Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!mcsun!news.funet.fi!fuug!sics.se!ifi.uio.no!enag From: enag@ifi.uio.no (Erik Naggum) Newsgroups: comp.text.sgml Subject: Re: Why doesn't DSSSL use the SGML LINK feature? Message-ID: Date: 29 Jun 91 13:11:30 GMT References: Sender: enag@ifi.uio.no (Erik Naggum) Organization: Naggum Software, Oslo, Norway Lines: 33 Nntp-Posting-Host: gyda.ifi.uio.no In-Reply-To: cabo@cs.tu-berlin.de's message of 27 Jun 91 15: 26:41 GMT Originator: enag@gyda.ifi.uio.no Carsten Bormann relates that LINK was used for DSSSL in the beginning, but that the idea was rescinded after considerations such as: 1) it isn't much in use, 2) it isn't powerful enough, anyhow. The first is not argument. It's a simple fact (tragedy) of life that people don't do more than they need to, and since the objectives of LINK can be achieved partly with simpler means and less brain power spent, people go for the less demanding option unless they are forced to support something better. Therefore, we have such brilliant things like MS-DOS still among us. Had it been up to me, such staggeringly bad design should be outlawed, but we don't have enough courts to handle the load, even if they didn't have to mess with the sue-happy people, so it's probably best not to for purely practical reasons. If DSSSL had mandated LINK, LINK would have been implemented, and it would benefit us all. I use simple links a lot for various general output attributes, such as whether letters should be aimed for full- size envelopes, half-size or folded in three, which affects the placement and size of the address window. That said, I will respect the real argument in item 2, but I'd like to hear more about it. And what's FOSI? -- Erik Naggum Professional Programmer +47-2-836-863 Naggum Software Electronic Text 0118 OSLO, NORWAY Computer Communications