This is a thread to comment / expand recently created page at http://fh.binaryelysium.com/How_do_I...
First thing: AUTO is your friend. Issue it as soon as you can, it will provide some hints in the orders template at the end of each report.
To comment on the examples provided: Colonization can be done with 3 orders instead of 6:
START PRE-DEPARTURE
; name the planet
Name 13 24 7 3 PL Dickory Dock
; move the ship from deep space (default) to planet's orbit
Orbit TR5 No-one Here, PL Dickory Dock
; colonize :)
Unload TR5 No-one Here
END
Edit by Ramblurr: added the code tags