Re: DOCBOOK: Re: A straw proposal for help topics in DocBook

[Bob Stayton <bobs at caldera dot com>]

> From: Norman Walsh <ndw@nwalsh.com>
> 
> / Karl Eichwalder <keichwa@gmx.net> was heard to say:
> | Thanks for the proposal.  IMO, it superfluous; "topics" are just
> | sections.  People should write a specialized stylesheet to process
> | "help" sections.
> 
> I think there's a little more to it than that. And there is definitely
> a lot more to it than that psychologically.
> 
> | Please, stay away from making DocBook more complex than absolutely
> | necessary.
> 
> I hear you.

I think Karl's point is that before new elements are added
to Docbook, that someone should convince the skeptics that the
legitimate needs for generating help output cannot be met
using existing elements, role attributes, and stylesheets.

It seems we are implementing new elements before we are clear
on the requirements.  If someone were to write a list of
requirements for help content, then someone else might go
off and design a customization that meets those
needs without adding new elements.  If that proves to be
impossible, or produces an extremely awkward implementation,
then new elements should be considered.    

Norm's original mail gave three reasons why help elements
are needed, but those reasons aren't enough for designing
a system.  I think there are a bunch of processing
expectations around different help systems that would
influence the design.  Is it too much to ask that someone
write up a list of requirements for help content?
I think if we could agree to some requirements then the
system design would be much easier.  8^)

bobs
Bob Stayton                                 400 Encinal Street
Publications Architect                      Santa Cruz, CA  95060
Technical Publications                      voice: (831) 427-7796
Caldera International, Inc.                 fax:   (831) 429-1887
                                            email: bobs@caldera.com

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