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From: dickie@schaefer.math.wisc.edu (Garth Dickie)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: documentation reader
Message-ID: <1990Dec17.154607.21740@schaefer.math.wisc.edu>
Date: 17 Dec 90 15:46:07 GMT
Organization: Univ. of Wisconsin Dept. of Mathematics
Lines: 43

I posted last week with an idea for a documentation reading system.

Apparently there is an Alladin Systems product called the On-Line
Documentation Toolkit, which may be used to construct help systems
for applications.  Several people wanted something of this sort;
this product may be worth looking at.

I think what may come out of this is a modular document system, with
a very simple kernel.  This could be interfaced to through several
front ends, for example a code resource for inclusion in applications,
an editor, or a DA.  The kernel would simply provide hooks to modules
which would handle displaying or editing blocks of data.  The basic
system would then include only a text editor and PICT display module.

The attraction here is that you can then insert help into an application,
or build a self-reading document, including only the modules that it
uses -- if you choose not to include any tables, for example, the table
module would not be taking up space.  Also, in creating a read-only
help system or read-only self-reading document, some modules could
throw out information and simply write a text or pict form of the data,
removing the need to include that module.

Several people mention the need for indexing / hypertext abilities.
This could be one of the `core features' coded into the kernel.

Bill Johnston thinks this is a waste of my time;  If I were are 'real
developer' I would have enough memory, disk, speed, etc, to just use
Hypercard, word, and compile all at once ;-) I'm a student, though.

Something may well come of this during the break :-)

Roland: I couldn't get mail back to you, but did get yours.  Any suggestions
on how to get to you?

Peter Lewis: I did get both messages, and replied to both;  I would be glad
to discus file format, etc in some depth if you can get my mail :-).  I think
there may be a problem with mail leaving my site, however :-(

-- 
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Please insert :-) where appropriate for prevention of flames.

Garth A. Dickie                 dickie@macduffe.math.wisc.edu