Check for Duplicates
[edit source]- Browse Category:Service Manuals to see what we already have
- Check the specific manufacturer category (e.g., Category:Nintendo Service Manuals, Category:Sega Service Manuals)
- Search for the document title using Special:Search
Scanning Best Practices
[edit source]| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 300 DPI minimum, 600 DPI for schematics with fine detail |
| Colour mode | Colour for most documents; greyscale for black-and-white originals |
| Format | PDF (preferred for multi-page documents) |
| Compression | Moderate — balance quality with file size |
| Page size | Match the original (A4 for most service manuals, A3 for schematics) |
Tips for Large Documents
[edit source]- Flatbed scanners produce the best results
- For thick binders, use a book scanner or photograph pages if scanning isn't possible
- De-skew pages in your scanning software
- OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is a bonus but not required
- If a document has both A4 text pages and A3 schematic foldouts, consider splitting into two files
Naming Convention
[edit source]Use clear, descriptive filenames:
Manufacturer Console_Model Document_Type (Details).pdf
Examples:
Sega Game Gear VA1 Service Manual.pdfNintendo Game Boy Technical Manual.pdfSega Dreamcast VA0 CPU and DRAM Schematic.pdfManual Tecnico do Super NES Rev 01-94.pdf
Uploading
[edit source]- Go to Special:Upload
- Select your PDF file
- Enter a descriptive filename following the naming convention above
- Write a summary describing the document:
- What console/computer it covers
- Whether it's official or community-created
- The date/revision if known
- The language
- Click Upload file
Creating the Wiki Page
[edit source]After uploading, create a page for the document. Use this format:
<pdf> File:Your Document Name.pdf </pdf> The '''Document Title''' is a description of what the document covers. == Contents == * List the major sections * Include key topics covered == Download == Download here: [[:File:Your Document Name.pdf]] [[Category:Appropriate Category]]
Which Category?
[edit source]| Document Type | Category |
|---|---|
| Official manufacturer service manual | [[Category:Manufacturer Service Manuals]]
|
| Board schematics | [[Category:Manufacturer Schematics]]
|
| Community-created documentation | [[Category:Manufacturer Unofficial Service Manuals]]
|
Replace "Manufacturer" with Nintendo, Sega, Apple, etc.
File Size Limits
[edit source]- Maximum upload size: 2 GB
- For very large scans (100MB+), consider whether a lower DPI would suffice
- If Cloudflare is active, uploads over 100MB may need to go through the server directly — ask an administrator