Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!thunder.mcrcim.mcgill.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!usc!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!uupsi!sunic!ugle.unit.no!nuug!ifi!enag From: enag@ifi.uio.no (Erik Naggum) Newsgroups: comp.text.sgml Subject: Re: The SGML Handbook is out Message-ID: Date: 23 Jan 91 23:18:52 GMT References: <1991Jan13.225050.10045@sq.sq.com> Sender: enag@ifi.uio.no (Erik Naggum) Organization: Naggum Software, Oslo, Norway Lines: 43 Nntp-Posting-Host: hild.ifi.uio.no In-Reply-To: dns@sq.sq.com's message of 13 Jan 91 22:50:50 GMT Originator: enag@hild I got /The SGML Handbook/ today, and found a few bugs while leafing through it: - There is a reference to "H.400" which should've been "X.400". - Syntax productions are indented for each level of parentheses in the production, but fail to de-indent if there are more than one closing parenthesis on a line. Multiple opening parentheses are treated right, however. This error is consistent, which is what we'd expect. David failed to mention one really _neat_ thing: It's a paper hypertext dream come true! The blurb says: o A unique ``push-button access system'' that provides the hypertext links between the standard, annotations, and tutorials. Another surprising element is that the ISO 8879 text adheres to ISO/IEC JTC1/SC18/WG8 document N1035, which contains suggestions for future amendments to ISO 8879. While this certainly makes it more readable (the changes seem to be of high quality), it requires that one consult the standard when quoting. Goldfarb has been foresighted enought to provide change bars in the margin for affected sections, and include the "old" text in an appendix, so it's eminently possible to relieve oneself of referring to the standard _and_ the amendment. David said: "It seems to me that this book will simply *replace* the ISO document for most of us who work intensively with SGML." I find this to be very probable. All in all, after having spent a few hours leafing through this awesome book and enjoying the wit and humor in the footnotes as well as in the text, I really appreciate it. I highly recommend it, from what I've seen so far. Now, I have a vague recollection of CFG himself being reachable as . Can someone confirm this before I mail something off to a mailing list or something equally embarrassing? -- [Erik Naggum] Snail: Naggum Software / BOX 1570 VIKA / 0118 OSLO / NORWAY Mail: , My opinions. Wail: +47-2-836-863 Another int'l standards dude.