Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!utastro!hgcjr From: hgcjr@utastro.UUCP (Harold G. Corwin Jr.) Newsgroups: comp.text Subject: Re: yet another new TeX user aghast at the "TeXBook" !!!!!! Summary: Use LaTeX! Message-ID: <3849@utastro.UUCP> Date: 28 Apr 89 20:23:49 GMT References: <433@pbseps.UUCP> <3847@utastro.UUCP> Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX Lines: 27 In article , cje@elbereth.rutgers.edu (Cthulhu's Jersey Epopt) writes: | But I think that's precisely why LaTeX was created. It's not necessary for | anyone who wants to typeset their technical paper to learn raw TeX. | ... | But if you're hooked on TeX and *want* to Know All, it's misplaced to complain | that the technical reference isn't suitable for beginners. Beginners belong | with LaTeX. | | Chris Jarocha-Ernst I agree completely about LaTeX. I've typeset a book using LaTeX, and found it manageable. I did have to make occasional forays into the jungle to find TeX stuff that I couldn't easily get LaTeX to do. Which brings me back to my (and the other folk's) point: (flame back on) how in the world are we supposed to learn "All" from the TeXbook? The thing is a mess, even as a technical reference manual (flame off). Yes, persistence pays off in the end, and I can use the TeXbook to get what I need (usually). (flame) But oh, my; oh, my. The time it takes; little is clear, and what is is so scattered around .... phooey. You get the idea. (flame off) Question: is there an alternative to the TeXbook? If so, I'd like to know who publishes it and how I can order it. DON'T send e-mail -- broadcast it far and wide. A LOT of us want to know. Many thanks! Harold Corwin -- Harold G. Corwin, Jr. UUCP: {backbonesite}!{noao,cs.utexas.edu}!utastro!hgcjr Internet: hgcjr@astro.as.utexas.edu MaBell: 512-471-7463 Astronomy Dept., RLM 15.308, Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX 78712-1083