Re: My emacs was upgraded and I am a novice again

[Dave Pawson]

On 23/09/2007, David Kastrup <dak@gnu.org> wrote:

> Then perhaps it would be time to get acquainted with the documentation
> system of Emacs.

I agree David. I am. From the .texi files as my starting point.


> If you have not found the information, it is because you did not even
> think of asking Emacs for it.  The "Help" menu is there for a purpose.

I think I'm beginning to see that. And just how complete it is, from Tim
and other peoples input.
btw, Eli has agreed to add the reload term to the docs as another way into
'revert'.


>
> > Yes, another index, presuming familiarity with the oddities of
> > texinfo.  Eli tells me that it is the official policy of gnu. I find
> > that archaic.
>
> A working fast and efficient tool that is easy to use is not lightly
> replaced.  Hammers might be archaic tools, but they still do the job
> of driving nails.

Not sure of the analogy, but I'd suggest the comparator might be
a branch of a tree rather than a modern hammer.
The only part I find objectionable is having to bend the way I work
to an archaic tool.


>
> > http://savannah.gnu.org/search/index.php?type_of_search=soft&words=%%%
> > there isn't even a general gnu documentation list, seems that
> > texinfo is a given and not open to a challenge.
>
> There is no working challenge around.  HTML does not contain useful
> indexing and structuring information.

I believe there is. XML, not html. utf-8/16 encoding. Semantic markup way
beyond what .texi can do, structured, encoding, fully supported by transforms
etc. Eli points out the low likelihood of gnu adopting XML as a documentation
system, which I can see.

http://docbook2x.sourceforge.net/ even provides the transform so that Tim
and others can continue to use the texi system. What you'd do with the
Euro (&#x20AC;)
I'm less sure, but perhaps there aren't any non-English speaking emacs users?

regards


-- 
Dave Pawson
XSLT XSL-FO FAQ.
http://www.dpawson.co.uk